I began working for Links Consulting and Producers FMO about a year and a half ago. Not long after I began working there, my boss, Mike, confided in me that, although I was mostly just doing the billing and commissions, one of the main reasons he hired me was because he thought I had real potential in this type of business. At the time I didn’t think much of it. I was having a tough time just keeping my head above water, much less think of future job opportunities. After about a year on the job, and after Ellie started attending three days of preschool a week, I realized I had more time that I could devote to my work.
In September, Mike inquired as to whether or not I would want to take the life insurance exam. I knew I did because this would open up other opportunities, but I wasn’t sure how I would find the time. I decided to bite the bullet and around mid-October I decided to do it. I ordered the study materials and began the preparation process. This is not known as an easy test. I had been warned. The goal was just to pass the test, not score high. No one scores high. My competitive nature was sure I could but after I saw the hundreds and hundreds of facts and definitions, I knew I was in for a long haul.
I also attended a two-day class where the instructor went over the majority of the materials. It was quite helpful because he made it easier to understand and apply the information to real-life. I don’t think I mentioned this, but Mike suggested I take both the life AND health insurance exam. He never did but wished he had so I agreed. Unfortunately, this added on even more study material. I spent hours and hours studying. I would lock myself up in my room for hours at a time. Every place I went, my book was in hand. I gave it all I could considering I was raising a family and being a wife and mom at the same time.
Finally test day arrived, December 5th. I remembered what my instructor said. He told me, “You can miss 45 questions out of 150. You have to look at it like that.” He was right. I knew I had to get a 70% or better. That was all I needed. Seth was so supportive through this process. The day of the test he put these cute notes and treats all through the house and all the way out to my car. It was so sweet.
I got in the car and headed to McDonalds for a Dr. Pepper. I knew I would need one to get me through the test. Twenty minutes later I arrived at the testing center. Who would have known what an ordeal it was to get into the testing center. I had to empty my pockets, take off my jewelry, lock up my stuff, go through a metal detector. They weren’t messing around. Once I settled into my cubby and began working through my test, the jitters lessened. I marked my scratch paper each time I was unsure of a question, making sure I didn’t have more than 45 I didn’t know. I was getting worried. I was making too many marks.
There was a time limit, two hours to be exact. At 1 hour and 45 minutes I had completed the test. I reviewed a few questions and counted the ones I wasn’t sure on. I had about 40 and of those 40 I assumed I probably got close to half of those right. In my mind, I thought I had passed, but some doubts were creeping in. Oh well, time was up. I submitted my test and immediately on the screen I see “PASSED”. Man was a I happy! I didn’t even care that I had only gotten a 78%. I was just thrilled to have passed. So now I have my life and health insurance license. I am “kind of” happy about that. Now I just need to learn how to use it! 🙂
MightyJohnsons 