About Jim Surace & Marcus Smith
Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio State General Agent, James Surace, was in real estate before joining American Income Life Insurance Company. When the real estate market softened, James seized the AIL opportunity. He was attracted to American Income Life because of leads made available, giving Agents places to go and reasons to be there.
His first year with AIL, James was runner up for Agent of the Year. He was promoted to State General Agent his second year with the Company and was so successful he built his own 12,000 square foot office building. He was the SGA of the Year in 2006 and 2008 and is proud that 10 other State General Agents have been promoted from his office.
Is James pleased he made the career switch? “This position has allowed me to fulfill a purpose greater than myself and given me an income that will extend to impact generations. It’s an amazing position of influence where you build riches while changing the world through impacting and improving lives. Life insurance is the only product people can buy that can take care of those they love most if they are not there to do it.”
To those considering a career move to American Income Life, James says, “My advice is to get in the AIL door as quickly as you can. With AIL, I can live out my purpose 24/7 as my interests, hobbies, and mission in life are impacting people’s lives in a positive way … to serve people.”
AIL has given James the opportunity to serve many people through his personal and financial involvement with organizations like the Jesus Film Project , City Mission , LOVE INC. , his local church, Across Borders , Love Mercy Organization , All-School Assembly Program, Lighthouse Ministries , and the YMCA .
MARCUS SMITH
I’m Marcus Smith with the Surace-Smith Agency in Ohio. I’ve been with American Income Life for almost 10 years. I started with the Company back in September 2001. I was an intern and was going to a small business college. I had to do an internship and, at the time, had interviews with three different employers who were business owners. I was recommended to interview with Jim Surace, who owned the Agency in Ohio. During that interview, even though I had never heard of American Income Life Insurance Company, I was blown away by Jim’s character and what he had accomplished with AIL.
I was looking for an internship and I was really excited about what American Income Life was doing with labor unions, credit unions, and associations. Working with blue-collar families and working class Americans was a background that I was both familiar with and knowledgeable of, and had passion to serve. I asked Jim Surace if he had any positions available for interns. Back in 2000 I started as an intern in the Ohio office in North Royalton and loved it. Luckily for me, I did a decent enough job at the internship to be given a full opportunity to stay at American Income Life. So, I’ve been with AIL since I was 19 years old.
The way I came aboard American Income Life was a little unique, but through that interview, I really wanted in. I really wanted what they had.