Today I made my triumphant return to the Huntington we were explaining the AD&D and voluntary life policies. It was my charge to help people figure out how much money would be taken from their paychecks in exchange for this elective service. In order to accomplish this goal, I needed to be able to do simple math; but this presents a significant problem: I am an economics major and I am therefore unable to perform advanced mathematical operations in my head. I required a calculator, which presents a problem in an office like Gallagher, where, apparently, everyone is some sort of mathematical genius and only requires an adding machine, which differs from a calculator in that it makes cool noises when you use it and that it must be plugged into a wall, for their computations (that or they just use excel). Scott M. was able to secure a sensible and sleek silver calculator from Scott T.. I was fortunate in that I was able to get a calculator from Jura. This calculator, from Dental Blue, was only slightly larger than a standard dorm refrigerator. For a point of comparison at the Huntington, I held it next to the Gutenberg Bible and found that it was, indeed, more massive and a much deeper shade of purple than the famed book. Unfortunately, this calculator was of little use because I did not need to add big numbers.  It was my great fortune that people seemed to be able to add the sums themselves. I merely sat on the sidelines and helped to explain the policies. It was fun to interact with the end user (which sounds somewhat morbid when talking about life insurance) and I gained a lot by listening to Scott M. present the material. He was relaxed and calm and made the presentation personal by telling good anecdotes. Listening to Scott made me realize that I might need to wait a few years before people take me seriously as a life insurance salesman.  – Evan

Once upon a time there was an intern called Evan. Evan was afraid that his internship would require him to toil for hours doing useless and futile paperwork, but he was ever so wrong. He did not know what an internship at Gallagher would be like. He did not know he would be spending his days working with fantastic people and doing meaningful and interesting work.

One day, Evan found himself frolicking in the Huntington Library’s gardens amongst the paintings and Guttenberg Bible. It was quite a sight to be seen. His job was to sit at the VSP table and explain the vision plan to employees. It was great fun. He helped people understand the plan and what it could do for them. Everyone could see the value in his work.

But then, there was trouble. The representative from Aetna had to give a presentation and the nice lady from Gallagher told the Aetna representative, who was ever so worried about leaving her booth unmanned, that Evan could mind her table while she was away. The man from Gallagher’s retirement program took over the VSP table and Evan uncomfortably sat at the Aetna table trembling with fear and worrying that someone would ask him a question. Sure enough, a man enquired unto Evan about the three plans offered by Aetna.

“I am on the Aetna HMO plan,” the man said, “but do you think it is right for me?”

Evan swallowed hard and, with all the courage he could muster, asked the man to tell him about his family and his needs. Evan explained the merits of the Aetha HMO plan verses the POS plan and even talked about the elusive and confusing Consumer Driven Health Care plan. The man thanked Evan for his help and said that now he knew he was on the right plan for him and his family. The peasants rejoiced; but then Evan realized that he had called the POS plan a PPO plan the whole time. The peasants, however, did not care and still rejoiced.

Now Evan is going to return to the Huntington Library next week to give a presentation about voluntary AD&D insurance and is very excited.