I'm now a "published author"!

I've finally made it!!   I wrote 2 articles on Medicare: the basics, and finding additional coverage to cover out of pocket Medicare costs have been published on suite101.com .

Here's the link:  http://www.suite101.com/seniors-health-medicare

These two posts are currently unpaid posts, but if they are picked up and used elsewhere, I might get paid. I may even send them to my local newspaper and see if they want to publish them. Suite101 editors state that once you've got anywhere from 20 to 30 articles on their site, you start to make money. I hope! I also posted this link on my Facebook page, hopefully some of my friends will read it, too.

Someday, I hope to make a good living out of doing this.  Photo credit:  Ambro.

Back in the saddle again

Back home again, and back into the grind of work. I spent another week or so with my mother, helping her a bit after her surgery. I didn't do a lot, just errands and household cleaning and stuff. She is having difficulty with her loss of control over her life so it's a constant tug of war: how much does she want done vs. how much she will let you do.

I've agreed to work with one of the local banks, selling Medicare supplements and Advantage plans this fall, starting in September until January, during the Medicare enrollment period. I will be placed either in one of their bank offices with set appointments OR at a desk in a local grocery store, accepting walk in queries - and hopefully sales. This is something new and different for me, as I've never actively focused on the senior market. However, I believe that in the coming years, this will be the market of choice for health insurance agents (think of all those baby boomers!) so I'm going to give it the old college try. I've spent the last month completing forms, faxing/emailing resumes, licenses and E & O policy pages - basically showing them that yes, I am a licensed and insured insurance agent and I am capable of selling insurance. Now I will spend August going through the Medicare required education and certification to sell the products. The feds have made so many regulations that one must go through many hoops just to sell in this market, that I hope it is worth it all! I've already got a few friends asking me questions about the differences and details available in the supplement marketplace. At the very least, this will educate me on the subject.

On a similar note, I passed my first certification test with H &R Block. Tax professionals are given 3 tries and a passing grade of at least 80 percent is required to be hired back to HRB in January. I passed on the first try with 95 percent! The plan is to try the 2nd certification test next week. If I can pass that one, then I'll move on to the 3rd test before the season starts in January. I doubt if I will pass either of the next 2 tests on the first try, but it's ok, I get 3 tries!

This summer has been very hot, dry, and very boring. I'm looking forward to becoming productive again, soon. And that Panama Canal cruise I've always wanted to take is tempting me tremendously.....if I make a few good sales, I just might be able to book it soon.