The devastation of the recent earthquakes in Haiti has touched the lives of people across the world. While droves of friends and family were receiving horrific news, one of Primerica’s own, Regional Vice President Peggee & Jarrin King, was elated to receive word that her parents, missionaries in her home country of Haiti, were alive. They were alive, but lacking the basic human necessities to keep themselves – and the people who depend on them – well.
The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the nation of Haiti on January 12, 2010, flattened homes and crumpled government buildings. Because of the tremendous loss of life and the overwhelming need for food, water, shelter and medicines, the International Faith Fellowship Ministries, Inc. (IFF) was in dire straights. The Liberuses, Peggee’s parents and the founders of IFF, sent word that they needed help, and the Primerica community responded right away.
Senior National Sales Director Andy Young coordinated an effort that collected more than 850 boxes of food, medicine, clothing, toiletries, generators and more. These donations, along with monetary gifts, filled two moving trucks that Young, Jarrin King and two other Regional Vice Presidents – Chris McHugh and Joe Redd – drove to Venice, FL, and loaded aboard Agapé Flights.
In Haiti, Peggee’s family met the plane and distributed the more than 30,000 pounds of donated goods.
The amazing contribution was reportedly the largest the airline had seen to date – good news for a community of six churches, three schools and a Bible college that was waiting anxiously for relief. Peggee said, “We are overwhelmed by the response. It’s wonderful that people want to help, despite what’s going on with the economy here.”
Through these contributions given by the Primerica representatives and Home Office family, hundreds of people will be able to meet some of their most basic needs and begin determining how to go on from here. To boot, Primerica made a corporate donation of $10,000 to the American Red Cross to help in the Haiti recovery efforts. Individual employees have also made personal financial donations through many of the aid sites that have been established in the wake of the earthquakes.
Peggee warned, “As people are giving so generously, I want them to be mindful of which organizations they give money to. They want to make sure that the need gets to the people, like the Primerica donation did.” Jarrin added, “I also hope people remember that after the cameras have left, the people will still need us. Primerica helped to supply the immediate needs of the people – needs like food, water and medicine; but they didn’t forget to send things like saws and other tools. These are the things that will help the people of Haiti as they start the next step: rebuilding.”
Primerica said “yes” and came through for people who desperately need help right now. They delivered on a promise to do what’s right for families … starting with their own.
If you’re interested in giving specifically to the International Faith Fellowship Ministries, Inc., they are a 501(c)3 organization. You can make financial gifts at any Wachovia Bank.
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Primerica is unleashing a revolutionary new marketing campaign, which will span coast to coast and extend its reach as far north as Quebec, Canada and as far west as Maui, Hawaii.
Primerica On The Road’s base of operations will be a 40-foot motor coach, custom built to support mobile film and video productions. Starting December 10 and continuing non-stop through February, the motor coach will be visiting offices and covering Primerica events throughout North America.
“This is our motor home of destiny,” said Primerica Co-CEO John Addison as he introduced the new campaign recently. “We’ll be going around the country profiling people who are winning now, ranging from our newest stars to our top company leaders.”
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Imagine It! Board Member and Primerica CFO Alison Rand was proud to announce that Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta will honor Primerica for its “outstanding commitment to the wellbeing of children and families of our community” at the Museum’s gala, Amuse’UM, to be held on February 20, 2010.
Primerica Co-CEO Rick Williams served on the founding Board of Directors. Since officially opening in 2003, many Primerica employees and departments — from Community Relations to Publications — have contributed their time and talent to support the museum and its work with children.
“For nearly a decade,” says Rand, “the financial and in-kind resources that Primerica and its employees have provided have made a profound difference in the museum’s ability to spark imagination and discovery for more than 1,250,000 children and their caregivers. Through grant support, board leadership, committee involvement, graphic design and print services, Primerica has enabled Imagine It! to bring rich, innovative, hands-on learning experiences to families and schools in the metro Atlanta area.”
Imagine It! has created a unique place where children and parents can play and learn together about a variety of topics in a safe, fun and nurturing setting. Tens of thousands of disadvantaged children have been welcomed free of charge, and many provided with free transportation to the Museum, so that visitation barriers are broken down and resources are openly shared. Through extensive community collaborations, Imagine It! is mobilizing four of Atlanta’s most impoverished neighborhoods to engage parents in the education of their children using the educational tools of the Museum.
