A career in insurance...meaningful, purposeful, rewarding

Throughout my career, when I’ve had an opportunity to meet interns, I often ask them if they pursued the internship at an insurance company because they are interested in a career in insurance or simply because we are an employer in the area. Rarely do I hear they’ve been dreaming of a career in insurance. My own sons would tell you they think a career in insurance sounds “boring” (despite my efforts). ?

But when I follow-up with interns again at the end of their internship and ask them if working in insurance is what they thought it was going to be, they often share – “it’s so much more than what I thought it would be.” A job in insurance, especially at TruStage , is directed by a mission of doing good in the world. You can find a whole career in one company with a variety of disciplines that include everything from innovative technology design, research, data and analytics to finance, legal, product development, marketing, journalism and communications.

At the risk of aging myself, I’ve spent more than 30 years in the insurance world, participating in its evolution, modernization and growth. It’s thriving! And “boring” is the last word I’d use to describe a career in insurance. Many other descriptors come to mind: meaningful, fulfilling, purposeful, rewarding – even noble. But not boring.

I often share that I was one of the rare college students who intended to build a career in the industry because I saw its impact firsthand. My career has been spent working to protect the financial well-being of people as they encounter hardship at different stages of life. We’ve helped people rebuild their lives after a catastrophe. I’ve canvassed neighborhoods devastated by hurricanes or tornadoes and spoken with customers who lost nearly everything. I’ve also delivered life insurance benefit checks to a spouse after the loss of a partner. More often than not, those customers shared a similar sentiment for their insurer: gratitude…for a couple key reasons:

1) they still had their lives and their families intact, or

2) they had coverage to replace the things they lost, or

3) they were able to begin the grieving process with some financial stability.

As a kid, I vividly remember my dad rallying the church to collect money for families who recently lost a loved one. And I’ll never forget what a difference those donations made for the families who were impacted not only by the death of their family member, but also by the jarring reality of funeral costs and living on less income.

It’s a unique and humbling career to work for a company that is a bright spot during somebody’s darkest days. And there’s much more to it than profits and premiums. This field combines heartfelt service with analytical skills and offers opportunities for growth, leadership, and real-world impact.

I guess you could call me an insurance career “lifer.” And I am proud to represent an industry that acts as a safety net, offers reassurance and provides a pillar of support through the many milestones that come with building a life.

That’s my why. What’s yours?

#InsuranceCareer #FutureLeaders #LifeInsuranceAwarenessMonth