Before Unique Writers Brian worked for a couple of insurance companies selling annuities, final expense, and life insurance.
While working for those previous companies Brian did not have a pleasant experience. “I felt like I was someone’s pawn on their board. I didn’t feel like I was working for myself. I was making money for someone else, but not for me.”
Brian began to look for other opportunities and saw an application on Monster. He submitted his resume and received a callback.
“After speaking with Andrew Winnett, the opportunity sounded good to me. He answered all my questions about contracting, the system, and what I needed to do to get started and be successful. I said to myself, ‘This is something I can do!’”
It was a relief for Brian to hear that this wasn’t a get-rich-quick-thing you hear all the time. “This company will make you rich, but get rich slowly” was something that Brian had heard Mike Passaglia (CEO/President) say.
He appreciated that UW was honest about getting started – that it would take some time, not a lot, but some. But, once he got going he was confident he was going to do really well.
Brian hit the ground running but was authentic about not having the UW system down right away. He said there were some growing pains in the beginning. He felt it took him a couple of months to start seeing the results he really wanted.
When asked “why do you feel it took a couple of months?” Brian said, “This was something different. It was a different system than I was used to. I was new to this. I was also taught that things like terms were ‘bad’ … but now it was good. There were little things like that I had to unlearn.”
Brian went on, “The only thing blocking me, was myself.” Once he realized that, he felt like he began to turn a corner. “
“The support I received from the UW coaches was also huge for me.” Brian likes that if he’s struggling, he knows he can call Mike, or Andrew, and any of the other coaches for pointers. “And when I do that, it helps me to be more successful.”
Brian has only been with UW for a handful of months but has been selling insurance for about eight years now. “I can’t see myself doing anything else. I can’t see clocking in and working for a boss telling me to go pick up some boxes.” He’s already been on the National Leader Board several times and is definitely going to be a National contender in 2017!
Brian remembers his first appointment … “I butchered the script! I didn’t think I did that great of a job but they still bought.” He said his experience became better and better the more he learned and committed himself to the UW system. “Once I really learned the script I felt more confident to go into a home. I mean I’m still learning, but now I feel I can sell to anyone I sit in front of. Most of the experiences now look like … I show up and boom it happens.”
Brian has also been venturing to Reno, Nevada; and has seen some good results. He said, “I’m able to be engulfed in work for two to three days and away from my daily distractions. When I do this, I’m able to get fully focused. I’m writing a lot more policies because I’m getting in front of more people!” Brian said he’s gone to Reno two times (about once a month) and is excited to go again next month.
“This job is not always glam and glory. When you’re selling it’s the greatest job in the world and when it’s down you might feel like quitting. You just have to know … The ups don’t last forever and the downs don’t last forever. If you prepare for the downs you will be mentally prepared and be able to press through them.” When asked what might influence some of those downs Brian said with a bit of laughter, “I get bit by that lazy bug once and awhile. If I can stay away from that I have a much better week.”
Brian has been married for 8 years, has 3 kids (3, 8, and 10 years old), loves to play basketball (favorite NBA team: LAKERS!), and his favorite thing to do with his family is to go to Disneyland – they used to go 2-3 times a month!
Bianca began working for a credit union around the age of 17 to pay her way through college. Upon graduating she was recruited by a large corporate bank that began promoting quickly because of her hard work and excellence.
During her time at the bank, she worked closely with high profile clients starting small businesses and working an average of 50-60 hours per week.
The problem she kept running into was the better she performed the more she was promoted and the more hours she had to work.
As long as she can remember, Bianca has always wanted to be a business owner but was afraid of not being able to count on a steady paycheck. She also wanted a career that was flexible enough that whenever she started a family, it would allow her to be at home more.
Looking for her desired schedule, Bianca left her position at the bank and accepted a Commercial Marketing Manager position for a well-known insurance company. But, her time with the company proved to be frustrating and a strain on her family.
One day, Bianca bumped into Sharon who was working with Unique Writers. Sharon told Bianca of the opportunity and how perfect it would be for her.
