Rod McGraw – Winthrop/Waterloo, IA
Rod McGraw is a life insurance agent often found bouncing his grandkids on his knees. As an agent, these kids always remind him of the circle of life we experience. Here’s his story:
“Never miss a good chance to shut up.” — Will Rogers
Rod McGraw knows the best way to help his clients is to listen to them. “One of the biggest things I’ve learned through the years is that there are no two situations that are exactly the same,” Rod said. “I try to spend 80% of the time listening.” Rod has been in the insurance industry since 1987. Many of his clients were just starting their careers back then, just like Rod. Over time, their needs changed. “Through all these years, most of my clients have been in the accumulation mode. Now that they’re getting closer to retirement it’s difficult to convince them it’s OK to look at spending some of that money.”
Rod lives in Winthrop and has an office at Financial Decisions Group in Waterloo. He wouldn’t live in any other place. “I love the personal interaction where sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.”
“How’s it going, Mr. Peterson?”
“It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and I’m wearing milk bone underwear.” — Norm
Rod guides his clients through this dog-eat-dog world, knowing that career planning can make a huge difference. “A guy once told me to ‘Hoe until the end of the row.” There aren’t any shortcuts, but great benefits if you carry the plan through.
Rod and his wife, Paula, have been married for 32 years. They raised four boys, but now they’re battling a new opponent. 2 of 4 grandchildren are girls. “The other day, I was watching the girls,” he said. “It was 2 against 1 and they were ganging up on me. I was just trying to keep them alive!” Like the care he has for his clients, Rod will do what has to be done. “My granddaughters like to play with Barbies, so I usually play with them,” Rod said. “One day I walked into the gymnasium carrying a Barbie doll and one of my longtime good friends said ‘I never thought I’d see the day.”
Yes, Rod knows when it’s time to be silent. That has served him well.
You can reach Rod at 1-319-521-9187.