Primerica is proud to partner with the Museum and is honored to receive such recognition.
Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta encourages children to learn by doing. This little one enjoyed playing with the colorful balls in the Tools for Solutions exhibit.
If you’re like most people, the start of a new year is a time for reflection and resolutions to make the new year better than the previous. Of course, all those grand plans for losing weight or exercising more usually fall by the wayside as life gets in the way.
This year, Primerica encourages you to make a resolution that you can keep…a resolution to start preparing for your future! With all the changes of 2009 behind us, right now is the perfect time to start making little changes that could have big benefits in the future.
These four tips will help you get started.
Create a Budget. Have too much month left at the end of your money? A few dollars here and there don’t seem like much at the time, but when added up can equal a big chunk of money you didn’t realize you were spending! Creating and sticking to a budget is an easy way to identify exactly where your money’s going.
Trim Expenses. Think about the expenses you have every month. There may be ways to trim costs by foregoing some conveniences – like specialty cable channel subscriptions or movie theater outings.
Consider the Latte Factor. Getting into the habit of saving isn’t hard, it just takes practice. Start by cutting out small expenses first and put the money you would be spending on those things into a savings account. For example, if you purchase coffee every morning, try making your own brew at home a couple of times a week.
Become a Bargain Hunter. You could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year by shopping around! It takes a little effort, but clipping coupons, purchasing items in bulk at discount stores and holding out for sales for big ticket items can really add up.
You Can Do It!
This year, resolve to take charge of your financial destiny! Your local Primerica representative can show you more ways to free up funds and start saving. Call today for your FREE Financial Needs Analysis and get on the road to a fantastic future.
Many of us pay too much for these everyday essentials.
Snacks. A daily protein bar can set you back $2 a day. Choose fruit instead for a healthier – and cheaper – alternative.
Bottled water.
Fruits and veggies. If you enjoy precut vegetables and salad mixes, consider the cost of that convenience: about $5.98 a pound. Wash your own lettuce and you’ll pay just a third of that.
Movies. An evening for two at the theatre costs about $30 in major cities. For about $5 a month you can watch two movies from an online rental source or. Plus, DVD kiosks located at certain neighborhood grocery and discount stores rent current-release flicks for about $1 a day. Or … surf your local library’s Web site for free rentals!
Television. Cut the cable or satellite service and get a digital conversion box, which gives you a clear connection to all the basics. With a broadband Internet connection you can watch more than 300 shows on certain internet sites. Many networks now post full episodes on their Web sites so you can watch them for free, or rent DVDs of your favorite shows.
The holidays are upon us and many families are digging deep to find the cash for gifts and travel costs. According to a recent survey, the average U.S. household plans to spend an average of $683 on holiday related shopping, a slight drop from last year.1 With unemployment close to 10%, and many more families unsure about their financial future for 2010, finding ways of enjoying the season without busting the budget are more important than ever.2
Primerica presents three easy ways to make your money go farther this Christmas.
Shop Smart. Both traditional retailers and online merchants often run sales or offer incentives like free shipping to encourage consumers to buy. Just shopping around a bit could help you save big.
Stick to Your Budget. Decide ahead of time how much you want to spend on each person or gift and stick to it.
Try a “Stay” Cation. Airfare for a family can really stress a budget – especially when the economy is slow. Even gas and other travel expenses could be a big strain on a family’s finances. Consider staying close to home this year. Start a new family tradition like watching a special holiday movie together, going caroling in your neighborhood or taking cookies and homemade crafts to a local senior center.
A few small changes can make a big difference and if you’re smart about your spending, you can still satisfy those wish lists – without breaking the bank!
1 National Retail Federation, www.nrf.com, October 20, 2009
2 www.dailyfinance.com, viewed December 17, 2009
Today you’ve got more reasons than ever to free yourself from the burden of credit card debt. Here are a few:
Compound interest works against you. When you allow debt to “sit” on your credit cards accumulating interest, one of the most powerful forces in the world – compound interest – is actually working against you to keep you in debt bondage.
