Texans Daina and Bill Sarafin first heard about Primerica years ago from a Primerica representative who was just beginning his business.
Daina remembers, “I was managing a store and doing executive training and he (Bill) was a supervisor at a chemical plant. And, here, this young man was just out of college and he sat us down and told us … we really needed more to put our finances together.”
The Sarafins had life insurance, 401(k)s and pensions through their workplaces. “But we needed to have our own program in place,” says Daina, remembering that day with the young man at the kitchen table. “To have our own life insurance – so we would have control over our own retirement savings outside of that. Quit saving our money in CDs. Start using mutual funds. Get out of debt. Pay off our credit cards.
“And he put us on a program,” smiles Daina, “and that program led us to be financially independent.”
Fast forward several years and the Sarafins’ daughter, Alisa, met her husband, Todd Greer, while both were in the Air Force. As their tour of duty ended, Todd began looking for a career and was interested in Primerica.
“We were all in favor of it,” say Daina. “We thought they would really be able to help them not only with their finances but also be able to help him with a great career. We knew it was a great company. … We knew some people who were working with Primerica who were making a great living.”
Daina and Bill both wanted Todd and Alisa to move to Houston to so they could build a Primerica business with together. “I kept telling him. I’ll work with you if you come to Houston,” remembers Daina. “Bill was all excited about working with him…” says Daina.
“People were shocked that I left a six-figure income, company car, stock options – but I knew I had to do something different with my life. So I started working with Primerica. I wanted freedom and I was tired of being controlled. I was approaching 50 at that point and I thought when am I going to control my life? When am I going to control my time? If not now, when?”
Life Can Change In an Instant
Bill and Daina’s plan was for her to run the couple’s Primerica Business until Bill retired in September 2010 at the age of 55 when he would take over. Daina would then spend the majority of her time taking care of the grandchildren.
But that was not to be. On January 16, 2010, Daina received a phone call. Bill had collapsed at work and Daina was instructed to get to the hospital right away. Never in her wildest dreams did she think that she wouldn’t even get the chance to say goodbye to her husband of more three decades.
When Daina arrived at the hospital, the doctors told her that Bill had died of a massive heart attack. Daina couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“He had all these plans,” sobs Diane. “We had been together for over 35 years – ever since we were teenagers and thought we were going to be together forever.
“I was very blessed to have our finances in order and my Primerica career and didn’t have to worry about money. But there are so many families out there that don’t have anything other than what they have at work and they don’t understand the importance. And they never think it can happen to them.
“Life can change in an instant,” says Daina. “I know my life got totally turned upside down with a phone call.
“And there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Bill. I miss him every day. But thank God for Primerica. You know, I don’t have to worry about the financial end of it. I can remember him for being the great man that he was. You know, taking care of our family — taking care of our finances. We can celebrate his life and not have to go through a financial crisis that we would have gone through had it not been for Primerica.”
Note: Todd and Alisa have progressed to the Senior Vice President level with Primerica with an extensive business. Daina is a Regional Vice President and has her own team and a highly successful business as well.
Glenn Kocher
Edison, NJ Former Occupation: Teacher
For Glenn Kocher, of Edison, NJ, one of the best parts about building a Primerica business is getting to do it alongside his parents, Jim & Mary Kocher. “Being able to work with my family is awesome,” enthuses Glenn.
He adds, “From a business standpoint, it’s incredible to have a successful example to follow and also have the opportunity to learn the business from them. From a personal standpoint, it’s really nice to not have a boss – so we can spend time as a family doing fun things, while our businesses continue to grow!”
Having the chance to become a successful entrepreneur alongside his family was one of the key reasons Glenn decided to join his parents in business. “I came to Primerica because I saw the freedom of time and the great income my parents had,” explains Glenn. “They were always so happy and excited and really loved what they were doing. I was teaching at the time and when I compared their life after 15 years in Primerica with those of my teaching colleagues who’d been on the job for the same amount of time, the difference was unbelievable. I wanted that for myself.”
He continues, “It wasn’t the actual job so much as it was being told when to be there, when I could take lunch and always having to ask permission to take off to do things that were important to me. I worked long hours for not much pay. Leaving that and starting my Primerica career – where my life is my own – was an easy choice!”
