Modern Woodmen of America, a member-owned fraternal benefit society that sells life insurance, annuities, and other investment products, is looking to expand its team of financial representatives as well as its membership in the Spokane area. 

Modern Woodmen is a member-owned fraternal financial services company, operating through a representative form of government, and a system of local chapters nationwide. Members are offered similar services as those offered by commercial financial service companies, but with additional membership benefits as well as access to social activities and volunteer opportunities through their local chapter.  

Membership benefits can be ordered online or through regional offices and encompass services such as identity theft protection, discounts on prescriptions, college scholarship programs, and national park passes.

Modern Woodmen offers financial products and member benefits through its three subsidiaries, MWA Financial Services Inc., Modern Woodmen General Agency, and MWA Bank. MWA Financial Services is a full-service broker-dealer and distributes securities products. Modern Woodmen General Agency offers nonproprietary insurance products, including major medical, disability income and long-term care insurance, and MWA Bank offers checking, savings, and loan services as a direct bank.

The society’s regional director for the Inland Northwest area, James Reincke, is new to the position, having moved to Spokane last year, but he says he is already excited by the opportunities he sees. 

“We have about 650 existing member clients in this area, but for the past 25 years, we haven’t had an office presence here,” says Reincke. “So far I’ve been reaching out to our client base here, and allowing them to put a face to the company.” 

The Rock Island, Ill.-based nonprofit claims to be the third largest fraternal benefit society in the nation, with nearly 770,000 members in 47 states, and more than 1,600 financial representatives. It has $37 billion of life insurance in force and more than $14 billion in assets. 

According to the organization’s website, it has more than 6,000 members in Washington state, with $300 million current life insurance in force, over $5 million in annual life insurance and annuity benefits paid annually, and over $6,600 in annual contributions by members toward charitable, educational, and volunteer service efforts.

 Reincke says Modern Woodmen members are usually individuals or families, although some members are businesses that the company offers employee benefits.

 “Each region is divided into chapters—a regional chapter for all ages and a summit chapter which generally includes ages 50 and older,” says Reincke. 

The Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas both have one of each kind of chapter. 

“Summit chapters generally have more daylight events, as older members are more active during those hours,” says Reincke. “But you can belong to either chapter if you’d like.”

Chapters are allocated money through an annual budget, which they can use toward matching fund projects, or for other service projects within the community. Reincke says each chapter begins the year with the potential to give back anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 in community service efforts, in addition to free educational programs the organization offers to area schools. 

According to its website, it has about 3,000 local chapters nationwide that offer a range of social, educational and volunteer service opportunities. In 2014, through its fraternal programs, benefits and activities, Modern Woodmen says it put more than $19 million into members’ local communities.

In the past year, Reincke says, the nonprofit’s area chapters have been a part of volunteer and fundraising work with Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital Oncology, Chester Elementary School PTA, Horizon Middle School PTA, Toys for Tots, Blessings under the Bridge, Baskets for Babies, Meals on Wheels, Childhood Saved, the YMCA, and several private homeschool groups.

“We’re continuously looking for more opportunities to reach into the community, make a difference, not just with money, but with compassion and volunteerism,” he says.

Originally from Illinois, Reincke began his career with the Modern Woodmen in 2010, and previously served as a managing partner in the organization’s Illinois south region before moving his family to Spokane last year. In June, he opened the nonprofit’s regional office located at 23403 E. Mission in Liberty Lake.

That office now manages and directs all of the organization’s services in the region, with the exception of those offered by the MWA Bank, as that functions as a for-profit business. 

Reincke declines to disclose last year’s annual revenues, as the regional office hasn’t yet been open a full year, and he is its only consultant so far. 

“It’s tough to find qualified individuals, but I am actively seeking to recruit field representatives, attending career fairs, and visiting universities to put the word out that we’re hiring,” he says. 

Reincke says that in his former position as managing partner of the organization’s Illinois south region, he brought in some $750,000 in new business last year, with 52 percent being life insurance business, and the other 48 percent being annuities and retirement planning products. 

According to Reincke, the organization divides Washington into two regions, the Inland Northwest and the Western region. The Inland Northwest region includes 14 Eastern Washington counties, and nine counties in northern Idaho. 

Reincke says his goal is to build the team here to include five full-time financial representatives and two managing partners. 

Reincke says field representatives are the organization’s first line sales force, or what would be considered its entry-level position. 

Further training is provided for employees who are offered the opportunity to move into leadership roles as managing partners and finally, regional directors.

He hopes to involve individuals in managing positions in the recruiting and training process, so that by 2020, the organization will have hired 40 employees, including 20 young professionals and 20 military veterans.  

 “I would like to try to hire veterans specifically, because they have a strong work ethic, leadership skills, and the desire to serve their community,” he says. 

Reincke says jobs with Modern Woodmen have the potential to turn into long-term careers, and the work the company does has far-reaching benefits. While most positions are paid a commission based on sales, Reincke says he does offer a base pay for new employees. 

  “We’re different in that we’re not aggressive salespeople, we’re more like consultants,” he says. “We simply try to find you the best product to meet your needs.”