No end in sight. Most credit card debt is considered revolving. Because of the way interest is calculated, it can be difficult to tell how long it will take to pay off revolving credit card debt. It can feel like you’re on a debt treadmill from which you can’t escape.
You’re not in control. Your lender is. Your credit card issuer determines your interest rate, credit limit, fees and charges based on your credit history. You don’t get to select your own credit terms.
Great balance transfer deals are almost non existent. They used to pour out of your mailbox, but now those zero or low APR balance transfer deals with low or no fees are practically gone – and you’re stuck with the balance.
If you’re stuck on the revolving debt treadmill, you may be putting your financial health at risk. But help is available!
That’s where Primerica’s newest product, Primerica DebtWatchers™ comes in. This exciting new product allows you to create and monitor your own personalized path to debt freedom. With this product you can:
Take control of your debt situation by using the information in your Equifax Credit Report™ to create a simple to understand plan for paying off your debt
Monitor your Equifax credit report for key changes
Track your progress toward debt freedom
Set goals and monitor actual balances reported by your creditors
Get up to $25,000 in Identity Theft Insurance with no deductible*
Access your information any time, online
You’ll even be notified via email or text message of key changes to your Equifax Credit Report – all for a low monthly fee.
Becoming debt free is a good goal to have – and Primerica DebtWatchers can help you get there. Talk to your Primerica representative today to find out how to get started!
*Insurance underwritten by member companies of American International Group, Inc. The description herein is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for complete details of coverage and exclusions.
Primerica, representatives of Primerica, Equifax and Primerica DebtWatchers™ will not act as an intermediary between Primerica DebtWatchers customers and their creditors and do not imply, promise or guarantee that credit files or credit scores will or may be improved, repaired, boosted, enhanced, corrected or increased by use of the Primerica DebtWatchers product. Primerica DebtWatchers is a trademark of Primerica Client Services, Inc. Equifax Credit Report is a trademark of Equifax Inc. FICO® is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation. References to Equifax refer to Equifax Consumer Services LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Equifax Inc. See http://my.primerica.com for additional important disclosures. Product not available to residents of Washington, D.C.
Primerica is always looking for ways to make their representatives’ business lives easier, and that kind of innovative thinking usually leads to better technology. Since creating the award-winning TurboApps technology for representatives to send client apps into the Home Office for processing, Primerica’s IT team has continued to look for ways to make it easier and faster for representatives to grow their businesses.
Since the summer of 2009, Primerica representatives have been making the switch from their old platform in favor of the new Windows Mobile platform. With this new platform, representatives will be able to:
• Adapt quickly to Microsoft Windows and learn how to use it faster since it’s similar to what they’ve been using already.
• Process larger, more complex TurboApps applications.
• Call, email or text a client with a tap of the screen.*
• Run multiple software applications simultaneously.
• Use Office Mobile, a suite of mobile versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint Mobile, all of which are compatible with desktop versions of the Office Suite.
• Truly be mobile, because future wireless enhancements will include “over-the-air” upload of product applications, software updates and Primerica WebMail.
“This new technology is really going to enable our representatives to take their business to the next level,” says EVP of Technology, Tom Swift. “This new platform will help them help clients more quickly and efficiently, which will in turn help representatives grow their businesses even faster.”
*No emails or texts regarding securities transactions are permitted.
Companies have their different ways of communicating with their workers. They blast emails or post notices on colorful bulletin boards. Some still drop lengthy memos into their staff members’ overflowing inboxes, hoping they don’t get lost among the clutter. (Hello? Welcome to the 21st Century!) But, how many companies stream their announcements and recognition live via the Internet to thousands of people at once?
I’m guessing there aren’t too many that do. But Primerica does. Through our own television studio, EPN-TV, Primerica produces more than 100 hours of original programming each year. It is a huge part of how we spread news to our sales force of more than 100,000 representatives.
The History
EPN-TV started broadcasting in April 1986 as ALW-TV. The station was founded as a way for company founder, Art Williams, to quickly get his message to the sales force. ALW-TV was a pioneer in the corporate satellite industry. After the merger with Primerica, ALW-TV became PFS-TV and was soon renamed EPN-TV (Entrepreneurial Network Television).
