Business Expo Etiquitte for New Agent, Advice Please!

[sonofthetis]

I'm signing up with NMFN on 1/12, career change from service sector in Ft. Myers, FL. I have plenty of experience in Business Development, but I'm green as hell in Insurance. Services provided would be Life, Health, maybe group or business policies. My background is in real estate, taxation and accounting, so this may help me in the Insurance Field.

There is a Business Expo on 1/20 that I will attend. Being new, I will likely have no business cards or clothing to announce my firm or career. I was considering walking around to the various booths of the vendors (in a natural market) and corralling as many business cards as I can along with some photos of new faces I meet. I will then follow up with phone calls, e-mails and drop byes.

Is this a solid plan, or should I re-assess and go a different route for introduction and meeting business owners?

 

[VolAgent]

I'd give New York Life, Mass Mutual, and Guardian a look too if you haven't already. Even Met, just never cared for the way NWM over does it on the kool-aid.

But that is the basic idea. The only people who really want your card is someone who wants to sell you something. You're the one wanting to sell here, so you are the one who should be collecting cards. If anyone is persistent and wants yours, apologize, tell them they are on order, and ask for theirs, promising to send them one once your cards are in.

Also, is this something you found on your own, or is the local NWM office sending you? If everyone is going, skip it. No need to fight your own peers over prospects, go find desirable prospects that no one else is talking to.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I'd respectfully go another route. It's considered very poor form to solicit business from people who are spending a lot of money on booths.

They are paying to be there and paying to gain business. They are not paying for people to walk around and solicit them. It is, however, proper form to go booth to booth to promote your services if you have your own booth.

 

[VolAgent]

They are paying to be there and paying to gain business. They are not paying for people to walk around and solicit them. It is, however, proper form to go booth to booth to promote your services if you have your own booth.

Never thought of that, but then I'd avoid it anyway. I want to talk to business owners, not other salesmen. Because that is primarily what you are going to see at any expo, the salesperson, not the owner.

 

[Frank Stastny]

I will likely have no business cards or clothing... I was considering walking around to the various booths

What size are you? I can lend you some clothes if that will help. I hope you aren't considering walking around without clothes.

I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist. My bad.

 

[sonofthetis]

44 Long, 34 34 on the pants, and I like a Good 3 Button if you're offering, Frank!

This is something that I found on my own, but I do believe that there would be a lot of other reps (either as vendors or patrons) wandering the floor. As far as I know, there will be no representation from NFMN there, but who knows.

I will have to respect the vendors financial outlay in this, that is a good recommendation healthagent. This is something which will have to be thought further upon as a frowned upon act.

As far as which agency, I've met with MetLife and really liked them at first, then I was more or less dropped, no idea why. LIMRA scores were excellent, credit is good, background is no problem, so I don't know what happened. MOO is another possibility, they really want me to come on, their main focus is the senior market (I'm in a retirement area) selling Med supps, Life, Disability, Long Term and Annuities. Should I consider them more than I am?

NFMN management seems good, went through their Mutual Fit with no problems, and the vibe I had was pretty good. No other interviews set, should I reach out to MM or Guardian?

Sorry for the rambling, but this seems to be a forum which supports newbies.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Worst case scenario; "no soliciting" is a rule for these trade shows so if a vendor gets a burr up his behind you could be asked to leave.

 

[Frank Stastny]

44 Long, 34 34 on the pants, and I like a Good 3 Button if you're offering, Frank!

This is something that I found on my own, but I do believe that there would be a lot of other reps (either as vendors or patrons) wandering the floor. As far as I know, there will be no representation from NFMN there, but who knows.

I will have to respect the vendors financial outlay in this, that is a good recommendation healthagent. This is something which will have to be thought further upon as a frowned upon act.

As far as which agency, I've met with MetLife and really liked them at first, then I was more or less dropped, no idea why. LIMRA scores were excellent, credit is good, background is no problem, so I don't know what happened. MOO is another possibility, they really want me to come on, their main focus is the senior market (I'm in a retirement area) selling Med supps, Life, Disability, Long Term and Annuities. Should I consider them more than I am?

NFMN management seems good, went through their Mutual Fit with no problems, and the vibe I had was pretty good. No other interviews set, should I reach out to MM or Guardian?

Sorry for the rambling, but this seems to be a forum which supports newbies.

Sorry, I'm a 40 reg with 32, 32 pants.

Oh, welcome to the forum.

 

[VolAgent]

44 Long, 34 34 on the pants, and I like a Good 3 Button if you're offering, Frank!

This is something that I found on my own, but I do believe that there would be a lot of other reps (either as vendors or patrons) wandering the floor. As far as I know, there will be no representation from NFMN there, but who knows.

I will have to respect the vendors financial outlay in this, that is a good recommendation healthagent. This is something which will have to be thought further upon as a frowned upon act.

As far as which agency, I've met with MetLife and really liked them at first, then I was more or less dropped, no idea why. LIMRA scores were excellent, credit is good, background is no problem, so I don't know what happened. MOO is another possibility, they really want me to come on, their main focus is the senior market (I'm in a retirement area) selling Med supps, Life, Disability, Long Term and Annuities. Should I consider them more than I am?

NFMN management seems good, went through their Mutual Fit with no problems, and the vibe I had was pretty good. No other interviews set, should I reach out to MM or Guardian?

Sorry for the rambling, but this seems to be a forum which supports newbies.

Nothing wrong with MOO. I have heard they will not let career agents exclusively sell senior products, that you will need some production from the under 65 crowd.

I don't know the Mass or Guardian agencies in the area, I'd just start with their websites, that is what I did when I started.

With Mass, Guardian, New York Life, and NWM, you want to be talking to the business owner. I'm not too concerned with going to an expo to solicit business, but with the fact the person I want to talk to probably won't be there.

 

[sonofthetis]

Guys, thank you for all of the great advice and warm welcome. I've been trolling the boards here for a good 6 weeks soaking up as much info as I can. I believe I will attend the Expo and let nature take its course. I will also join the Chambers, comm events, etc for lead potential.

I'll do the diligence on Guardian and MM tonight also.

As per forum decorum, forgive me, this is my first ever message board posting. If I wanted to know about how to avoid the "washout" of start-ups, do I ask here, start a new thread, post in existing, what do I do?