 
By Lucretia DiSanto Jones
Twenty-nine-year-old Rebecca Gonzalez, CLU, FICF,
is one busy woman.
An MDRT-producing member of NAIFA-Wisconsin, she
is her local and state associations' professional development chair;
she is currently moderating the NAIFA-Wisconsin's Leadership
in Life Institute (LILI) classes; and she recently took a new
position as a Catholic Family Life Insurance company agency manager.
If you think that's impressive for someone who's
only been in the business for six years, think again. She's doing
it all while raising two young children—a three-year-old and
a one-year-old—with her husband Pepe, who runs his own very
busy construction company.
From the sound of her voice during an interview
with Advisor Today, Gonzalez is doing it all with seemingly
incredible composure. Learn how she got started in the business,
why she'll always be a member of NAIFA and how she hopes to help
others become successful, too.
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| NAIFA
members are always there to help. That's the type of environment
it is. |
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AT YAT Chat: How
did you get into the insurance and financial services business?
Gonzalez: I got into the business mostly because
my brother was a general agent and I was doing some recruiting on
campus for him. I realized that I was recruiting my classmates,
and I thought, "Why don't I give this a try, too?"
If I hadn't gone to work for him, I probably wouldn't
have stayed in the business. Those first couple of years are very
time consuming, and you need a lot of energy. Seeing how successful
he was and knowing that I could get to that point if I could work
through the rough times was my motivation.
AT YAT Chat: How
has your NAIFA membership contributed to your growth and success
in the business?
Gonzalez: I definitely don't think I would be still
be in the same business if it weren't for NAIFA. Going to monthly
meetings and hearing people talk about the same issues I'm facing—for
example, the no-call list—is invaluable. I found my MDRT mentor
at a local NAIFA meeting. I've surrounded myself with so many high-producing
people through NAIFA, which I think is what led to my becoming an
MDRT member.
AT YAT Chat: What
has proven to be the greatest benefit of NAIFA membership to you?
Gonzalez: I think it would be the confidence that
I've gained through the LILI program, and through my involvement
in NAIFA in general. Just looking at where I was when I first joined
and where I am today—my confidence level has tripled, if not
more.
AT YAT Chat: Why
do you think young advisors should join?
Gonzalez: I think there's a couple of different
reasons.
One, they need to stay active on the legislative
front. Young people coming into our agency think the industry has
always been this way and always will be this way. They don't think
there's anything they need to do to preserve our rights to do business
the way we do it. It's a huge eyeopener to them to learn the things
that NAIFA teaches about legislative advocacy.
The other reason would be the camaraderie—to
know that other people are going through the same ups and downs
that you are.
AT YAT Chat: What
would you say to a young advisor who tells you they don't need or
want to belong to NAIFA?
Gonzalez: I tell them about NAIFA's legislative
efforts, and to be honest, I give them my opinion. I say if they
truly feel that they don't need NAIFA, chances are they're not going
to be in this business in a couple of years. They are usually a
little taken aback; then they ask what I mean. I tell them my story.
When I moved here I knew absolutely nobody in the community or the
work area, and I explain what I've gotten out of the NAIFA meetings.
NAIFA members are always there to help. That's
the type of environment it is. They want to see you grow just because
they want to see you grow. It's true altruism.
AT YAT Chat: Where
do you see yourself in 10 years?
Gonzalez: I just recently took a new position with
Catholic Family as an agency manager, so I would see myself continuing
to bring people into the business—people who become successful
MDRT producers.
AT YAT Chat: You
have a very full and busy life. How do you maintain a work-life
balance?
Gonzalez: When I made the change to agency manager,
I set up what my "dream week" would look like—where
I would be, what I would be doing. The agreement we have at home
is that I'm not gone more than two nights a week. I try to abide
by it as much as I can.
February 2005
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