Ron & Maryellen Schmitt, Sr. New Rochelle, NY Former Occupation: Airline Pilot
When Ron & Maryellen Schmitt, Sr., of New Rochelle, NY, first heard about Primerica, they were most impressed with the simple financial concepts presented during their Opportunity meeting. “The main thing we took away from that meeting was the ‘Rule of 72’ – which states that by dividing 72 by the annual rate of return of an investment, you can get a fairly accurate estimate of how many years it will take for the initial investment to double,” explains Ron.
“That simple idea blew me away,” he adds. “It really surprised me, coming to realize that I didn’t know the basics of how money works.”
Ron says he was already impressed with the financial education and Primerica’s commitment to term life insurance, so when he was offered the opportunity to build his own Primerica business – doing the same things for families that he had just experienced – he jumped at the chance. “At the time, I was feeling very betrayed by my employer,” recalls Ron. “As a pilot, the airline wasn’t living up to the promises they’d made me or the other employees. In fact, I had just taken a 40% pay cut. I’d been there for 24 years but after that, I’d had enough. Primerica came along at exactly the right time for us.”
Once they got into the business, Ron and Maryellen began working with their son and daughter in law, Ron and Felicia Schmitt, Jr., building side by side. “Unlike the corporate world, Primerica gave us the opportunity to work together and to do something great,” explains Ron Sr. “Primerica is the perfect place where the whole family can be involved. You don’t need any special degrees, extraordinary talents or a lot of start up money. Here, you can learn together, grow together and become an incredible force for good in your community.”
Working together as a family, each building separate businesses within the same organization, has been one of Ron’s and Maryellen’s greatest joys. “When Ron and Felicia became Primerica Million-Dollar* earners, our greatest thrill was to present them with their Rings,” smiles Ron. “We were so proud of what they achieved with just a little bit of guidance from Maryellen and myself and with our full support as they built their business.”
*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.
Jatinder & Sadhana Bajaj
Upland, CA Former Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Growing up in New Delhi, India, Jatinder Bajaj, now of Upland, CA, says he has always been very goal driven. “My parents were very prosperous, but it was very important to me to achieve my dreams on my own, without their financial help,” reflects Jatinder. “When I left home to pursue a masters degree in business in Canada, I only had $100 in my pocket.”
It wasn’t easy working three jobs and going to school full time, but his dreams were important to him so he pushed through until he finally graduated. For several years, Jatinder says he worked various jobs, in several different locations, to support his wife, Sadhana, and their growing family. But whatever small successes he found, he knew he could do better – he just didn’t know how.
When he heard about Primerica, he was working as a very successful real estate agent and enjoying a comfortable lifestyle with his family in California. But something was missing. “I was one of the top producers in the company and I was making a good income,” recalls Jatinder. “But I never felt like I was living up to my potential. When I heard about Primerica, it immediately impressed me as a place where we could achieve our goals and dreams without limits. There is unlimited room for growth here – we’re never restricted by a territory or by an employer.”
He continues, “But it wasn’t just the incredible business opportunity that brought us to this company. It was the opportunity to share with others the financial strategies that we’d already been applying to our own lives. The things Primerica stands for – ‘Buy Term and invest the difference,’ the Rule of 72, etc. – are principles we’d been practicing for years. We loved the idea of building a business around helping others to understand those concepts.”
Today, Jatinder and Sadhana are continuing to build a thriving Primerica business as they change lives in their community. “Because of Primerica, we are totally debt free,” enthuses Jatinder. “We live in our ‘dream home’ and have been proud to send each of our three children to the colleges they wanted. We’ve been able to support numerous charities through the years and we intend next to create a charitable foundation in India for the nation’s most needy.”
Jatinder says they’ve built their business and their lives around reaching for big goals – and they plan to continue stretching themselves toward greatness. “There is great power in writing down your goals, reading them daily and working hard to achieve them,” smiles Jatinder. “Sadhana and I prove every day to ourselves and our teammates that if you stay focused on your dreams – and work toward them – you can create something special!”
Stephanie & Henry Lincoln
Atlanta, GA Former Occupation: Corporate Trainer
A few years ago, Stephanie Lincoln, of Atlanta, GA, was working as a corporate trainer for a brokerage firm. She was working hard to earn a living but, like so many people, didn’t know much about how money works. When her sister, René Turner told her about the Primerica business she was building, Stephanie took notice.
“I saw how committed my sister was to her business and how hard she was working to be successful,” recalls Stephanie. “I went to an opportunity meeting and what I saw there totally hooked me! The financial concepts they talked about really struck me. I knew other people needed to know what I’d just learned and I wanted to be a part of an organization that told them.”
Besides the financial education, one of the other things that drew Stephanie to Primerica was the opportunity to work together with family to build a business. “Family and Primerica go hand in hand,” explains Stephanie. “It’s not just me and my sister – my husband, Henry, who I met in this business, also came from a Primerica family. He joined originally with his parents in Northern California!”
Building a Primerica family business isn’t just about creating a better life right now. It’s about laying a strong foundation for future generations to build on. “Henry and I, along with René and her husband, Mel, have a vision for our families,” says Stephanie. “We’re building financial independence together – the kind of continued success that can be passed from generation to generation. Having those kind of collective goals makes you work harder to create a business that has value beyond the present.”
Would you like to have $1 million saved for retirement? Start saving now! For every year you put it off, you pay the high cost of waiting.
If you start saving $95 each month at age 20, you could have one million dollars at age 65. But, if you wait until age 30 to start, you’ll have to put away $263 each month.
Wait 10 more years and start at age 40, you’ll have to save $754 each month. Get started at age 50, and you’ll have to save $2,413 each month. That’s 25 times more per month than if you’d started at age 20 – ouch!
Because of the power of compound interest, the sooner you start to save, the less you’ll have to put away to meet your goal. Don’t pay the high cost of waiting – start saving for retirement today!
This is a hypothetical and does not represent an actual investment. Assumes annual end-of-year contributions, with a 10% nominal rate of return, compounded monthly. This example uses a constant rate of return, unlike actual investments which will fluctuate in value. It does not include fees and taxes, which would lower results.
Nick & Becky Alise
Boynton Beach, FL Former Occupation: High School Teacher/Coach
When Nick & Becky Alise, of Boynton Beach, FL, first started building their Primerica business, they had no idea it would turn into a viable second career – or that their tiny start up would develop into a thriving, successful family business!
“I was a high school teacher and coach when I was introduced to the business,” recalls Nick. “We had a two year old and we needed extra money. I was already doing odds and ends part time but the Primerica Opportunity appealed to me because the company offered products I was very interested in as well as the chance to build something great.”
At the time, Primerica was only a year old so the Alises found themselves at the beginning of what would turn into an incredible, successful company. The longer they continued to build their business, the more excited they became – until they made it official and went full time in the business.
They set a great example of success for their new teammates and also for their daughter, Danielle – who eventually met and married another highly successful Primerica business builder, Omar Oropesa, of Miami Lakes, FL. “We were on a cruise sponsored by our uplines, Greg and Sharon Fitzpatrick – the Primerica reps directly above us in the business hierarchy,” recalls Nick. “Sharon told Becky that she thought Omar would be the perfect match for Danielle. Turns out she was right!”
Today, the Alises and Oropesas are enjoying the benefits of building a family business. They’re each building separate, successful organizations – but they’re doing it together. “Primerica is like any other business,” says Nick. “Just like a restaurant or a clothing store, it’s better when you’re in business with the people you care about.”
