Producer Hal Rakowski Insurance Lakeside, California
For years, Joe Hamilton had actively resisted the pull of insurance. He was 28 years old and working as the youth director of a Catholic church when the Rakowski firm—for which his late father had worked—offered him a position. What changed his mind? Realizing “how many different avenues to help people insurance offers.” Nearly 16 years later, Hamilton ended three years as chair of the Big “I” National Young Agents Committee, which recognized him as the 2019 Young Agent Champion of the Year.
I was part of the committee for 10 years and was drawn to it mostly because of the charity work of its members. We began the GIVE Movement in 2018 to highlight the commitment of young agents nationwide to charitable work.
We have to make this industry more exciting for young people. I think the GIVE Movement is one way to do that. Many people want to mix what they do for a living with good charitable work.
We can mentor young people at college or high school Invest programs and invite them to our exciting, fun events—something to show them that it’s not all desk work. I make myself available to do mock interviews, to discuss different aspects of insurance or even just to sit in on mentor night.
PHOTO BY ANN JOHANSSON
