Right away huh? Ever try to pick up the phone and call him?
Chris Westfall -- "WING IT .."
- Thread starter NuUzr
- Start date
Right away huh? Ever try to pick up the phone and call him?
I don't think I've ever had a support ticket go unanswered more than a reasonable period of time.... Normally, it's all marketing-idea related - which he is helpful with.
Do you expect uplines to answer the mundane questions like, "Is Xarelto a knock-out med"? (when they have access to underwriting guides)
I'd shoot myself if I had downline agents asking me dumb questions all day...
Happens all the time. Seems it comes with the territory. My point is that you can't simply pick up the phone and call Chris.
- 15,319
If you were contracting new agents and holding yourself out as a trainer then yes, that's exactly what you do.
Rick
I can understand asking the upline, "I've looked at all my carriers, and all are decline for x condition. Am I out of options or do you have a different carrier that may take this case?"
But that's different than: "What's the rate for a 68 yr old male in 43013?" or "is Xarelto a knock-out med with x carrier?"
I only have 1 local downline agent that I helped go from captive to indy - and after a week or two she had called me for two different quotes. That was the end of it - I told her, look, you need to look up the rates and look up the Rx's on your own. I'm not your 1st grade teacher.... (Ok, I left out the 1st grade teacher part). I showed her how to find the underwriting guide and let her know that, realistically, there is a carrier with agent support than can answer those questions. I'm not here for that.
And I don't expect any upline to answer questions like that from me. I expect agent support at the carriers to answer, and underwriting guides. Agents need to learn how to use guides and the carrier's agent support.
You REALLY want agents calling you and asking you this stuff? I'd rather have Hillary as president than have downline agents calling me asking me dumb stuff...
To be clear, unlike Rick and Todd, I don't have downline agents. I just don't understand how those questions don't drive you guys nuts. I hope the override $ is worth it
I never said it didn't drive me nuts...it does! But it comes with the business. It really used to aggravate me, but as time went on I just learned how to accept it. However, I will take the time to teach that agent how to figure rates. That takes care of the next time and all the times they would have called after.
I expect agents to need help in the beginning. After a while they don't call very often for help. I took on that responsibility so its what we do.
- 7,015
Yeah I'll answer a question like that 2-3 times then I'll respond back and ask them, "What does the rx guide say about that med?"
Sometimes agents are just lazy.
Sometimes agents are just lazy.
- 15,041
If you aren't prepared to answer some stupid questions from agents, then you have no business with a downline.
Yes, you do need to train your agents to start looking up information themselves or calling the carrier, but it happens.
Yes, you do need to train your agents to start looking up information themselves or calling the carrier, but it happens.
- 15,319
i don't have a downlineTo be clear, unlike Rick and Todd, I don't have downline agents. I just don't understand how those questions don't drive you guys nuts. I hope the override $ is worth it
Rick
