I consult with employers and build benefit packages and design contribution strategies for their employees. I sell and implement these plans.

EDUCATION | I have a B.S. Degree in psycho-biology from U.C.L.A.

HOW TO GET STARTED | In terms of education, get a bachelor's degree - in anything! Then, simply apply at an employee's benefits firm (private brokerage firm). You will need a state license to sell insurance. To obtain this you will be required to attend a week's worth of classes and pass an exam. There will also be on-going continuing education requirements. Search on-line for the different companies that offer this class in your area. Pace yourself, but take the time to truly learn as much as you can when you're beginning your career in this field. Focus on the learning aspect and developing yourself. To be a value to the client, you will need to have a lot of knowledge and experience.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | You should be a people-person, problem solver, detail-oriented, analytical, confident, (you will be speaking with high-level executive staff) and have good communication skills.

how I got started | I have a bent toward helping people. I've always liked to do concrete things for them. I desired to be a resource and an expert in something. So, choosing a career that is service-related, of course, appealed to me. I didn't think when I was young, "I'm going to be an insurance broker when I grow up!" but this job fits me to a "T". I got my foot in the door by networking through friends. My workplace was a small firm at the time and I was able to find my niche there as I asserted and developed myself in the company. For example, I started out in administration and then asked if I could try out different areas within the company. I wanted to learn. As a result, I gained experience and in about three years was able to become an account executive.

why this job?| It's all about the service side of the job. Working directly with people, seeing their problems and offering them a tangible solution, then seeing the result is inspiring. An example of this would be when a widow receives a much-needed life insurance check or when I am able to save someone money on a medical claim.

why I love this job!| The company I work for is really driven toward excellence in all areas, including encouraging me to achieve excellence in my personal/family life. They care about me. Also, there are always changes within this field which keeps things exciting.

my typical day| I wake up between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Sometimes I make it to the gym. My day in the office begins at 7:00 a.m. For the first hour, I spend time following up with clients via email and working on reports or a project that needs to get done. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. I may be on the phone answering clients' questions, helping them through claims, working with employers, dealing with health carriers, etc. I will also spend time building packages for new employees, researching court cases and keeping current with the laws. No day is typical, but everyday is busy. I have a lot of balls in the air at once so my day goes by very quickly. I leave the office around 5:30 p.m., but may work for about an hour at home answering emails or working on projects.

what they are | Managing tasks and prioritizing what needs to be done first can be a challenge. Staying on top of new legislation, as well as dealing with clients and meeting their expectations are also challenges I deal with.

all about growth | You can always build a bigger client base and grow your business. If the company you work for is set up this way, you could become a partner in a firm.

my website|