APRIL 2026 Looking Back

I couldn't get hired as a stockbroker when I first moved to San Diego in 1979.

I needed sales experience.   Brokerage firms were reluctant to hire me, I didn't come from money.

I took a sales path with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.

I had no family with money.   No friends in San Diego to sell to.  Just a rotary phone and the phone book.

It was a tough sell in the early 80's.  Selling "death" insurance to the living on a sunny day in San Diego!

Prime rates were in the 15-20% range.  Most regular savings accounts paid double-digit returns.

Mortgage rates fluctuated from around 12–13% early in 1980 to near 16–17%  then settled in the 12–15% range.  In 1981, they climbed higher, with weekly averages reaching as high as 18.45%–18.63% in October (the all-time peak for 30-year fixed rates).

Selling a whole life policy was a tough sell.

Best sales experience I had in my life.

Only toughened my resolve to move up. 

I wasn't going back and I wasn't going down.

One way.

Dream big.

As General Powell said, "Optimism is a force multiplier".