I'm so very sorry for your troubles and hope someone here has helpful suggestions. You have so much knowledge of insurance, seems a shame to re-educate yourself in another field (unless you wish to, of course). Many programs take up to 2 years, but you could check your community college to see what they offer. Often they try to address local needs as far as training appropriate people for jobs. Hang in there. You could talk to someone in their counseling center about job availability. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I'm thinking out loud here. I'm a few years younger than you. I worked for a while and then took the mommy route. I may go back to work in the next year or so just to have any job even retail. I've thought about going back for some sort of continuing education, but I really don't have it in me any more unless it is hands on. I'm done with school. I also can't justify the expense when I have kids heading off to college in a few short years. Right now with the job market being what it is, I don't see competing with these people who are just aimlessly going back to school and getting more degrees. I've seen too many people with too much education, too much debt, no real world experience and not many prospects. I guess it is a place holder to show you did something during the time, but I'm not convinced it is worth it unless you have a really good plan and some contacts to make it work.

I have a friend who is a few years older than you who is completing her PhD this year. She got her Masters when she was in her early 40's. She has chosen to get her PhD because her field can be somewhat challenging physically and she wants to be able to teach rather than have a clinical practice as she gets older. She's an amazing woman, but I can see that this has been a difficult two years for her. I would say if you are going to go back to school, don't wait any longer because it only gets harder.

I have another friend who worked as a CPA and went back to school in her 40's to get her Master's and PhD in psychology. She's 70 now with an active psychology practice, but she keeps her CPA license current and helps her husband during tax season.

My now ex-husband and I talked about whether or not we should continue schooling at one point, and I have to say, unless it's a degree you're going to use, we found no point in it (until my niece said to my sister one day why should I go to school mommy? You didn't. and I flashed forward to my son saying it to me. I finished).

I will tell you this, I got out of insurance 11 years ago. It was hitting turmoil then with guaranteed issue health. I knew it was going to be rocky. I can imagine ACA is killing the processes and it's really hard being there (((HUGS to you))). I went into research administration (health topics) at a teaching hospital, and just knowing terminology got my foot in the door. Have you thought about the "other side" of insurance? That way, you can parlay that experience into more than just something different.

My field in the insurance is property and casualty as well as life. I sold auto, home, umbrella's, life, and other personal lines. Experience has been a factor in my job search. The seasoned - established agents that I've interviewed with and hoped I'd end up with saw that experience and my personality - bull in a china closet as a detriment. They all felt I should have my own agency and saw me as a temporary hire. I tried to explain to them and was up front that I did not want my own agency at this point in my life. They didn't agree. I've interviewed with new agents, many didn't have a business plan for success which is exactly why I'm out of a job now. He didn't have a plan and couldn't afford me any longer.

Years ago I started to pursue a nursing degree. I worked 3rd shift, 6 am to 6pm, left work, napped in my car in the parking lot and attended school then rushed home for some solid sleep before returning to work. I couldn't keep up the pace and that job ended up turning into running a customer service from my home which took even more of my time. I am considering a medical assistant career. It's less money but I'd eventually have some health insurance. We don't have it, obama's plan would cost us more than our mortgage and it's just not possible. Insurance agents are so small, they don't offer health insurance or any other benefits. That's another reason I'm considering a change. And just in case your wondering, my husband works at the agency from which I was let go. No insurance. He wasn't as expensive as I was. Less experience and not quite as aggressive as I am.

Thank you for your thoughts I really appreciate your taking your time to assist me.

This is just a suggestion until you decide and can bring some money in. If you have a college degree, you can substitute teach.

I know someone who made this her career. You call in the night before and then go where they need you. I imagine you have a school district that you work within.

Look very carefully at the availability of employment. Things are changing rapidly in the medical professions.

As I see it, you're not looking for a career so much as looking for a job. There's nothing wrong with that but I say that because of your age and the obvious time frame for any new endeavor.

