The First Claim: A Moment That Changed My Career

Reality hit fast in my early days as a brand-new financial advisor/insurance agent. The world of finance and insurance can be daunting for anyone starting out, and I was no exception. Having taken a job with a well-known insurance company, I knew very little about what an insurance company does, as most people do. 

However, I was eager to make a name for myself and quickly do the necessary work. I was told to “knock on doors, introduce myself as the new agent in town, and politely ask if there was a need for life insurance in the home”. Surprisingly, a few people said “Yes, come on in” and I stumbled my way into a few sales.

But it was a call from the district office on a Monday morning that changed everything. A death claim had been reported to my agency, and I was tasked with going to the policyholder's home to fill out a claim. 

Calling the phone number given to me by the office, I made an appointment the next day for a visit. Nervous and inexperienced, I asked my sales manager to go with me as I had no clue what was expected in handling a situation like this. 

We arrived at the home, located off a dirt road in a rundown part of town where I was the assigned agent. It was clear at first glance that this family was not one of any financial means.

After being greeted by the father, we sat down around the kitchen table with his wife; both with blank stares at the loss we were about to hear about. We learned that their 13-year-old daughter, walking home from school a few days before, was the victim of a hit-and-run driver. She had been killed instantly, left on the side of the road. 

As I sat there, struggling to find the right words to say to the devastated family, my manager stepped in and handled the situation with grace and empathy then handled the meeting well, offering condolences and explaining how the insurance benefits worked.

A previous agent had placed $5,000 life insurance policies on each of the family’s five children. The policies were designed to be affordable, each policy costing $3 a month. The sense of relief was evident as the parents grasped that they would have the funds to bury their child with dignity. 

I filed the claim at the local office and was surprised to receive the payment a week later. When I looked at the check, it was for $15,000, not the $5,000 the policy promised. Convinced there was a mistake, I showed the check to the office manager. Her explanation blew my mind. The $5,000 policy had an accidental death clause that doubled the benefit plus an additional $5,000 if the accident was by a car accident. The $15,000 payment was not a mistake.

Calling the family, I made an appointment to deliver the check that night. Once again, sitting around the table, I took the check and slid it across the table for them to see. To this day, I remember the expression on their faces with relief and gratitude in their eyes as I explained how the $5,000 turned into $15,000. I felt honored to have been able to make a positive impact during such a difficult time.

This experience taught me that being an insurance agent is not just about making sales and earning commissions. It's about helping people when they need it most and providing them with the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are protected.

There is an expression about the life insurance business that I learned that first week: “You are in the life insurance business until you pay your first claim; then, the life insurance business is in you.” The manager who had hired me asked me about the experience of paying my first claim. He then said words that would define my career: “If you turn this job into a career, you will go to a lot of funerals; and you will be the only person who takes a check” He was right on both counts. 

Behind every policy and every premium payment, there is a family relying on me to be there for them in their time of need. And while the reality of that responsibility can be daunting, it is also what makes this job so fulfilling and rewarding.

So I ask you. Are you prepared for a situation like this?

Take the time to review your policies and ensure that you have the coverage you need to give your family peace of mind.