Going the Extra Mile

Peggy Gist Hightower
Lanham, MD
Former Occupation: Registered Nurse

Peggy Gist Hightower, of Lanham, MD, is a one-of-a-kind woman with an infectiously charming personality. It’s hard not to admire the vivacious trailblazer who still possesses a witty sense of humor, wisdom, and a relentless work ethic at nearly 80 years old. “I’m more grateful than ever and I wake up every day feeling this way,” Peggy proudly shares. “I never thought I’d have a life like this or that any of this was even possible. Coming into Primerica has opened up my whole being in every way.”

Peggy’s positive outlook on life is deeply rooted in her steadfast faith, and her rewarding and successful Primerica career. She speaks with a sense of urgency and passion whenever it comes to Primerica. “This Company is about building a generational legacy, so we can’t stop because it’s not just about us,” Peggy explains. “I still want to prove that Primerica is worth so much more than you could imagine. For me, this business represents freedom in so many ways. It’s changed my health, thought process, philanthropy, and my entire family’s way of life.”

Back in 1984, Peggy had no intentions of joining the financial services industry. She was working as a nursing supervisor at a hospital while preparing to attend medical school at Howard University. “I was on track to become a future doctor,” she remembers. But that all changed after meeting a Primerica Representative who informed her that she had bought the wrong type of life insurance. “I actually tried to avoid him since I was initially offended by what he said,” she recalls. “Because I was the youngest of five but the first in my family to go to college, I felt like I should’ve known better. What was worse was that I’d inadvertently referred other people to make the same mistake.”

To right that wrong, Peggy connected the Representative to those who had made the same mistake. “I just wanted to help, and I apologized for having the wrong information,” she recalls. After the Representative shared more about the Primerica Business Opportunity and how she could possibly save enough money for her daughter’s future college education, Peggy started with Primerica part-time.1-4

“What’s interesting is that I actually don’t like sales and I don’t think I’m good with numbers, but I understood how the system worked to get ahead,” Peggy explains. “I credit my father for teaching me my first financial principles. He only had a fifth-grade education, but he was still a businessman who owned three homes during his lifetime.”

Her large community network, combined with her dedication, propelled her to full-time status after only three months. “Telling my story over and over became my adrenaline rush. It was about finding people who were looking for what I didn’t realize I needed,” she shares.

However, joining Primerica full-time meant leaving behind her medical dreams. “It was risky at the time because the Company was still young, but I knew I could earn what I was worth. I really wanted to prove to my parents that I made the right choice. Sometimes, even the ones you love the most may not understand, but you must keep going until you can help them. I stepped out in faith, and I believe it was my destiny to take care of my extended family.”

Within her first year with Primerica, Peggy grew her business and found success. She continued to do well, but it wasn’t until she met Primerica veteran Andy Young that she learned how to build a business. “I was doing everything myself until he showed me how to go beyond that as an entrepreneur.” The two have remained dear friends to this day, which Peggy emphasizes as one of the best aspects of the business. “Primerica represents so much more than financial services,” she explains. “This Company is all about the human touch. It’s centered on the relationships you develop with colleagues and clients who become part of your family. We go the extra mile to help people because we care. When they win, we all win.”

This young-at-heart pioneer still doesn’t skip a beat after more than 35 years with Primerica. Peggy says proudly, “I feel more secure yet more ready than ever before. I don’t take any of this for granted. We can’t ever forget that people need what we offer.” She credits her family, particularly her daughter, for sticking by her side through it all. “Tracy is my best friend, she also works in the business and sometimes, she’s more of the mom than me,” Peggy jokes. “My ultimate wish is for my grandchildren and great grandbabies to enjoy the fruits of my labor while building on it for future generations.3 What’s so beautiful about Primerica is that it does not matter where you come from, the color of your skin, your financial knowledge or anything else. We all have a fair shot. If it can happen for me, it can happen for anybody.”

The highlighted sales force representative has achieved extraordinary levels of success during their Primerica career. The achievements highlighted herein do not reflect success levels of typical representatives.

1 Primerica representatives are independent contractors and are not employees of Primerica. 2 In Canada, the part-time opportunity may be subject to certain restrictions, depending on your occupation and province. 3 “Ownership” refers to the conditional right of an eligible Regional Vice President (RVP) to transfer his or her business to another eligible RVP, subject to the consent of Primerica and subject to terms, conditions, and regulatory requirements. The Ownership Program Document and policies located on POL control in all respects. 4 Primerica representatives market term life insurance underwritten by National Benefit Life Insurance Company, Home Office: Long Island City, NY in New York State; Primerica Life Insurance Company, Executive Offices: Duluth, GA in all other U.S. jurisdictions; and Primerica Life Insurance Company of Canada, Home Office: Suite 400, 6985 Financial Drive, Mississauga, ON, L5N 0G3, Phone: 905-812-2900 in Canada.

This communication is not a solicitation or offer to sell products or services. This is solely intended to promote Primerica’s business opportunity. Primerica’s business opportunity involves the sale of term life insurance and various other financial products and services by Primerica’s independent contractor sales force, which is made up of individuals who have signed an Independent Business Application together with payment of a fee.