Scott Wilson of Edmonton, AB, is a fighter. More than 15 years ago, amid an overwhelming work schedule and a child’s heartbreaking illness, he left his corporate job and joined Primerica. While his wife worked full-time as a dental assistant, Scott was working 60-hour weeks before Primerica came along. He decided to start a business. He could make calls while his son napped during the day and he could go on appointments in the evenings, when his wife was home. It sounded like the perfect plan, until the Wilsons realized that their son wasn’t like other children.
The boy lasted just 10 days in daycare. He sat in the corner all alone, not interacting with the other children at all. It was the first sign that something was amiss with his development. Scott took extra care to make sure his son’s special needs were being met, but it wasn’t until a few years later that he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It changed the course of Scott’s life forever.
The challenges of rearing a child with this developmental disability were remarkable. He needed constant attention and, since Scott had the flexibility that comes with being your own boss, the daytime responsibility fell to him. Caring for their son was a full-time job. Scott recalls, “Most children learn through incidental experience but, in our son’s case, we had to be intentional about every learning outcome. The more time I spent with him, the better he did. Left to his own devices, he’d quickly regress. Because I was able to be present with my son, he was able to teach me what he needed.”
Just two short years after their son’s diagnosis, a daughter was born, and the Wilsons were ecstatic. Sadly, the daughter would soon be diagnosed with autism, as well, and would exhibit more severe signs than her brother did. But Scott and his wife Lynn were there.
“I was able to bring the children home from school every day for lunch so they could get a break from the chaos that the playground is to a child with autism. I shudder to think where my children would be today had I continued to work 60 hours a week. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to provide them with the attention they needed,” Scott argues.
“Primerica is the only place where you get support even while you’re going through a valley. Some valleys are deeper than others, but that doesn’t matter here. If you keep plodding through, Primerica will be waiting.”
Something Bigger Than Themselves
Over the years, Scott and Lynn have become staunch advocates for issues relating to children with disabilities. They helped create a martial arts class for children with autism. It’s taught by an occupational therapist who has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. The class began with eight children. It now boasts more than 40.
When Scott saw that his son was struggling socially in the seventh grade, he mobilized a social skills pilot project and saw the funding come into place for his son’s eighth- and ninth-grade years, too.
Because of the flexibility and freedom that having a Primerica business gave him, Scott was instrumental in guiding the government of Alberta on Bill 23: The Family Supports for Children with Disabilities Act. Since 2007, he’s been appointed to sit on two advisory boards that have guided the Minister of Children’s Services on issues relating to children’s disabilities.
Now, the boy who needed constant care gets himself out of bed and to the city bus on time. He makes it to his high school classes and back home again with ease. The intensive therapies that the Wilsons had the time and freedom to provide their children have made all the difference in their lives … and the lives of countless other children with developmental disabilities.
The Primerica Story
Scott says he’s not the poster boy for the Primerica business opportunity. He hasn’t grown a big business or made all of the money he’d hoped to make … yet; but, Scott couldn’t be more wrong. His story is the Primerica story. Because of this company, he was able to spend precious time with his children during what could have been turbulent years for them. He had the freedom to be there when his family needed him most. He had the opportunity to affect law as it pertains to children with disabilities. And he knew that, no matter what, Primerica would be ready for him when he was ready to build it big.
That, Scott, is exactly what Primerica’s all about. You’re a survivor. You’re a Primerican, and we salute you.
Are you worried about money? The amount of debt you have can take a toll on more than just your bank account and savings plan. It can impact you emotionally, as well.
With the economy struggling to make a comeback, the average American is spending 3.3 hours each day worrying about money:
Are you worried about your financial future? Get a new outlook! Ask your local Primerica representative for a free Financial Needs Analysis today.
MeLLmo Inc, provider of innovative mobile applications that allow users to view and interact with critical business information on-the-go, and Primericarecently announced that Primerica has selected Roambi Analytics for smart, timely, efficient decision-making.
The Roambi app transforms a Primerica rep’s personal and team business data into interactive graphic, visual reports, viewable on mobile devices like iPhones and iPads. Primerica is leading the way in innovative mobile technology that allows their reps to conduct business on-the-go, and from anywhere, with ease and simplicity.
Roambi is just one more tool that reps can use to work quickly and efficiently, and stay connected with their team. With Roambi, Primerica’s plugged-in field leaders can:
View their personal and team production data transformed into interactive visualizations and dashboards on an iPhone or iPad
Access, refresh and manage important Primerica business data – wherever they are, whenever they need it – right from their mobile device.
Interact with, filter, sort and analyze data. The interface is visual and quick.
