George Connett
Paraplanner

Like most people in our business, I drifted into becoming an “insurance man” - when you were at school there was no such thing as a career path into insurance – surely not? Anyhow, over 20 years ago I did drift into becoming an “insurance man” – sounds very old fashioned now doesn’t it – nowadays you are a financial adviser, (much more business like)?

Ok so you tell me of anybody you knew at school who said ”okey dokey it’s a life as an insurance man for me when I leave school”? Not many, if any I would guess. Well , 23 years after leaving school and after various jobs with estate agents and engineering companies and after finally being made redundant in 1983, I said to myself why not try going into insurance - well everyone needs insurance, don’t they? Some of my ex-colleagues had done so; they always seemed to have a new car every year and were always going on holiday. Seems easy, calling on people, taking their money and selling them some insurance, ok I think I’ll have a slice of that I said to myself.

So began my career in insurance, starting off as an agent in South Shields with London and Manchester collecting premiums and advising clients on their needs and aspirations, but not as easy as I thought, it takes time to get to know your customers and for them to get to know, respect and trust you. I must have done alright because over the next 20 years or so I found myself working at TSB, Pearl and Royal Liver as an advisor or sales manager but unfortunately I was made redundant for the second time in 2002 and I decided to leave the insurance industry. However, I had known Mark, (Horner) my protégé, for almost twenty years and had kept in regular contact with him so, when he asked if I would be interested in joining his expanding firm of IFA’s (Family First Financial Services), I readily agreed.

That was at the beginning of 2004 and I must say, it was like a family reunion, being reunited again with Mark, Tina (daughter #2), Paul Furby and Ricky all of whom I had worked with at London and Manchester – it really did feel as though I had come home. I look forward to coming to work every day and thoroughly enjoy my role as a Para-planner. Although this is not an advising capacity, it is a supportive role for all the IFA’s in which I research and trawl through the various companies and products and identifies and match them to the needs and aspirations of the IFA’s clients.

On a personal note, I won’t see 50 again; I’ve been married to the present Mrs Connett (Linda) since 1972 and have a wonderful daughter, Helen, who will be getting married in 2006. My interests include music – big fan of Eric Clapton, gardening, learning to play golf (badly), an armchair supporter of England cricket and of both Sunderland and Newcastle football teams, as well as a keen interest in Roman history.

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