This is How I Made $3,500 My First Month – Without Quitting My Day Job

Let’s rewind to 2011. I was 26 years old, running a personal training gym that was barely hanging on during the tail end of the Great Recession. It wasn’t paying all the bills, and I knew I needed to pivot—but not recklessly. That’s when I discovered final expense life insurance.

I didn’t jump in full-time. Instead, I gave it a test run part-time. That decision changed everything.

In just my first month, I made over $3,500 in take-home commission. Part-time. Selling a product I barely understood at the time, using simple systems that anyone can learn—and most importantly, without burning through my savings or my sanity.

Here’s exactly what I did (and didn’t do), what I sold, the system I used, how I found leads, and the biggest lessons I wish I knew then.

Why Part-Time Was the Smartest (and Safest) Bet

I had bills. Debt. A wife. A kid. And zero room for risk.

Going full-time into something unproven would have been financial suicide. So, I took a more strategic route—keep the gym running part-time and build my insurance business on the side.

And guess what? The part-time route worked. That first $3,500 gave me proof of concept. By month two, I earned even more. Sure, there were up and down weeks, but by the six-month mark I was confident enough to close my gym and go full-time into insurance.

This wasn’t my only part-time success either. Funny enough, after a short detour with another job, I gave final expense another shot part-time—and again found success.

Bottom line? Part-time is not a compromise—it’s a smart testing ground. You keep stability while building your next chapter.

The Product I Chose (And Why It Mattered More Than You Think)

Not all insurance products are created equal—especially when you’re part-time and need to get paid fast.

That’s why I chose final expense life insurance—or what some call burial insurance. You’re selling to people age 50 and up, usually lower-income, who want to make sure their family doesn’t have to carry the burden of funeral expenses.

Why was this product so important to my early success?

1. Fast Pay – You typically get paid within 1–2 weeks. That’s lightning speed in this business.

2. High First-Year Commissions – You’re earning $300–$500 per sale, sometimes more if you buy your own leads.

3. Simple Sale – The product is easy to understand and easy to explain.

4. High Demand – Everyone dies. And people are worried about the cost of funerals. The demand is built in.

Compare that to products like annuities or ACA plans. Those are great long-term plays, but the cash flow just isn’t there up front. You might wait 3–6 months before your first commission hits. Not ideal if you’re trying to pay the rent next week.

Final expense gave me fast money to validate the business and scale it responsibly.

How I Got in Front of Buyers—Without Cold Calling or Bugging Friends

Let’s kill a myth right now: You don’t have to cold call to be successful in insurance.

When I started, I had zero interest in calling strangers or begging friends and family for favors. Instead, I used direct mail leads—people who had already filled out a response card asking for more information about final expense insurance.

These were warm leads. They knew why I was calling. My job was to help them make a decision.

Back then, I worked those leads face-to-face. I’d knock on their door, show them the card they filled out, and start a conversation. It sounds old-school, but it worked like magic.

Today, things have shifted to phone sales—and that’s a good thing. You can now:

• Work remotely from home

• Stack more appointments per day

• Cut out windshield time

• Reach people faster

And the best part? It’s all built around inbound interest, not begging strangers to listen to a pitch.

The System That Made It All Work (Even with Limited Time)

Let me be clear: If you’re working part-time, you can’t afford to waste time.

That’s why the right system is non-negotiable. I didn’t have 50+ hours a week to “figure things out” or do endless admin. I needed a system that put me in front of interested people and let me focus on closing.

Here’s what my system looked like:

1. Quality Leads – People who asked for info via mail (today it’s mostly Facebook leads)

2. Simple Script – Straightforward, no-nonsense, built for conversions

3. In-Home Appointments – Pre-set or door-knocked

4. Solid Carriers – Good underwriting, quick pay, no drama

Today’s systems have leveled up. Remote phone sales are the new normal. You can run the exact same playbook—from your living room—with even more scale.

Leads Make or Break You. Here’s How to Get Them Right

Let me tell you something that will save you thousands of dollars and years of frustration:

The best product, best training, and best agency mean NOTHING if you don’t have the right leads.

I’ve seen too many agents burn out because they:

• Tried cold calling

• Hounded friends and family

• Bought junk leads from shady vendors

What I recommend now (and what works today) is high-quality Facebook-generated leads—especially for final expense. Facebook has an older user base now. It’s where your prospects live.

