NAILBA Perspectives - July 2017 - 31

really helps us to see what everybody else is doing. We're always
looking for efficiencies, and we use
NAILBA to learn about new technology out there and find more efficient ways to process business.
What attracted you to the life
insurance industry?
I grew up in the industry, and it
always intrigued me. My dad went to
MDRT every year when I was a kid,
and he'd always bring home the MDRT
motivational tapes. We would listen
to them together all summer. It just
kind of grew on me. I wanted to be
able to provide a service and help
people. For me, it's all about helping
individuals and their families to protect themselves and make their lives
better. From my point of view, the
brokerage is an extension of that. I'm
able to take the things that work for
my customers and help agents do the
same thing. I help agents to help clients in the right way-to make sure
everybody is prepared for retirement
and protected the way they should be.

What are you the most optimistic about the future of our
industry?
We're going to be able to use technology to work more efficiently and
help more people. In my opinion,
it's all about helping more people.
The more technology we have, the
more we'll be able to help the middle class. In the past, there's been
such a barrier to entry for those
clients. Costs were so high, you
couldn't really afford to help the
middle class. But that will change in
the future with improvements and
technology advancements.
What inspires you?
What inspires me is to see the
results of our work. Seeing clients
that I've had for 20 years that are
able to retire, or those who have a
death in the family and are able to
take care of their loved ones financially. Even though they face tragedy, they don't have a big financial
disruption in their lives.

What is the best advice you
would offer someone new to
this industry?
If you take care of people, they'll
take care of you. Think less about
the money and more about helping
people, and the money will take care
of itself.

More about Tony Ashton
Tony and wife Mary

With nearly 25 years of experience in the industry, Tony is
well-versed in all the aspects
of life insurance. After graduating from college in 1993, at
the young age of 20, he joined
his father's personal production business and earned his
CLU. Within just two years of
working in the business, Tony
earned membership in MDRT's
Top of the Table. He has been a
consistent Top of the Table producer ever since.
Today, as CEO of AFG Broker-

age, Tony is extremely passionate about the life insurance industry
and providing solutions to complex financial problems. He continues
to grow his knowledge by participating in organizations such as The
Strategic Coach, The Forum 400, MDRT, The Wisdom Link, Empowered
Wealth, and Entrepreneur Matters.
Favorite movie: All of The Bourne movies
Family: Wife of 27 years, Mary; one grandchild and four children:
Taryn, 24, Kylie, 14, and Sunny, 7. His oldest son Jacksen passed away
in 2008 at the age of 16. In his son's memory, Tony created the Jacksen Ashton Foundation. Every year since 2008, the foundation has given $4,000 in scholarships to college-bound high school seniors.
Favorite vacation spot: Priest Lake, Idaho
Hobbies: Spending time with his family, hiking, water sports, riding
his Harley Davidson. He's also served on the school board for 10 years.

Tony and son Taryn
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