How I Transformed by Introversion into a Strength to Build a Lucrative Career in Financial Planning
Former Police Officer turn Successful Insurance Agent
Challenge
Young and inexperienced.
Overcome
Attended all trainings, all seminars that were available
Overcome fear by doing it
When I started working as a police constable in the 1990s right after completing my O Levels, becoming an insurance agent never crossed my mind.
I was always after a career with longevity, but I wasn’t feeling fulfilled in the police force.
It was probably a combination of factors. A career in uniform is regimented, and it may not suit everyone. The pay wasn’t great, I wasn’t sure if I could do it long-term.
After having served five years in the police force, I was ready to do something different. I started exploring new opportunities. A newspaper ad caught my attention and I signed up for a seminar to find out more. I was sold.
Soon after, I did the exams, quit my job and started selling life insurance on a 100% commission programme. It was quite a leap of faith to move from a job where I received a salary, to one where I could possibly earn next to nothing in a bad month.
The early days were not a walk in the park. For the first six months, I had to dip into my savings.
But I had tremendous support from my ex-colleagues. They became my clients, then referred their friends to me. That was how I built my career.
I’m not a natural communicator. When I started in my new career, I wasn’t confident prospecting and speaking with strangers. It took a lot of hard work for me to overcome my fears.
Well, as you know, practice makes perfect. I became a little better each day. I realized that as I kept at it, things could only get better.
I was right. Within three years of making my mid-career switch, I was earning about five times more than what I did in the police force.
What I like about my work is, I help people secure their future, and be protected. I like the freedom as well. Being an insurance agent is entrepreneurial. It’s not a nine-to-five job. Maybe because I came from a job where regimentation was the order of the day, my new career was like a breath of fresh air.
I’m so glad to have changed my career path. It’s worked out so well for me that I’m still in the same career I switched into for 25 years. Now, this is what I call longevity.
Jeffrey Lim is a 40-something financial adviser focusing on life and general insurance. The father of one dabbles in photography and packs his clubs to play golf in Malaysia when he’s not at work.
“Being an insurance agent is entrepreneurial. It’s not a nine-to-five job. Maybe because I came from a job where regimentation was the order of the day, my new career was like a breath of fresh air.”
Read Jeffrey’s story and interested to find out more about how to make that career switch that you always wanted?
Find out more about the Financial Industry, read about Jeffrey’s Q&A or book your personal one-on-one session with the Career Veterans here.
Career Fit Tool
Complete the Enneagram test and receive your personalised report @S$20 from our veterans.
