Powered by Connection
Each May, the Administration for Community Living leads the celebration of Older Americans Month. The 2024 theme is Powered by Connection, which recognizes the profound impact that meaningful relationships and social connections have on our health and well-being. Join us in promoting the benefits of connecting with others.
This year, our Senior Solutions representatives are sharing their stories of when a person in their life has made an impact or reminded them of why they are in this business. Keep on reading to learn more!
I learned from my senior clients over the years how difficult it can be to age. I see, listen, and empathize with what they have to endure and how they have to adapt to changes frequently. But what also comes with age is words of wisdom. Working with my senior clients, I have had the pleasure to also listen to their stories and advice. “Always build it a little bigger, you won’t regret it.” “Take care of it now before it gets worse.” “Write it down, so you don’t forget it.” “Do it now because someday you may not be able.” “Learn to appreciate just how valuable your health is.” Those are just a few tidbits, but I learned that the importance of love, belonging, respect, family, and faith usually strengthens with age.
– Andrew Hardin, serves Altamont, Effingham, Marshall, Neoga, Paris, Sullivan, and the surrounding areas in Illinois.
Phone Number: 217-684-2755
Email Address: anhardin@firstmid.com
I am so proud and happy to be in this business serving our senior market. I have learned so much when spending time with those folks, with many becoming close friends. And through these friendships, I have had the honor of being invited to family gatherings and celebrated some wonderful accomplishments.
Additionally, I have clients from all walks of life and have so many endearing stories that it’s difficult to choose just one example. I certainly enjoy helping my clients and their families as we navigate through any life challenges.
– Anthony Potocki, serves Charleston, Mattoon, Neoga, and the surrounding areas in Illinois.
Phone Number: 217-684-9207
Email Address: apotocki@firstmid.com
Losing my father to diabetes complications at 28 was devastating, especially with the financial burden it brought. With no life insurance, I faced charging thousands on my credit card to cover his funeral and ongoing expenses. It took me four years to pay off the debt, a constant reminder of the hardship I faced. That experience drove me to advocate for life insurance, recognizing its value in shielding loved ones from financial despair and grief. Don’t let your family suffer as mine did — invest in life insurance, the ultimate act of selflessness.
Also, a former mentor always drilled into me that sales is not “product pushing”, it’s collaboration at its best. This is my driving mantra and force when meeting with current and prospective clients.
– Tracey Frank, serves Creve Coeur, Columbia, Elsberry, Eureka, Jefferson City, Lake St. Louis, O’Fallon, Osage Beach, St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Peters, Winfield, and the surrounding areas in Missouri.
Phone Number: 314-818-6573
Email Address: tracey.frank@firstmid.com
Growing up in this business, I have watched my father and uncle help countless individuals with their knowledge and services. As I took the natural progression to follow in their footsteps many years ago, one thing that was overwhelmingly clear is that to be successful in this business, one must have an internal driving force greater than simply viewing our profession as a job or even a career.
We have the ability to truly help navigate our clients through what ultimately starts out as a daunting and confusing path. My ultimate goal today is still the same as it was in the beginning: to help guide those that put their trust in us, in the same fashion my father and uncle taught me.
– Derek Schuett, serves Alton, Edwardsville, Fairview Heights, Highland, Wood River, and the surrounding areas in Illinois.
Phone Number: 618-655-2103
Email Address: dschuett@firstmid.com
I can remember back to when I would receive investment advice from my father who was a vice president with an investment company called Dean Witter Reynolds back in the day. His advice was: “Never invest more than you can afford to lose and when you invest, be conservative. Don’t fall for the get rich quick schemes.” That advice has drifted over to the safety of the fixed and fixed index annuity portfolios I put together for my clients. He also taught me a lot of good practices like ‘take your time’ and ‘do your homework’. There was a lot of wisdom in his teachings that I will never forget and still practice to this day.
– Jim Schuett, serves Champaign, Rantoul, Savoy, Urbana, and the surrounding areas in Illinois.
