Richard wira
I started in the life insurance business in 1974 with Home Life of New York. Back then, I knocked on doors selling life insurance to military families. Since I was still in the Navy Reserve, it was a perfect market for me. In the course of my career, I was a Regional VP for 23 years with three life insurance companies, Jefferson National Life, Zurich American and Guarantee Mutual. My role was to recruit, train and get agents and agencies in California, Arizona, and Nevada into production. I led each company in new agents hired, premium and face amount. Unfortunately, each company was acquired by a larger one that had their home office staff in place. So, in 1999, I founded EQUOTE.com to sell term life insurance via the Internet. We have grown in sales every year.
Past president of the San Diego Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. The only person to ever serve twice in that capacity. Twelve years chairing the Community Service committee for NAIFA-San Diego. We raised money for our annual Christmas party for abused children living at the San Diego Center for Children. In addition, I started an Adopt-A-Route program for agencies in San Diego to volunteer to deliver Meals on Wheels to home-bound seniors.
48-year Life and Qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table and seven years as a member of the Top of the Table. MDRT is the world's Premier Association of Financial Professionals.
For 39 years, I have delivered Meals-on-Wheels to home-bound seniors on Fridays. Occasionally, I’m joined by my wife, Yvette. For me, delivering Meals-on-Wheels is a family affair. In the summer, when my daughter, Wendy, since she isn't teaching Latin at LaJolla High School, she and her son, Jack, join me. Three generations of volunteers with Meals-on-Wheels, all because my mom wanted to do it back in the 1960’s, but couldn’t because of illness. Each year, I speak on behalf of Meals-on-Wheels to various community groups such as Rotary, Lions, Optimists, etc.
EQUOTE.com specializes in term life insurance, annuities, and long-term care products. Our tag line is Your Choice for Affordable Life Insurance. We offer our customers a choice of a no-medical term life policy or a fully underwritten policy that offers a lower premium. With the no-medical product, they can purchase term life online and print their policy within minutes.
In 2012, I became a Managing Director with Cool Springs Financial, the premier company providing bank financing of large life insurance policies for high-net- worth individuals. I also assist large companies, using insurance strategies, so they can recruit, retain and retire key people in their organizations.
I am a proud Vietnam veteran serving 3 tours there. On my last tour, I controlled the USS Sterett's LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose Systems) helicopter for search and rescue missions as well as whatever else was needed. I received the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Action medal and Purple Heart, in addition to other medals and awards. We are blessed to live in this great country.