Email or call teammates directly from the app to recognize, encourage and follow up with teammates right away. Reports contain a team’s contact information, so everything they need is right there.
Primerica shared exciting news earlier today when we announced plans to move our international headquarters to a new state-of-the-art facility in 2013. The best part about this news is that it gives us the chance to serve our representatives and clients better.
With convenient access from Interstate 85 and Highway 120, we will be located on 30 acres inside Legacy, an 111 acre office park in the heart of Gwinnett County, Georgia. Our main entrance will be accessible from “Primerica Parkway,” which will be lined with Primerica banners to display our pride in the company.
Our new facility will be a centerpiece for our company and the dynamic community surrounding us. We have been proud to serve this state and the rest of North America for the last 34 years, and we are pleased that the new facility will allow us to better meet the needs of our representatives and our clients.
Our current campus includes 10 separate buildings, which is why we are looking forward to consolidating into one three-story building with two connected wings. The design of the new facility will allow us to streamline our business operations and greatly enhance our efficiency. The customized “build-to-suit” plan allows us to showcase Primerica and our exciting transition to becoming our own Georgia-based company following our successful IPO in 2010.
At our headquarters, we will be able to show visitors the way we’re working for our representatives, our clients and our community. We look forward to offering a tour unlike anything we’ve ever been able to do before. Watch the video below for a preview of what’s to come:
To join the conversation, head on over to Facebook to let us know what you’re most looking forward to about the new facility or tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
In early 1994 Tony and Shelly Narain owned a real estate brokerage in the Stratford, CT, area. “Things were running along pretty well back then,” remembers Tony, “or at least we thought so. But then my brother came up to me one day and said, ‘Listen, I’ve heard about this company with a great opportunity. Let’s go check them out.’”
“I was really excited about what I saw,” says Tony. “I could see how we could help a lot more people and have a real residual business – something we would never have with real estate. Shelly and I weren’t scared about going out on our own because we had been doing that for years. What we were attracted to was the freedom.”
Tony and Shelly kept attending Primerica functions to find out more about the business. “That’s the part we got right immediately,” says Shelly. “We stayed plugged in – even if we were still concentrating on the real estate. We never missed a training meeting. In fact, we went to as many as six a week because we wanted to condense the time it took us to figure out the business and become successful. The beauty of Primerica is you have to put the time in to get your business going but you can do it at your own pace. We just chose to go as fast as we could.”
Tony and Shelly hit the ground running. “Things seemed slow to us at first,” says Tony “but the pace started to pick up.” By June of 1995, Tony and Shelly were ready to open their first Primerica office. “It was a stretch,” remembers Tony. “ But we went from $3,000 our first year with Primerica to $26,000 and three years later we were at $500,000.1 Since then, the Narains have continued to build and are now Senior National Sales Directors with the company. They have an entire organization which they started and grew – and which they own.2 “We have our own business within a business,” says Tony.
“You know, there’s one thing I want to say about Primerica that really changed our lives,” says Shelly. “Before we ever started making money, we were already learning how to manage our money. Before, even though we were earning what we thought was good money in real estate, we never had any money in the bank. We spent as fast as we made it. Primerica helped us learn how to pay ourselves first – and Tony and I haven’t argued about money since. We see eye-to-eye on finances.”
“Even after the money came rolling in,” says Tony, “we were careful about stepping up the lifestyle. And we brought up our four daughters in the same way. They have never had to worry about a thing – and today our family has a life we couldn’t have even dreamed up in 1994, but the kids appreciate where all of it came from. Hard work.”
Tony and Shelly are proud of their family and thrilled two daughters, Betty and Mary, are active in Primerica. “We’re building a family business that we can pass down from generation to generation,” says Tony.2
“It’s been a wonderful ride and we can’t wait for the future,” says Shelly.
The cash flows stated are not intended to demonstrate the earnings of typical RVPs/representatives. Rather, the cash flows that have been cited reflect the potential that comes with building your business, and there is no guarantee that you will achieve any specific cash flow level. Most RVPs/representatives do not achieve the levels illustrated. In the 12‑month period ending in December 2010, Primerica paid a total of $503,115,928 in compensation to the sales force at an average of $5,296 per licensed representative. Average RVP earnings are typically higher. Actual gross cash flow is, among other factors, dependent upon the size and scale of a representative’s organization, the number of sales and the override spread on each sale, and the ability and efforts of you and your downlines. Having said this, Primerica provides a tremendous opportunity for individuals who work hard and who desire to develop a business with strong income potential.
Ownership is available only upon meeting all qualification and eligibility requirements, and remaining in compliance with all terms and conditions, as set forth in the Ownership Program Document and various operating policies and procedures issued by Primerica from time to time.