Bianca was skeptical after hearing what Sharon had shared due to her experience. She told Sharon that she “wasn’t buying it.” Well, after further conversations with Sharon, it wasn’t long before Bianca became an agent with Unique Writers!
Bianca started as an agent about a year and a half ago and has been enjoying her experience. She loves visiting clients and helping them find the protection that is truly best for them.
“Unique Writers has done a great job providing this opportunity for us (the agents). It was ‘the answer’ for my dreams, skills, experiences, and so much more!” “It’s like family to me” Bianca said about working with her mentor. She likes the support she receives from her coaches and that this position challenges her to be the best she can be.
Bianca is one of Unique Writers agents who works part-time. She works 2-3 days a week and is one of the National Leader Board’s Top 20 Agents. In order to see success, she said “Every week, I need to be seeing clients – constantly … and working really hard on those days I’ve set aside.”
She said if she does that, she gets to enjoy the family time she’s always wanted, doing the things she loves and gets paid really well for it!
Bianca loves being an agent and helping her clients on appointments. She was also honest about having those tough days once and a while, “Sometimes I have rough days with the kids and start feeling, ‘I don’t think I can do this today.’”
Bianca says what helps her is she stops and thinks “What if this is someone’s aunt, grandma, or sister? What if something tragic happens today?” That’s enough to get her motivated, pick herself up, and keep moving forward.
“I’m here to help these families … I’m going to trust, stick to my game plan, show up, and write the policy.” And on one of these particular days, she pressed through and wrote a great policy for an older woman and was so glad she did!
Bianca learned that there are hard days and mistakes will be made. She reminds herself “Learning comes with disappointment. It doesn’t make me a bad agent. I just have to press through.”
She also encourages other agents to “listen deeper” and “get to the heart” of what your client really needs. You might go in for Mortgage Protection and walk out with a whole lot more – and the best coverage for the family.
Bianca has been married for almost 6 years, has two boys (3 and 5 years old), loves the outdoors, and is a singer-songwriter. She comes from a family of musicians and can play guitar, piano, and violin.
Before Unique Writers Joe was a National Sales Director for a hose manufacturer in Oregon.
The company promised Joe the world and a 12% commission.
The opportunity sounded so great that he decided to pack everything up and relocate his family. He also agreed to a small base salary because he knew what he was capable of accomplishing. In the first six months, he was living off of his savings, but he knew the potential was worth it. As the savings were depleting a breakthrough happened … Joe landed six very large corporate accounts – a commission of $12,000,000! In case you missed it … that was twelve MILLION dollars!
Then the bottom fell out. The hose manufacturer was sued for acquiring more business than they were able to support. They closed their doors and Joe never saw a dime. He was devastated. Joe knew the layoff was imminent before it happened; and one day while driving home from Arizona (after setting up one of those large accounts) he got a call from his cousin. His cousin had been working for UW and started telling Joe about the opportunity. It sounded great but he was skeptical. He stopped by UW’s home office anyway and met with Mike Passaglia (CEO/President).
Joe returned home, after that initial meeting with Mike, to talk with his wife about the opportunity with UW. She told Joe “Honey, you’ve never let me down.” He was nervous because they were broke, borrowing money from family, and about to be homeless. He decided to go for it!
Five days later he finished the pre-licensing material, took the licensing test, and had his license.
Joe’s early beginnings with UW began with a list of 100 pre-approach leads. He wrote his first deal after knocking on the first door. It was a Final Expense client and he was paid four days later.
That’s when he knew he could do this!
Joe now enjoys being the Annuity Trainer and New Agent Support for UW. In this role he loves being able to come alongside new and veteran agents. Joe went all in with UW a few years ago and has never looked back. He had this to say, “It changed my life. I have time with family, I’m financially secure, and I know I can always make at least $250,000 a year producing.”
Filled with gratitude, Joe went on, “I owe Unique Writers everything. It’s the system and the belief in me that allowed me to get to where I’m at today.”
Joe described a favorite sale that also happened to be the largest commission he’s earned (from one client). He set up a Mortgage Protection appointment and the meeting went great.