Phone Number: 217-684-2256
Email Address: jschuett@firstmid.com
While I didn’t know it at the time, I trace my love and enjoyment in working with our communities’ seniors back to many Friday nights spent with my grandmother. She was a strong woman who lost her husband in 1944 and went on to raise two children on her own, one of them being my father. She worked her entire career for “Ma Bell” as an operator and retired to Notre Dame Avenue in South Bend, Indiana. She drove a Studebaker Lark and was loyal to the Fighting Irish. She was also a great cook, and I’m certain that my many visits to her apartment were partially because of that. The trade-off of a great meal was that I was able to spend time with her and assist her with any help she needed, creating fond memories and principles that I have carried with me into adulthood and will cherish forever.
– Matthew Barnes, serves Bartonville, Bloomington, Galesburg, Knoxville, Peoria, Quincy, and the surrounding areas in Illinois.
Phone Number: 217-621-5909
Email Address: mbarnes@firstmid.com
One of my clients from Carbondale first told me there was next to no reason for us to chat as he wasn’t going to be able to afford any more insurance, nor his meds. He said, “I think I can afford about four more months of my medicine and that’s it for me. After that, I won’t be able to afford the insurance or medicine.” He was homebound so I went to his house and sat with him for a few hours, and when we were finished, he was going to be saving a couple thousand dollars per month between the cost of insurance and the cost of medicine. The realization that he could afford these things drove him to tears. That was the best day on this job so far — no contest.
I’ve seen firsthand how complex and difficult Senior Solutions insurance coverage options are to understand, as well as how many clients get taken advantage of or simply haven’t had the opportunity of having someone help them through making these decisions. Having the ability to make such an impact on their lives — to provide a positive moment amidst what is NEVER a fun topic to discuss and showing people that these things don’t have to be scary or difficult and that there’s someone they can trust who will help them through — these are all reasons why I do this and why I love it so much.
When I first considered becoming a Senior Solutions agent, I was debating whether to keep working in the insurance industry. Mike Hurm, my manager, told me during the interview process that, “We work in a tough line of business that’s not for everyone. But the people you meet — the way you can help them and change their lives — that makes it all worth it.” Mike has been an amazing mentor to me each day since I’ve worked here, and he’s made me certain that I made the right decision.
– Michael Smith, serves Carbondale, Carmi, Carterville, Harrisburg, Lawrenceville, Marion, Mt. Carmel, Mt. Vernon, Murphysboro, and the surrounding areas in Illinois.
Phone Number: 217-234-5581
Email Address: michael.smith@firstmid.com
On one memorable occasion during a customer interaction early on in my career, I had a customer provide me with some good advice to help me with a situation that my family and I were facing. Because this customer listened and cared enough to help me, he provided me with valuable information that led my family to take action, which put us in a better place.
Looking back on this moment, I realized how valuable relationships are and how important it is to be an active listener. Since then, I’ve made it a point to always better myself as an agent to help others, just as this customer has helped me. It is my goal to educate my customers and help them find coverage that will suit them and make them feel confident in their choices made.
– Mike Hurm, serves Arcola, Decatur, Taylorville, Tuscola, and the surrounding areas in Illinois.
Phone Number: 217-615-1008
Email Address: mhurm@firstmid.com
Recently, I attended a visitation for one of my very dear clients, Ray. He was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War. I remember during one of my visits, Ray told me a story of how he nearly lost his foot to a land mine trying to rescue injured soldiers because he didn’t want to wait for the area to be swept by the mine locators while his guys laid dying in the field. I also remember proudly looking at his Silver Star, Purple Heart, 3 Bronze Stars, and others.
I’ll also include one more memory I have from my career that stuck with me all these years: I was in my early twenties when I made a comment to another client who was in her 80’s. I said to Mabel, “Time sure flies when you are having fun,” to which she replied, “Tom, it flies even when you’re not having fun!”
I think back to all the stories that I heard from my clients over these last 40-some years, and I am left to wonder about all those untold stories of our older Americans. I felt honored that they trusted me to handle their insurance all these years.
– Thomas Schuett, serves the Central Illinois area.
Phone Number: 217-684-2507
Email Address: tschuett@firstmid.com
When people of different ages, backgrounds, and talents share experiences — through action, story, or service — it helps build strong communities. And that’s something to celebrate!
