During his 30-year career with the DeKalb County Police Department, John Medina often witnessed the devastating moment when families learned they’d lost a loved one. Along with their grief, he saw fear and uncertainty about the future. Today, as a managing partner with Modern Woodmen of America, Medina continues to work with families facing loss – but now he can offer more than condolences.
“I’m bringing a check to a family instead of just bad news,” he said. “I can’t bring back their loved one, but I’m easing the burden of the loss. They know they’ll be taken care of. They won’t have to move out of their home.”
Modern Woodmen offers term and permanent life insurance plans, annuities, retirement plans, and investment products. Established in 1883, Modern Woodmen is a fraternal financial services organization built for its members. It helps individuals, families, and businesses meet financial needs while giving back to communities nationwide. “That’s one of the things that makes us special. It’s why I chose Modern Woodmen.”
Driven by a strong desire to help others, Medina feels fulfilled as a financial advisor. “I have so much passion for this work because I know how important it is.”
When Medina retired from the police force at age 48, he struggled to find a retirement plan tailored to his needs. Danny Nungesser, now a regional director at Modern Woodmen, showed Medina a clearer picture of what retirement could look like and how to address his retirement gaps.
After four months of retirement and completing the projects he’d planned for himself, Medina realized it was time to return to work. When Nungesser offered him a position with Modern Woodmen, Medina knew it was the right path. “I'd spent many years supervising a criminal investigation unit. I looked at retirement planning as financial pieces of evidence and how they could work together for the best outcome. This job is all about strategy.”
Building strong relationships with clients is a priority for Medina and the eight financial representatives in his Sharpsburg office. “I expect those relationships to last a lifetime,” he said. Clients don’t need a minimum amount of money to work with John. He believes they appreciate his passion for strong planning and achieving goals. “My obligation is to help you get there.”
One question he hears often: “Will I be able to retire?” His answer: “You’ll know exactly what you need to contribute to your retirement,” Or, if you’re in your distribution phase, you’ll know whether you’re going to be OK.” Medina learned the value of saving early in life. His parents often told him, “I don’t care how much you save, but you will save something.”
As the father of a 21-year-old son, Jacob, John especially enjoys working with young adults. “Time is our most valuable asset,” he said. “If our money works for us when we’re young, then we’ll have to work less when we’re older. When I’m working with a young person, they can’t believe what $200 or $300 a month can do over 30 or 40 years.”
Visit reps.modernwoodmen.org/jmedina for more information.
"I have so much passion for this work because I know how important it is.”