Once he started building his business, Glenn says he got a real taste for helping people in a meaningful way. “I loved everything about this business from the beginning,” smiles Glenn. “I really love working with and helping so many different types of people – from all backgrounds. It was just like being a part of a winning sports team. It’s an exciting feeling!”
Although Glenn is growing his own business separate from his parents, he says he loves the idea of creating success as a full team. “Primerica is truly unique from other family businesses,” he says. “Here, you’re working with your family toward group success, while finding your own personal successes along the way. In this business, each generation can stand on the shoulders of the other, instead of standing in their shadow. It’s awesome!”
For more information on how you can create your own Primerica family business, contact your local Primerica representative.
Jim & Mary Kocher III
Edison, NJ Former Occupation: Pastor
When Jim & Mary Kocher joined Primerica in 1985, their primary goal was to simply put themselves back in control of their future. “We were initially attracted to the Opportunity by Primerica’s crusade of helping middle income families to become properly protected, debt free and financially independent,” says Jim. “We also wanted to be able to set our own destiny, not have our future controlled by a job.”
They joined to change their lives financially, but found so much more than that, with their son, Glenn. “It’s an extraordinary feeling to be in business with our son,” enthuses Jim. “Our family Primerica business relies on mutual respect, a shared vision for success and quality time together. Just knowing that there’s a talented, committed successor to pass my business on to is a great thing.”
One of the best parts for the Kochers about building a business together is the chance to create success as a team. “We want Glenn to stand on our shoulders, so to speak, not sit in our shadows,” explains Jim. “He’s building success for himself but we’re all working toward the same goals.”
He continues, “Primerica gives us the ability to create a life of significance with the people we care about the most. Here, we have freedom of time and the potential for an unlimited income – and we get to do it together!”
For more information on how you can create your own Primerica family business, contact your local Primerica representative.
People who need life insurance the most, it seems, are the ones being ignored by traditional life insurance agents, who instead focus on wealthy clients.
“The industry’s years-long shift toward wealthier buyers is clearest in ‘permanent’ life-insurance policies, including varieties known as ‘whole life’ and as ‘universal life,’ which combine a death benefit with a savings or investment account. These represent almost three-fourths of individual-policy premiums collected,” The Wall Street Journalreported recently.
Nearly 40% of the face value of new whole-life and universal-life policies sold in 2007, according to an analysis done by LIMRA for The Wall Street Journal, were high-end policies for $2 million and up. The large policies, which can carry annual premiums of $20,000 or more, accounted for just 10% of the market a decade earlier, and 1% two decades ago.
Clearly, the shift has been made – and it does not favor the middle market consumer, as the percentage of families owning life insurance continues to fall to record levels.
To make matters even worse, life insurance sales to households with children have fallen, even as the number of such households has risen.
This is where Primerica stands apart from the traditional industry. We’re a Main Street company delivering to Main Street families.
While the traditional industry is focused on wealthy clients, Primerica is helping Main Street families get the protection they need at a price they can afford.
More than 4.3 million lives are insured through Primerica, and an average of $2.5 million in benefit claims are paid every day.*
We do what’s right … and we make a difference.
Source: “Shift to Wealthier Clientele Puts Life Insurers in a Bind,” The Wall Street Journal, October 4, 2010
*Term life insurance is underwritten by National Benefit Life Insurance Company, Home Office: Long Island City, New York, in New York state; in the United States (except in New York), term life insurance products are underwritten by Primerica Life Insurance Company, Executive Offices: Duluth, Georgia; in Canada, term life insurance products and segregated funds are underwritten by Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada, Head Office: Mississauga, Ontario.
For one power-packed weekend, close to 1,000 of Primerica’s female leaders converged on Dallas, TX, for the 2010 Women In Primerica Leadership Conference, which was held October 22-24, 2010. At this women-only biennial conference, held at the luxurious Hilton Anatole, top female leadership and up-and-comers enjoyed three days of business-building tips, recognition and inspiration – all in a positive and excited environment of success.
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At Primerica, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you came from or even what gender you are. Your success is entirely up to YOU! Events like this conference are great ways to underscore the uniqueness of this business opportunity. (See more photos on Facebook)
