This is the story of the first person ever – that I knowof – who actually meant to get into the insurance business. Whatelse do you need to know?

“I actually did plan to get into the business,” William Hillrecalls. “I had a life-changing event that forced me to reconsidera life in the Marine Corps. One of my neighbors at the time workedat a national brokerage house and I admired his lifestyle. I askedabout getting into the business and he sent me for an interviewwith The Equitable. I didn’t relish the thought of selling lifeinsurance and working nights, but I was told it would be goodtraining before becoming a broker. So I spent two years there untilI took a straight commission job working for a small consultantshop. That lasted two years, until I worked up the nerve to go italone. I probably would have never picked the profession had I notbeen in such a desperate need for money. As you know, once you arein, you are in unless you want to make a major lifestylechange.”

It seems to have worked out well. After getting his start in thebusiness, he’s made his way by becoming what one colleague called“a true individual worksite guy.”