Career Decisions... Northwestern, NYL or ...

[ozmo]

stay where I am at.
I am pretty deep in the interview/recruiting process with both Northwestern and NYL and trying to make final decison. The other alternative is to stick with Healthmarkets, my currrent company and just sell health?
One of big questions is what is the market for life and financial services right now (if I am crazy I need to know--so far no one has said I am) or am I better to stay in health alone. I am in SOCAL if that matters. I have only been licensed for about 5 month, but i am not young, I need to build a career with good short and long term income as well as provide for some form of retirement in 12 -15 years.
What are your thoughts or suggestions. I have given you alot to comment on and can take the hits if need be--so give it to me straight.
Thanks in advance for your help

 

[chp]

Ahhh HealthMarkets....you will see many of here have been there done that.

If you already have your L&H insurance license, and have survived 5 months at HealthMarkets, why not go independent and focus on what you already know (health insurance)? You will see that it is much easier to sell as a broker then selling HMarket junk.

I was with them for a LOT longer then 5 months, and went independent last year, and love it. The commissions are much higher, and you work for yourself, not your managers.

If you have any specific questions, you can search these forums and find tons of answers, or drop me a line anytime.

 

[xrac]

CHP's advice is pretty good. As far as deciding between NWML and NYL I would go with the one where I feel the most comfortable with the people and have the best chance of having a mentor.

 

[gzpxyj]

Yes, mentor is very important

 

[ozmo]

Thanks all. going indy has some appeal, but of the few threads I have read...appointments sound like they may be difficult to get.
I am fairly new to all this, still but suppose I could get up to speed somehow.
CHP I am new on these boards but will try to figure out how to track you down and send you an email or something.
Can anybody out there, give me a comment on the corporate (NYL, NWML) vs going Independent with health or other products?
Where do I learn more if I decide to go independent?
Thanks again,
OZMO

 

[xrac]

If you are interested in doing health there are several people on here who can help you. Healthagent and his IHIAA organization and Somarco are two great resources. Getting health or life appointments isn't hard. P&C appointments are the hard ones to get. Going health INDY verus going Life captive are two different situations that all depend upon what you want to do and the markets you are interested in working. If you do health you will be working with the middle. If you go to NWML or NYL you will be working the upscale market. As a captive you will have to develop all of your own prospects (unless you are given some orphans). As a health agent you can buy leads. The list goes on.............

 

[chp]

Ozmo, read these message boards, there is a ton of info. Before I left H.Markets I learned just about everthing there is from this site. Contact Healthagent as he is a big help with new agents, he helped me out when I first started. You can contact me at [email protected].

 

[patch36]

They both will suck you dry

You will start off by making a list of your closest 100 friends and family and prey on them. If you write a bunch of them up and still fail, the local office still has that business on the books and you have all your friends and family avoiding you like the Amway salesman you are.

There are cheaper and easier ways to learn the business. You are already most of the way to the point you can be independent, or you can choose the cage they put you in when you become captive. But I am biased.

 

[Cenla Agent]

Unless something has changed, NYL has a program that includes a training salary or stipend for a time (you have to meet certain conditions to qualify) and you're an employee. With Northwestern you are a 1099. I know less about them but have heard they do have good training and I think only their agents can sell NW products, unlike NYL and other companies, which have broker or independent agent options as well. I'm not aware that Northwestern has lead programs either, whereas at least some NYL offices will help with that. Everytime I've talked to someone from Northwestern Mutual, I've always left wondering just what it was they had to offer a captive agent other than the opportunity to sell their products. But your mileage may vary.

Patch is correct that they will all start you on the Project 100.

With regard to appointments, if you can pass the credit and background checks and get offered a job at NYL, I doubt appointments with major health carriers as an independent would be a problem for you.

Personally, I can't forsee a scenario in which I'll ever be captive again.

 

[Tomfromtheshade]

When I started with Prudential it was a project 500 LOL.

Patch is correct that they will all start you on the Project 100.