In addition to recorded daily programming, the station broadcasts live each Monday from the studios at the Primerica Home Office in Duluth, Georgia. The live studio audience can number up to 200 people. In April 2007, EPN-TV took a huge technological leap and began streaming its broadcasts live over the Internet. Record numbers of people have logged on to watch remotely. Executive Vice President Norma Richardson says, “Certainly things in the technical and production world have changed over the past 20 years, but what has not changed is the pride this team takes in its work and the willingness to go the extra mile.”
The Crew
The EPN-TV full-time staff includes producers, editors, videographers, floor directors, an audio engineer and an administrative staff. Since Atlanta is a major TV market, the department has been able to recruit professionals from networks such as CNN, TBS and ABC. They also have a producer on staff who worked at the USA Network in New York. Here’s a snapshot of some of their staff’s qualifications:
Tim Foster is EPN-TV’s in-house animation guru who uses MAYA and 3D animation software program to create amazing effects for Primerica videos. Tim’s creative skills and talents can be seen on various animation projects. His credits include a feature film produced by Orion Pictures, Disney and Lucas films. While working for United Artists, Tim produced the first-ever 3D animated film policy trailer which was viewed by millions across North America. Tim’s work crosses over from the big screen to the small screen for corporations like Delta, Dun & Bradstreet and Norfolk Southern Railroad. Tim has worked with major advertising agencies worldwide. He’s a master at capturing the image and recreating it using amazing three-dimensional effects.
David Cregan, one of our executive producers at EPN-TV, works closely with our Field Instruction department producing Primerica’s training videos. Prior to joining the EPN team David worked in New York and was involved in political advertising on campaigns for gubernatorial races, congressional and senatorial candidates as well as a winning presidential race.
Mike Solomon is EPN-TV’s senior editor, and he works on an editing workstation running Premier Pro. He pushes the creative envelope by designing incredible motion graphics using a program called After Effects.
James Gavin is senior video editor/technical director at EPN-TV. Using Adobe CS4 on a non-linear workstation as well as an analog editing suite, James edits and voices many of the training programs and promos that air on EPN-TV. In his former occupation, James was video editor at a local mega-church. James also worked at CNN Headline News in numerous capacities including technical director and audio engineer. In fact, he was technical directing when the space shuttle Atlantis launch failed on live TV.
Jacques Adams is one of the busiest guys at EPN as our chief videographer working both in the studio and on location shoots. Jacques came to EPN after having worked at all major network affiliates in Augusta, Georgia, with the last one being WAGT. Jacques’ background as news videographer has helped him develop a keen eye for shot composition. At EPN-TV, he uses Final Cut Pro software for video editing.
Megan Schwindler, an executive producer at EPN-TV, has as a degree in broadcasting with emphasis on corporate video. Megan worked at the Shop at Home Network prior to coming to Primerica’s in-house business television network.
Pam Tokarz, a senior vice president, is in charge of the daily operations at EPN. A 24-year veteran of Primerica she helped launch EPN in 1986. Pam, originally from Arkansas, graduated from Arkansas State University with a major in communications. She worked at local TV and radio stations during college and then moved to Atlanta. She even produced a PBS show. Pam has witnessed many changes at EPN from the early days of VHS videos to broadcasting via satellite to streaming video on the Internet.
The Accolades
EPN-TV has received awards from Media Communicators Association International (MCA-I) for various projects, and several staff members have won awards in their respective fields: Mike Solomon received a bronze award for editing and Norma Richardson was awarded one for producing. Richardson said, “Since 1986, EPN has been connecting the Home Office and the field force, and I’m proud to say that I’ve been here since the beginning. From a personal perspective, working with such creative and talented professionals here at EPN is perhaps the most rewarding of all my professional experiences.”
SVP Pam Tokarz is also proud of the work her department produces. She said, “TV is all about teamwork, and we have an incredible team of talented professionals at EPN. They have a true passion for their work and always strive for excellence. It’s very rewarding to see their creative talents and hard work come together on videos for meetings, broadcasts and sales tools for the representatives. Our staff ranks right up there with the big networks.”
