A couple of forum friends are live on youtube

Entrepreneurial-minded people are driven to insurance opportunities built more like "real businesses." Meaning the agent carries the cost of business while maximizing commission, and has more of a "lone wolf" mentality, successfully operating his business without the need of micromanagement, team meetings, etc.

Employee-minded people are driven towards insurance opportunities reflected in Lincoln Heritage, and the MLMs of the insurance world. The level of interaction and micromanagement is higher in these organizations, and more value is given to things like culture, camaraderie, and an orientation towards a team/group.

Besides the roughly 10% of agents in MLM agency setups that are actually business-minded and independent, I have concluded it is pointless to try to pursue the swaths of agents that could stand to benefit tremendously from the likes of Mungia, Massi, FEX, and myself.

Further, I would argue that most of those agents if recruited would fail miserably in the independent model. A lot of us independent-minded agents, of which consist of most of the Insurance Forum, are actually the minority in the scheme of things, and it's important to remember that this is an echo chamber of that mentality.

Which reminds me: if you haven't read this book yet, you'll want to. Your post reminded me of it.

Amazon product ASIN B01FKRVZ88
 
This stuff all works on paper, but you guys are leaving out the most important element...

The psychology of the agent recruited and how they perceive the opportunity presented to him.

Differing psychologies explain why Lincoln Heritage agents en masse aren't running over to FEX, myself, and other agencies.

Further, assuming that One Life agent production report predominantly consists of free lead agents (may not be the case) at small commission levels, odds are you couldn't persuade a fraction of them over the short-term to your way of thinking, defined as transitioning to a paid-lead program with higher net commissions, even if the agent logically agrees with your supposition.

In short, besides those that are mishires at any organization (10% give or take), agents end up to where they belong.
Damn Dave, you come up with some weird looking avatars. This one might be the weirdest yet. :twitchy:
 
This stuff all works on paper, but you guys are leaving out the most important element...

The psychology of the agent recruited and how they perceive the opportunity presented to him.

Differing psychologies explain why Lincoln Heritage agents en masse aren't running over to FEX, myself, and other agencies.

Further, assuming that One Life agent production report predominantly consists of free lead agents (may not be the case) at small commission levels, odds are you couldn't persuade a fraction of them over the short-term to your way of thinking, defined as transitioning to a paid-lead program with higher net commissions, even if the agent logically agrees with your supposition.

In short, besides those that are mishires at any organization (10% give or take), agents end up to where they belong.
I think you are probably right, and ultimately that was Adams point I think. His agents gladly take lots and lots less money because they will otherwise fail to get out of bed in the morning. This is troubling to me, but not unbelievable
 
It never fails to surprise me thay people ever watch the stupid videos I do.

O dear ... :unsure:






... this is awkward ...








but ...​







... I was watching for Chris Smith :swoon:












:D I'm just kidding with you Nick! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
 
I think you are probably right, and ultimately that was Adams point I think. His agents gladly take lots and lots less money because they will otherwise fail to get out of bed in the morning. This is troubling to me, but not unbelievable

Right. And it's not something you'll hear the MLM top people freely admit, especially in a public forum.

No top MLM agency is going to pronounce that his downline agents are mostly incapable of true entrepreneurship and business independence. To do so would jeopardize affairs tremendously.

There are other factors that captives and MLMs do well to ensure the total adherence. Limiting vesting for a number of years, roping in agents on advancing (and getting them accustomed to buy now, get now approach to direct mail, instead of looking at leads as a long-term investment), and having no control of their agency (it is at the mercy of their upline), all are used as leverage to keep an agent open-minded to independence, totally committed to the MLM (think Mafia).

Sink the hooks it deep, and make the consequences of leaving greater than the *potential* upside benefits (the devil you know is better than the devil you don't)....
 
Right. And it's not something you'll hear the MLM top people freely admit, especially in a public forum.

No top MLM agency is going to pronounce that his downline agents are mostly incapable of true entrepreneurship and business independence. To do so would jeopardize affairs tremendously.

There are other factors that captives and MLMs do well to ensure the total adherence. Limiting vesting for a number of years, roping in agents on advancing (and getting them accustomed to buy now, get now approach to direct mail, instead of looking at leads as a long-term investment), and having no control of their agency (it is at the mercy of their upline), all are used as leverage to keep an agent open-minded to independence, totally committed to the MLM (think Mafia).

Sink the hooks it deep, and make the consequences of leaving greater than the *potential* upside benefits (the devil you know is better than the devil you don't)....

Yep. You know what it actually takes for a high producing agent to leave Lincoln? All of their advance debt needs to be paid back. Their lead debt too. They will get vectored for either. If they replace any of their business, they will get charged back for all their business.

Another one of the semi-popular MP MLM'r added some crazy contract that states if they leave they have to pay back 18 months of commissions and can't contract with any other IMO for 2 years. Along with a non-compete and non-solicit.

Their argument in favor of this move? We're tired of training new agents only for them to leave for higher commission down the road.

The bigger these groups get, the more they start to lose agents to all of us. Then they start enacting strict rules.

We all talk about the 6 month release rule, but I'm starting to see some carriers allowing these MLMrs to add 12 month release agreements and rules that prevent agents from getting comp increases for 12 months if they move.
 
I've had more than one Lincoln Agent that thought there must be a catch. Lower prices for the customer. More approvals with 1st day coverage policies. Higher commission and renewals. 1st day vesting. Same leads for less money. Better training. Nope!
They listened to Mama and Mama always said, "If it sounds too good to be true, it can't be true."
 
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