For Tamie Mongold, a career as an insurance agent specializing in Medicare products came by way of a lot of research. But it wasn’t the career itself that she was researching; it was information to help her understand what options were available after an injury she received working her previous job.

Tamie was an ultrasound technician for nearly 18 years when she incurred an injury that forced her to rely on workers’ compensation benefits, off and on, for two years. So, her research began with workers’ compensation insurance.

“I wanted to be my own advocate,” Tamie said. Fast forward five years, Tamie has also become the advocate for over 500 clients, helping them secure all types of benefits, including Social Security, Veterans Affairs, and even food stamps.

How has she managed to average 100 sales per year since coming into the business? Three things: research, service, and Walmart!

Putting the Knowledge to Work
While Tamie was unable to work, she considered the probability that a career change was inevitable. Her research in workers’ compensation rules and benefits evolved into obtaining a life and health insurance license as well as a property and casualty insurance license.

A friend who had a relative selling in the Medicare space suggested it might be a good fit for Tamie. This led to an introduction to Mike McCurry and his agency, and Tamie found herself working as an insurance agent for the first time.

The agency provided Tamie with a Walmart store to work from during the upcoming Annual Election Period for 2016 Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans. Tamie certainly got the most out of the Walmart opportunity, enrolling nearly 50 clients during the AEP, earning Rookie Salesperson of the Year honors at her agency, and convincing the store manager to let her continue working from the Walmart location year-round! This commitment led to 100 enrollments in her first year!

Tamie filled her time at the Walmart by learning everything she could about the Medicare space while also helping prospects qualify for a myriad of programs.

“The way I figured it is I’m learning,” she says. “I don’t really worry about the money part of it. I just help the clients to the best of my ability.”

Clearly, the money took care of itself as Tamie learned to help people with whatever they needed. She even helped one client, who was stuck taking a prescription that ran $10,000 per month, qualify for a grant that covered the entire cost of the medication.

Needless to say, the client and his wife were appreciative and undoubtedly became a testimonial for the way Tamie takes care of people.

The Student Becomes the Teacher
Her latest challenge has been educating other agents, as she has become a General Agent with 15 of them now in her downline. Tamie has learned that you can’t handle each personality type the same.

But it doesn’t appear that she has any trouble building relationships, as she now manages a kiosk located at the medical group where she worked as an ultrasound tech. And her old boss – along with most of his friends – is now her client.

What does Tamie tell her new agents looking to hit the ground running? “It’s good for an agent to know a lot about medications, assistance programs, and grant programs,” she says. In other words, be an advocate.

“You’ll be a priceless individual and not just another agent…you do what’s right for them, and it ends up being what’s right for you.”