There’s a stellar bunch of folks over at the TV studio, and their work helps keep their reps in touch with the spirit of Primerica: helping families become properly protected, debt free and financially independent … one kitchen table meeting at a time.
In early 1999 I found myself in a very frustrating situation. I was 29 years old. I was working extremely hard as a fiber optics salesman… and I was broke. My wife and I had been married for over six years. We’d just had our first child, whom we were thrilled about, however, when it came to work, money and time, we were struggling. We started praying for a better way.
My wife received a phone call one evening from a lady she had met recently. She said that she was in training with a company that was expanding, and that we should take a look at it. She said this company, Primerica, might be able to help us. We decided to meet up with her and see what this company was all about.
Neither of us had ever even heard of Primerica and I admit we were skeptical. After about 30 minutes into our meeting with the Primerica reps, I began to realize that what they were saying actually made sense. They spoke about developing “a written program to monitor and eliminate debt, term life insurance being the foundation to your financial house, and the basics of successful investing.”
At 29, I’d never been taught these principles before. I never finished college and I had no experience with “financial stuff.” He assured me that they could help educate us about our finances. The first step would be to fill out a Financial Needs Analysis (FNA) and based on where we stood financially and what our goals were, we would see what could be done.
We met again two weeks later and went through the results. It was simple: Follow a plan to pay off credit card debts, put some term insurance in place to protect my young family (we had no insurance at that time) and find a way to make more money. They said that Primerica would teach us how to do all of the above. They would even offer us an opportunity to start part-time and show us how to build a business by teaching other people what they taught us.
I guess we were just so eager to change our lives we believed them. We paid a small start-up fee, started the training process, and moved forward in faith.
Now it’s 10 years later and I’m 40 years old. I can’t help but think about how different my life could’ve turned out.
What if I hadn’t agreed to that appointment? What if I trusted my initial skeptical feelings? What if I’d listened to several friends who insisted Primerica had to be a scam? What if I believed Internet chat rooms, unregulated Web sites, and less than credible sources?
Well, my family’s life would be a lot different. See, what’s happened in the past 10 years is that we have grown tremendously — as people and as leaders. We have built amazing friendships. We’ve helped thousands of families get back on track financially. We are financially independent and have been able to give away more money each year than we used to earn before Primerica. The opportunity turned out to be a bigger blessing that we could have ever imagined.
Primerica helps Royce enjoy the riches of family, relationships and people. Watch the video to find out how Primerica helps him “have it all.”
We now have seven offices across upstate New York and many great people working with us. We love what Primerica does for families and we love the freedom we now have. We don’t punch a time clock. Each day is our own. I’ve spent countless mornings with my children. When my son turned one, I took each Friday off and we spent the day together. We did that for four years until he went to kindergarten.
We’ve traveled together as a family to so many amazing places all over the world, and created lifelong memories. My children are so much more confident because of the “family” business. We just returned from a trip to Montreal together where we spoke to over 500 people about changing their lives through this great opportunity.
The most amazing part about that is that my 11-year old daughter spoke in that meeting about how the business has impacted her personally. Imagine an 11-year old speaking to 500 people with confidence and grace so she could impact their lives. The list of benefits of winning in Primerica is extensive.
I have found tremendous success with Primerica and so have countless others. But that is not to say that Primerica is easy. It is not a “get rich quick” scheme. It would be ridiculous to think so. But to say it is a scam, or a pyramid, is far more ridiculous. My life is proof that it is real, and there are thousands of other people around the world who would laugh just as hard at the thought of Primerica being called a scam.
The Federal Trade Commission doesn’t call Primerica a scam. Neither does the Better Business Bureau, FINRA or any of the other regulatory agencies in this country. I encourage you to check the facts and to get your information from these credible sources.
I am living proof that Primerica is real. I was a skeptic who is now a successful businessman with the freedom to live the life of his dreams. There are a lot of scams out there you should be aware of. Primerica is not, and has never been, one of them.
I think we have to create our own experience in life, and we have to move forward in faith. When we do that, put forth an honest effort, and do the right things long enough — only then can we look back and really see the “real picture.”
