Investments Don't Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780692810699)

Mark Bertrang was raised in Le Sueur, Minn.-a small rural community with a little more than 3,000 residents, nestled in a quiet river valley surrounded by acres of black fertile farmland. In his youth, kids were expected to work hard, respect their folks, and go to church on Sunday morning. After attending school to enter the broadcasting field, Mark worked for a small family-owned radio station in Fairmont, Minn. After marrying his wife, Betty, they moved to Winona, Minn., and finally to Onalaska, a neighboring community of La Crosse, Wis., during which time he entered the financial services industry. He earned his CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) designation in 1993 and his ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation in 1995 from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Penn. Through his career, Mark has enjoyed addressing his peers at conferences and association gatherings, sharing his passion for exceptional client service. At the heart of each presentation is a story. He has been a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals since 1992. Mark acted as secretary/treasurer of the La Crosse, Wis., chapter for fifteen years. In addition, he served a term as president of the Mutual Trust General Agents' Association, in Oak Brook, Ill. Prior to writing "Investments Don't Hug," his work has been published in industry and insurance company trade journals, and he has also shared his views on local-affiliated ABC, NBC, and FOX television news programs, in addition to regional newspapers. Bertrang trademarked his process of working with clients, "The Financialoscopy" in 2009. Over the years, his free time has been centered on leadership within his church's youth program, including ten summer service trips to disadvantaged areas around the country. Mark has completed coursework to serve through his church as a Stephen Minister, trained to provide distinctive one-to-one Christian care to people going through tough times. He now serves his church as a lay leader. A special concern to Mark is the misunderstanding of mental illness and how it silently affects the lives of families. He has participated in the National Association of Mental Illness "family-to-family" education program and has incorporated its message into his practice when dealing with families who have children with special needs. In his free time, Mark enjoys escaping to a family cabin in the woods in northern Wisconsin, spending time relaxing along the Flambeau River.