Becoming an insurance agent can be a life-changing event forsome, especially when the opportunity turns into a calling. Thefollowing producers may have come into the business for differentreasons, but they're each staying in the industry for the same: toimprove the lives of others.

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Want to share your own insurance story?Click here totell us about your life as a successful agent. For more producerprofiles, see Meet Your Peers: September2013

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Donovan Weimar, salesmanager
AAA Minneapolis InsuranceAgency
St Louis Park, Minn.

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How and when did you decide that an insurance career wasfor you? I was looking for a job change, and had a chanceto work for a local captive agent who was well established with hiscommunity. I was great with customers and he taught me how to sellwithout the client feeling “sold.”

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What do you love most about being an insuranceagent? I love working with people and I'm proud of theindustry I chose to work in. I'm not an “agent;” I'm a problemsolver!

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What's your favorite client success story? Manythings come to mind, but delivering a death benefit claim on a lifeinsurance policy I sold allowed me to see the value in my work andkeeping my promises to so many people in their toughest times.

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What career advice would you give new agents and/orwhat's your mantra for success? Be proud of your careerand be an advocate for our industry! Great things come from innerconfidence.

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What career would you want if you weren't an insuranceagent? I would love to coach football or some other sport.I like to work hard and play even harder!

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What public figure (past or present) do you most admire,and why? I have always admired Phil Jackson, former NBAplayer & coach. He motivates people and does it in a classy andprofessional way. Who doesn't want a championship ring for everyfinger?

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What are your hobbies/what do you most enjoy doingoutside the office? I enjoy my family immensely as well asgolf, home projects, live sporting events and concerts.

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DavidRocchio
The Rocchio Agency
Carmel, Ind.
How and when did you decide that an insurance careerwas for you?In 1984. My father knew someone that was in the insurancebusiness, and thought it would be a good profession if I couldhandle sales rejection.

What do you love most about being an insuranceagent?
Two things:Being able to put people/businessestogether with insurance companies to solve problems and with salesthere is a large amount of rejection, so being able to conquer thatemotional hurdle is rewarding to me.

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What's your favorite client successstory?
I advised a clientto do something that turned out to be wrong. Itcost him approximately $5,000 (in 1992). He asked me what I wasgoing to do about it. I had just gotten married, and had verylittle money. I told him I was going to make it right. My boss atthe time told me he would let his E&O pay for it, but I had topay him back. Instead, I just borrowed $5,000 and paid the claimmyself. That business is still a client today, and had paid me 30times that amount in commissions.

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What career advice would you give new agents and what'syour mantra for success?
My career advice is to outwork your contemporaries. My mantra is“do what you say you are going to do.”

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What career would you want if you weren't an insuranceagent?
I'd be a hedge fund manager.

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What public figure (past or present) do you most admire,and why?
Abraham Lincoln and Dwight Eisenhower. They were both leadersof men who inspired people to achieve things many thoughtimpossible.

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What are your hobbies/what do you most enjoy doingoutside the office?
I enjoy golf, college basketball and stock analysis.

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Want to share your own insurance story?Click here totell us about your life as a successful agent. For more producerprofiles, see Meet Your Peers: September2013

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DaleKrupowicz, private client relationship manger
Personal Risk Management Solutions,LLC
NewYork, N.Y.

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How and when did you decide that an insurance career wasfor you?
Very early on. I started in this industry while I was in collegeand quickly realized it was the field for me. I enjoy analyzingpeople's insurance situations and providing them with peace ofmind.

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What do you love most about being an insuranceagent?
The relationships formed with clients. When you are working closelywith people on their personal insurance needs, you are involved inintimate aspects of their lives. You are talking to them abouttheir passions and issues that keep them up at night. I genuinelycare about protecting them and it makes my job very rewarding.

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What's your favorite client successstory?
There are so many but one of my favorites is a client who wasreluctant to keep his coverage with a luxury carrier that Irecommended, due to the cost. His financial advisor provided himwith a proposal from a middle market carrier which was about 30percent less. After discussing the advantages of the coverages hehad purchased and the importance of having a broker to advocate onhis behalf, he decided to keep the coverage. A few months later, hehad a major fire which destroyed his home. I met him at the scenethe following day and worked very closely with the adjuster on theclaim. I also helped his traumatized wife navigate through theprocess. Long story short, he was extremely satisfied with theresults, thanked me for talking him in to staying put, and hassince recommended several clients to our firm. He is a client wewill have for many, many years to come and has become a terrificreferral source.

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What career advice would you give new agents and/orwhat's your mantra for success?
Listen to your client's needs and be honest. Relationships arebased on honesty and sometimes it is necessary to provide clientswith information they may or may not want to hear, but it is alwaysin their best interest.

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What career would you want if you weren't an insuranceagent?
I would have to say a kindergarten teacher. I think a young child'smind is fascinating.

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What public figure (past or present) do you most admire,and why?
I admire so many women in business who climb the corporate ladderto become CEOs of successful companies. It is difficult to reachthis level but they persevere with the odds against them to emergeas successful business women. At the top of my list is Tory Burch.At a young age, she has managed to work her way up in the fashionindustry to build a billion dollar empire of her own. She is alsoextremely dedicated in her philanthropic work providing financialasssistance to underprivileged females who would otherwise wouldnot have the opportunity to pursue their dreams of owning abusiness. She is definitely someone I look up to and admire.

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What are your hobbies/what do you most enjoy doingoutside the office?
Watching football, shopping, and spending time with family.

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Want to shareyour own insurance story? Click here totell us about your life as a successful agent. For more producerprofiles, see Meet Your Peers: September2013