Why I love them:

• They’re cheaper than mail

• You can scale up or down depending on your time

• They come with phone numbers, emails, and interest

• They’re responsive and phone-sale friendly

And most importantly: they’re sustainable and scalable.

This is how you build a pipeline that lasts beyond 30 days. It’s how you avoid getting bitter, burned out, or broke.

The Lead Strategies That Don’t Work (and Why You Should Avoid Them)

Some lead strategies sound attractive—but they can quietly sabotage your business.

🚫 Cold Calling

It’s a mental grind. Constant rejection. No leverage. You need thick skin and a therapist.

🚫 Referral Marketing

Nice in theory. But try getting 20+ sales a month from friends and their friends. It dries up fast—and you risk damaging relationships if you’re still learning the ropes.

🚫 Low-Cost Leads

You get what you pay for. Garbage leads will kill your confidence and your wallet.

I’m not saying those methods never work—but for new agents, especially part-timers? They’ll drain you emotionally before you ever see a win.

Focus on what works: proven lead systems that are scalable, consistent, and controllable.

What I Wish I Knew Then (That Would’ve Saved Me Pain Later)

Looking back, here are a few things I wish someone told me before I started:

1. Don’t cheap out on leads. Invest in good ones. You’ll make the money back—fast.

2. Mindset is everything. You’re unemployed every morning in this business. Prepare mentally for that.

3. Be realistic. Some weeks you’ll crush it. Others, not so much. Stay steady.

4. Track everything. Leads, dials, appointments, closes. You can’t grow what you don’t measure.

5. Stick with one strategy until it works. Shiny objects will slow you down.

Success doesn’t come from hustle alone. It comes from doing the right things consistently—even if it’s just 10–15 hours a week.

Your Part-Time Journey Starts Now—Don’t Overthink It

You don’t need a background in sales. You don’t need to go full-time. You don’t need to cold call or chase family members.

What you do need is:

• A solid product with fast commissions (like final expense)

• A repeatable system that fits your schedule

• Scalable, high-quality leads

• Mental toughness and long-game focus

That’s it.

If I can earn $3,500 my first month part-time—with no experience and a failing gym—I promise you can too. But only if you commit, follow the system, and stay focused on the right strategies.

You’re not testing a hobby. You’re building a business. Treat it like one.

If you’d like help getting started with proven systems and lead support, reach out. The team and I are here to help serious people win—no fluff, no hype, just results.

Let’s build.

Thank You For Reading

Thank you for reading. In addition to growing our team, my company also offers products and services to help independent insurance agents increase their production and profitability.

If You’re Looking to Join an Agency

The DIG Agency specializes in helping agents become top producers selling final expense life insurance 100% from home using our free lead system. We provide high-quality training, expert coaching, and the technology tools you need to succeed — whether you want to work part-time or build a full-time career.

As your skills grow, you’ll have the option to transition into a broker role, where you can buy your own leads, earn higher commissions, and even build your own team — all without any forced recruiting or MLM gimmicks.

If you’re serious about building a real career in final expense sales, visit https://www.davidduford.com to learn more. Watch the Overview Video on the homepage to see exactly how our system works.

If You’re Already an Agent and Want Better Leads and Tools

Whether you’re independent or already working with another agency, we can help you get more high-quality leads and streamline your sales process. Here’s what we offer:

• FE Leads Direct
  Order exclusive final expense leads at wholesale pricing through our done-for-you lead management system. These are the same leads our top producers work every day. Learn more at https://www.GetFELeads.com.

• DIG Dialer
  Designed for insurance agents selling any product, the DIG Dialer helps maximize your calling efforts. It’s the same dialer we use at The DIG Agency and has boosted our presentation rate by up to 300% compared to other dialers. If you want more presentations and more sales, visit https://www.digdialer.com for details.

• Final Expense CRM
  If you’re a final expense agent looking for a field-tested CRM to manage your leads and clients, check out Final Expense CRM. Designed specifically for remote sales, it features Grace AI to help pre-set appointments and automate follow-ups to increase your sales opportunities. Try it for free for 14 days at https://www.finalexpensecrm.com.

Wherever you are in your career — new agent, experienced producer, or independent broker — we’ve got the tools, training, and resources to help you sell more, earn more, and build the business you want.