Brian Koster
Feature Business of the Week: Brian Koster
Written By: Brian Koster
Brian Koster - Insurance Producer/Field Underwriter/Retirement Planner
Licensed In: Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California
Licenses Held: Life, Health, Disability, Property and Casualty
Continuing Education Requirements: Partnership in Long Term Care and Annuity Suitability
Business Name:
Bankers Life:
Affiliates: Bankers Life and Casualty Company, Washington National Insurance Company, and Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company
Partner Companies: Humana, United Healthcare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and Wellcare
Areas of Service: Medicare (Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage), Prescription Plans, Long Term/Custodial Care, Critical Illness, Life Insurance, Income Security
Contact Information including location:
Office Direct: (406) 493-3917
Cell: (406) 396-3988
brian.koster@bankerslife.com
320 B Expressway
Missoula, MT 59808
What days are you open, and hours:
Hours of Operation: Mon. through Fri. 8:00 - 5:00
(I will start early, work late, and work weekends when needed)
How long have you been doing this:
5 years in January 2024
Past work experience.
Service and Hospitality: Glamping Camp Butler, Server, Bartender, Cashier, Casino Manager, Casino Floor Runner - Car/Truck/Trailer Sales
What is the most memorable story with your line of work?
I really had to think here. One day in the middle of winter during a blizzard with about a foot of snow on the ground, I was a brand new rookie and running appointments with my manager. He was driving a little front wheel drive Toyota four door car. Not the best choice for deep snow. We barely made it into the driveway of the house we were visiting. The couple we met with couldn't believe we made it all the way to their house. It was a long driveway. We ended up making two new clients. The appointment lasted about two hours and it snowed the entire time. By the time we put our boots back on and opened the door, the car was about buried and the neighbor had to dig us out with his tractor. We still don't let much get in our way when it comes to helping the retirement community. A four-wheel drive pickup with good tires and four chains with ice cleats is a much better choice.
Any stories about your work you like to share that most people would not know about? Good, bad, funny….
I deal with the good, the bad, and the funny. Is that a Clint Eastwood movie? No matter what happens on the rollercoaster of life, I keep moving forward and I never give up. Most people might not realize that one of the most important services I provide to my clients, some more than others, is a prescription review. Addressing this in the proper manner on an annual basis, can save someone from a very unfortunate surprise the following year. Making the mistake of failing to review your prescription plan could cost you thousands. The largest difference I have ever seen, between the old plan and the new one, was over $100,000. I almost fell out of my chair. I have her scheduled for next week. This will be one of my most important appointments of the entire year. Customer service is the single most important aspect of my career. Absolute number one above all else.
Why do you run this business? Just a paycheck, love the industry, family tradition, etc etc?
I started my career in the insurance industry with Bankers Life, have stayed for five years and plan to retire from this industry for so many reasons, and it is far more than just a paycheck. I am so very grateful for this opportunity and I always try to remember that. My father was a financial advisor and life insurance salesman for about twenty five years. He had his own business. I did not have the luxury of having my father hand this down to me, but I think something rubbed off. I love my line of work because I make my own schedule, which means that I can be there for my son when I need or want to be. I can drop him off at school and pick him up. I can be there for sports practice and games. I can make exceptions or cancellations if something comes up such as an illness or a special occasion. We can go camping on the weekends. If his is four days long, then so is mine. I can adjust my work schedule to meet the needs of my personal and family life. And I have no boss to tell me what to do all the time. I am my own boss. The combination of these two things, make for one of the lowest-stress work environments that I have ever experienced. I travel all over this beautiful state and meet some of the most interesting, well-put-together, talented and genuinely kind people I have ever known. I've made a few friends and key contacts that have helped me through life. I help real people find real solutions to real problems and it feels great. I am more financially independent than I have ever been and can predict a certain portion of my income on a weekly basis without actually having to work to receive it. I have never had that before. This alone has saved my bacon a time or two. Thank you Bankers Life! There are many other reasons that I love my career but these are the big ones.
Tell us about your family.
I can trace my family lineage back to around the year 900 A.D. to Hugh Eglington Montgomery of England. I have English, Scottish, French and Bohemian roots. I come from a long line of soldiers dating back to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. My father fought in Korea and later, the Watts Riots. If your wondering, I tried to join but my feet are too flat. Maybe that's why I'm still alive. As for my family at the present, it is just my son Norman and I. My favorite moments in life are those I get to spend with him. He's my buddy. He's 7 and we hang out all the time. The outdoors is our sanctuary and the place where we do a lot of learning and bonding and having fun. We love canoeing, camping out in the popup, and fishing for trophy trout and pike.
What brought your focus to Shelby??
The real reason for my focus on Shelby, Montana, is using the powers that I hold through my licenses and my company appointments to truly help a large group of people that really need my help. Many of the Medicare beneficiaries of Toole and Glacier Counties need help from someone and I seem to be one of the only people who has noticed. The lack of Medicare education in this area is astounding and potentially financially devastating to those affected. I have wanted to help people in large numbers for years and I think I have finally found a way. This is due to a new Medicare option for Toole, Glacier and eight other Montana counties including Sweetgrass, Deerlodge, and Big Horn to name a few. After spending a week in the area and meeting and networking with pillars of the communities in Shelby, Cut Bank, and Browning, it is obvious that help is needed in the areas of both Medicare education and Medicare planning. Medicare is one of my specialties and the reason that I am going to be living up north for most of the next seven weeks.
What organizations do you support?
I support local law enforcement and am a member of the Western Montana Fish and Game Association
Any topics you like to write about, feel free to do so, this is your Feature!!
My personal interests/hobbies/pastimes/lifestyle include: hunting, fishing, camping, handloading, canoeing, hanging out with my son Norman who is the most amazing human ever, skiing (cross-country and alpine), ice fishing, picking huckleberries and mushrooms, and spending time with my friends. It's hard to fit it all in, but somehow I manage. The freedoms that are provided to me by my choice of careers really helps.
Written By: Shane Adams
This week's feature is one of the newest members of the Shelby Chamber. It is amazing the networking my job has with the vast diversity of calls or emails I get. Not all those calls or emails go anywhere. Brian was one of those that went somewhere. Plain and simple, with my age I do not know much about Medicare. While Brian does more than just Medicare planning, that was my main focus in our conversations with him. Medicare options can be complicated and the way I understand it, depending which county in Montana you live in makes a difference as well on the various options! Evidently, there have been some changes in medicare policy within Toole County that could help some of our seniors. Education is my goal here today with Brian's feature. To let people know this and hopefully they can educate themselves and/or others. I also learned the enrollment period is this time of year with December being the deadline. Perfect timing to feature him to help get the word out before the enrollment period ends, that some changes in Medicare policy potentially could save some of the seniors in our community money. My thought is even if today’s feature can help educate 1-2 people to potentially save them money, I'll count it as a success. If more people than that, even greater success.
Big Reasons in my book: seniors worked their whole lives and they deserve to be helped as best as we can do so, the more they save the more they have to spend on other living expenses, which could mean spending more money locally in Shelby!!
When I get to that age, I hope the younger generation takes the time to think about their elders as well. If there's a chance to help save me money when I get to retirement age (if I ever get to retire), I hope the same courtesy will be given to me that I'm trying to do here.
Even if you're not of medicare age like I am, you may have friends or family of that age this information may help save someone some money!! I urge anyone who is on medicare to inquire about the topic to see if they can improve their current policies.
