My Beginning

When you ask someone how it all started, you usually get a vague answer or “I’m not really sure”. Not me, I know exactly how it happened…
My first real job, or career, was a tractor mechanic for International Harvester. The business eventually closed, and I decided to try something new.

The summer of 1985 found me working for a General Contractor in Manhattan, KS. He took a chance hiring me because I had no home construction experience or any of the necessary tools. I was 24 years old and not sure what my path in life would be, but I was willing to work hard.

One afternoon Mr. Blecha came to me and said I would be having lunch with a friend of his tomorrow. I questioned who, and what for? He informed me his friend was an insurance agent and looking for new hires. Like any guy, from a little town, with little dreams, I informed him I would be doing no such thing. At that time in my life, insurance agents ranked right up there with car salesmen and that just wasn’t in my future.

Mr. Blecha was a good man who had taken the time to get to know me that summer. He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. His response to my undignified “No Way”, was the following: “Now you listen to me, someday you’ll be great at something, but your path isn’t here. You need to be making money with your mouth, not your back!”
I met with that insurance agent and 2 weeks later I was at a training school in Dallas, TX. And so the journey began… over 38 years ago.

Experience

As a young Life Insurance Agent, I found working with seniors to be very rewarding and I excelled. Eventually I wanted to work more in the Financial Planning side of the business and New York Life Ins. Co. (NYL) allowed me to learn more about that insurance area and gave me the opportunity. The education was fantastic, and I was blessed to be working with established and very knowledgeable agents.

While elk hunting in Colorado, I met a Senior Vice-President within NYL who became a great contact and my friend. That chance meeting led me to becoming a Sales Manager with Prudential Ins. Co. of America when he also went to Prudential to become the President of Prudential. I spent several years there and was blessed to work with top-notch managers. I learned a great deal during that time and didn’t always make the right decisions in those days, but it all ended up educating me for my future in this business.

Eventually I worked the “Management” and “Total Planning” bug out of my system, and ended up doing what I loved most, working with seniors. This led me right back where I started, with Old American Ins. Co., owned by Kansas City Life Ins. Co., providing me with a full slate of products for most every need.

Here and Now

I’ve managed to stay busy with many outside projects and hobbies, always working with my hands in my spare time. My projects range from building cars, like my ‘48’ Willys Jeep, riding motorcycles with my wife, building outdoor projects, collecting old Harley-Davidson motorcycles, designing our backyard landscape, to welding various items. I love music and going to concerts, I love to shoot a little pool when my time allows, I have been fortunate and am able to enjoy the outdoors; whether I’m hunting, hiking, camping, or 4-wheeling. I even enjoy the occasional adrenaline rush of a zip-line or repelling down from a tall structure, all this rounds out my time off. I feel a person needs something outside of work to keep from getting burned out.

Between all of that and my insane Insurance Agent schedule, I still manage to spend time traveling with my beautiful wife. Our 4 children are all grown up, some married, and all are living their best lives. The grandkids complete this crazy life for me, I’m even smiling as I think about them.

Get In Touch

If you’ve read all my Bio and you’ve taken the time to look at the pages/pictures of my website, you should have a pretty good idea of who I am. I’ve poured myself into these pages so that you can have a better “picture” of who I am.

Now let’s meet so we can share some stories and I can help you solve your insurance related problems and issues.

Thankx for taking the time to read through this, enjoy the rest of my website……………..Jim

Organizations / Affiliations

• Past President: Flint Hills Life Underwriters

• Past President: Wamego Lions Club

• Past President: Footbowler Unit

• Past President: YOSHI Club

• Past Director: Thunder Mountain HOG

• Past Director: Bisbee Pool League

• Past Marketing Director: AZ State HOG Rally

*I did not list the number of times I was President or Director or the years I served in that position, nor did I list all the underlying offices I held in each of these organizations.

Additional Insurance  Company Recognition

• NYL – G.O. New Associate of the Year

• NYL – Executive Council

• NYL – Career Council

• FLA – Championship Award

*I no longer represent these Companies