WIth that in mind, what job openings in your area (or driveable to if you're in a less populated place) are plentiful? Which of those fields would interest you or would be acceptable for you to do?

Which could you be retrained for in a reasonably short period of time and have a reasonable expectation of placement?

Good luck. PS - your "bull in a china closet" personality, if true, needs some buffering, because it may follow you in any future job search. I'd take any job in the meantime, even something at the minimum wage, to try to build goodwill and a better reputation for a reference.

Two25Acres, I don' t know where you live, but if you are in the United States (and I think you are), every state government has state agencies and employees. Your state should have a Department of Insurance... You will likely need to take (and pass) an exam to get on a hiring list, but that shouldn't be difficult for you. Yes, some positions say that they require a college degree, but isn't not uncommon to be able to transfer into those positions from another position without a degree.

The government employee positions also include health and dental insurance (sometimes life insurance, too, depending on the classification, e.g., confidential employees), and a pension plan.

Oh, work experience can often substitute for college years when qualifying for positions.

I wouldn't advise going to school full time if you don't have a passion for the subject or a specific goal, especially if you'll need to take out loans. Interview medical assistants (offer to buy them a coffee or something in exchange, and find out how they feel about their jobs and prospects). Make sure that's the position you really want before getting into school. Also, talk to schools and find out if your nursing credits have any carryover.

A technical course, like for medical assistants, can pay off by putting you on the job placement track. Many for profit schools are really about getting money from the government, rather than education, so inspect the ratings, reviews, student opinions, and especially placement rates and long term employment rates. The good ones care very much about those rates (biggest selling point). But still verify by talking to prior students, especially those with a few years in the field.

Have you considered becoming an insurance specialist for a hospital, bank or something like that? Or working for an insurance company? It sounds like you have a lot of qualifications for a variety of jobs already. If the "bull in the china shop" personality is holding you back, perhaps charm school would be a good investment? Learning how to say things and when to say them?

If you want to go for a degree, however, or even an advanced degree, because you're driven to study in your field of choice, and if you can do it without running up a ton of debt when you should be feathering your nestegg, go for it! As Dear Abby said (more or less), if it's going to take you four years to finish, and you'll be 58 then, well, how old will you be in four years if you don't go to school?

It sounds like you were successful at selling insurance.......Selling being the operative word. A good salesperson can sell just about anything.

Maybe you should look into medical equipment or pharmaceutical sales since you also have some nursing school in your resume. It would probably be more lucrative and will most likely offer health insurance. Make your sales ability the focus, not insurance.

Or....how about a job working for one of the large health insurance companies....here you would emphasize you already have knowledge of the insurance industry in general as well as some nursing school in your background.

I wouldn't go back to school unless it was for a B.A that would lead to a job in a field that's hiring and pays reasonably well....computers, healthcare and the like. Why spend time and money for medical assisting, which is low paying?

You say you're not interested but I would also consider opening my own agency. That is the shortest path to take and you have the experience. Clearly prospective employers thought you had the ability to do it. You could work out of your house and if things go well, your husband could join you and you can build your business together. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Have you tried the temporary agencies? That's how I got my start back in the 80's.

Have you thought about going to school to learn the codes for health insurance claims submitted by doctors? It usually does not involve more than a couple of months to complete. Most doctors I know have several people on staff submitting claims with the health insurance providers. This position is not only needed by doctors and dentists, but also by all kinds of therapists - speech, physical, occupational, and psychologists.

Hi - the only thing I can think to add is to be wary of financial burden - IOW, weigh the cost vs. benefit if it looks like a student loan would be necessary (& these days, it almost always is). Awhile back I heard a bit of a horror story on public radio of a woman who took on tens of thousands of dollars in student debt when she lost her job & went back to school to learn a new field (real estate, I think) & was then stuck back working in her former field when she couldn't find work(because 2008) in the new field & now has to pay off the loan debt...