Jim and Bill were classmates at Dartmouth – and close friends. After graduation, they married two girls from their hometown, who were also close friends.
Jim went on to get his M.A., and eventually became a college professor. Bill went into the life insurance business. Although the two couples lived 250 miles apart, their friendship continued, and they saw each other frequently. As the years passed on, Jim bought $5,000 life insurance from Bill, but Bill decided not to “capitalize” on their friendship by pointing up his responsibility to his family. He knew that a college professor’s pay was not too high, and he didn’t want to “take any more money away from him.”
One day Bill received a phone call from Jim, who was in the hospital. Jim’s voice was weak as he asked Bill to come right over.
When Bill walked into Jim’s room at the hospital, Jim told him that the doctor had given him only six months more to live. He reminded Bill that he had been his life insurance advisor for many years.
“That’s why I never listened to any other financial adviser. Now, I am leaving Joan and the two kids. All they will have is the insurance you sold me – less than half a year’s salary. What kind of friend have you been to me – leaving my family in this condition?”