He wrote the Mortgage Protection coverage … and since he filled out the Financial eValuator in the initial meeting he was able to roll over both of their 401(k)’s. The final commission came to a total of $40,000! Joe gave credit to “sticking with the system that UW has in place.”
He that he focused on, “being a Mortgage Protection Specialist first” and then he was able to come back and see how else he could help his clients. He was able to get his clients the coverage they needed and was paid well for it.
Joe encourages agents to engulf themselves in the UWU Campuses. He recommended, “Don’t stray from what Unique Writers put in place and keep yourself accountable for your actions.” He also shared, “There are ups and downs. Ups are phenomenal! But we’re down you need to remember that it doesn’t last forever. That’s when you get with your coach so you don’t suffocate yourself.”
Joe’s been married for thirteen years has two kids (5 and 9), and likes to HUNT and fish. This year he also bought his dream house, dream dog, and dream car.
Before Unique Writers Sharon owned a successful Flooring and Design Center company for 20 years.
Business was going well and Sharon was ready to expand. Then the housing crunch hit. That, along with a number of other unforeseen circumstances led Sharon to close up shop and sell her business.
From there she began a carpet and tile business with her husband, while also starting a preservation company with a group of realtors in the foreclosure market. Things looked promising once again… right up to the point where the government put a freeze on the foreclosure market. That was that.
Then her fortunes turned. Two years ago her son (Joe Tiller) went to work with Unique Writers and saw immediate success. He was only with UW for 3 months when he invited Sharon to join him. The conversation went a little like this:
Joe: “Mom, you would be great at this.” Sharon: “NO.” Joe: “I promise you will be good at this!” Sharon: “NO … I’M TOO OLD … I REFUSE TO TAKE ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES A TEST.” But Joe persisted, and a month later Sharon began her training with UW.
Sharon’s experience was in service and relational-sales when she owned and ran her businesses for over 30 years. This was huge for her, and meant so much that she would be able to use that extensive experience to help realize success with UW. She said two things really excited her about joining UW:
1) “I wasn’t trying to run a business all by myself.” Sharon especially loves that she can still build a business. “It’s in my blood. I love that; It’s really fun for me. I can grow as big as I want … and not have to lay someone off. Neither do I have the responsibility of payroll.” This means less stress in her life.
2) “I got paid for the work I performed. I never had to beg someone to pay me for the work I did anymore. I get paid on how I perform.”
What she enjoys the most about working with UW? The opportunity to train and encourage other agents; and meeting with her clients! The UW system also allows her to be more involved with her 7 grandchildren. She said “It’s my season to be grandma and Unique Writers affords me lots of flexibility to be there with them… and buy them things! I can go on school field trips, schedule holidays out, and go to things like a Thanksgiving Day feast with a 1st grader.”
In the beginning Sharon typically worked in Final Expense; but on this particular day she was on a Mortgage Protection appointment. She met with a retired correctional officer in his 50’s. While writing the application she found out that he had a heart condition. A risk assessment was done and she was told how to classify him. The application was submitted and little did she know that it would require a LOT more work to get him covered. Sharon worked on this specific case for over 2 months – with the help from the UW team. The first application was denied; but she didn’t give up. Sharon submitted a second one – which was approved. The client wanted coverage because his first wife died years ago; and he was recently re-married. He wanted to make sure that his new wife was covered and would be taken care of, if the worse were to happen. Nine months after the application went through, Sharon received a call from the client’s wife and found out that her husband had passed away from pneumonia. Things got a little worse… when the client’s family tried to take everything away from this lady. All she had was that policy. The underwriter told Sharon that the client was so fortunate to have her because they have never seen someone work that hard to get an application through for a client!”
Sharon knows firsthand that ALL agents get discouraged at times … “I had a day when I went out to 6 appointments and I didn’t close 1 of them. That was on a Monday. I went out on Thursday with 4 appointments and ended the day at $10,000! If I would have quit on Monday, I would not have had an opportunity for a Thursday.” She would also encourage other agents to “do it the way it’s written. It’s tried and true. And goes so much better.”
Sharon has been married to her husband for 26 years. They have 6 kids and 7 grandkids!
