Why Financial Services: [top]

For years I wondered how the wealthy became wealthy. I wondered why that couldn't be my family or why that could not be me. I wondered why I had the same income as my counterparts but they lived at another level than I did. How exactly were they doing that? Well, they made better financial choices
and they used different tools and concepts to make their money grow and basically made their money work for them.  So I joined the hated field of insurance and financial services for one reason and one reason only.   That reason is to share the information with all that will listen and help others ensure that their children don't start at ground zero. How many of us are paying back student loans and suffering from high interest rates on credit cards? What if I said I could show you how to finance your children's college education without student loans? What if I could show you how to become your own finance company?  I did not believe it until I saw it. People lie, institutions lie, but numbers don't.
 
When I first entered the business someone said treat your friends like any other client.  I disagree I treat my clients like my friends.  Before I make any recommendation for a client I gather plenty of information, I ask lots of questions I like to say if you are asking me to help you get out of a mess you have to let me get in it first.  I take all the information that you give me and I pray and ask God to help me make the right decision for you and your family and then I bring the recommendation back to you and then you tell me what you would like to do.
 
Me: [top]
 
When I first entered the profession I interviewed with quite a few companies and was offered positions with just as many.  But I remember one interview
vividly.  He stated that we only work with those who are millionaires and diversify and grow their portfolio.  I quickly told them no thank you and that I preferred to work with everyone than just who they considered to be someone.  What I do is help families build, accumulate and distribute wealth and everyone needs that information regardless of social or economic status. I chose to work for New York Life because of the history and the integrity of the company.  A little bit about me...I have degrees in Chemistry, B.A., Biology, B.S., and Masters in Business Administration.  As of February of 2010 I will sit for Certified Financial Planner Exam. I currently hold life, health, long-term care, 6, and 63 licenses.
 
My Role: [top]

The key to achieving long-term objectives is planning. Your goal may be to fund your children's college education, protect your family during your working years, or guarantee your own retirement security. These things won't happen by accident. You must plan. You need to know what you want to achieve and then map out a strategy that will help you achieve it.

The Good News: [top]

You don't have to do it alone. Your New York Life insurance agent does more than just sell insurance policies. He or she is a professional problem solver who can help you identify the most cost-effective products to help you meet your financial objectives.

Your New York Life agent provides a full range of services. These include working with you to:

1. Review your individual situation and personal objectives. Perhaps your needs are so clear that life and health insurance can be determined after a few minutes of conversation. Or it may quickly become apparent that nothing short of a full-blown, detailed "fact finding" session is required, going beyond such basic vital statistics as birth dates, income assets, etc.
   
   Why is it important to probe and ask questions? Three reasons: First, your situation and needs are different from those of your neighbors. Your agent needs to understand those differences. Second, money is not a goal in and of itself; it is merely the means to an end. (Your goal may be a comfortable, secure retirement. However, the means to achieve that, for example, might be a retirement nest egg of $600,000.) Finally, the more your agent knows about you, the more precise and on-target will be the recommendations you receive. As a result, your agent may take some time to discuss -- and even appear to be a bit nosy about -- your hopes, dreams and objectives -- the things that really matter to you. By the way, all information will remain strictly confidential.
2. Analyze and review your needs. As needed, your agent will work with you to identify and prioritize your objectives, then help establish benchmark goals. This is important because we live in a world in which there are unlimited resources. People often fail to achieve objectives because they try to accomplish too much at once, or they don't attach specific deadlines to their goals.
   
   For instance, you may have a desire to retire in comfort, make sure your children are able to graduate from college debt-free, plus vacation in the Caribbean every winter. But your resources may say that you cannot do it all.
   
   Your New York Life agent can work with you and help you focus on what's most important to you. Together, you may find it helpful to break down these goals into quantifiable objectives: accumulate $600,000 by age 65; have a college fund of $40,000 in 15 years; set aside $10,000 each year for vacationing. Then you can look at available resources and decide which goals are realistic, which need to be adjusted and scaled down, and which simply must be abandoned.
3. Develop and implement a strategy to help you achieve your goals. Based on the information you share and the goals and means you establish, you'll receive specific recommendations on where life and health insurance products can help.
4. Coordinate your financial activities. If desired by you, your agent can also serve as a quarterback for you and the other members of your team of advisors.
5. Monitor progress, provide ongoing service as your needs and situation change over time. This is crucial. Planning is not a one-shot deal. Strategies need to be adjusted periodically. Your agent will work with you over the years to help keep your program on track with your changing needs. By the way, there is no charge for advice, planning, or ongoing service provided by your New York Life agent.