FMO's Are People Too

[onefastpony]

When you get agents that are at street or below that are recruiting agents under them it will never work in the long run. Once the lower agent is producing he has every right to get street or above and anyone in the middle that is holding him back will just get left behind.

No agent is stuck anywhere in this day and age, there are way too many good FE companies to choose from. If some of your favorite contracts are held up for 6-months, you just sell other ones during that time. Settlers, 5-Star, TrinityLife, Standard Life, Oxford, Equitable, Gerber, Assurity, etc. Are all great FE companies that you likely do not have tied up.

EQuita is a good company but if you are too many layers down with any company it's not good for you. Training pay shouldn't last forever.

The thing is that my current upline didn't recruit me. I walked into Joe's office cold because I wanted to focus on FE. After reading on the forum I knew that I would need a little guidance and I liked the guaranteed lead flow since I couldn't afford my own drops and wasn't sure where to drop. When I came in he automatically put me under somebody.

When I went in for my first meeting with Joe I was speaking with Heather and was discussing my contracts and when I asked about why I was put under somebody else she replied that she nor Joe thought I would last three months.

So the main question is how feasible is it to maintain or increase my production with my 20 leads a week @ 17 a lead other than dropping 2K pieces a week which is 880 a week?

I'm currently contracted with: Americo, Monumental, Foresters, RNA, Liberty Bankers (I don't use them though), and UHL.

Are there any other carriers other than Americo and Monumental that offer 1st day for COPD or would I have to do graded for six months?

Which ones are diabetic friendly?

And what carriers are available in FL?

 

[Rearden]

OFP -- tell Joe and Jorge your decision to move on is purely because of the inherent distribution short-comings in the Equita system, and that it's not your problem that EFES hasn't figured out how to retain quality talent, or convince them to stay against their will.

EFES as well as most major IMOs are mired in the "churn-and-burn" mentality, as statistically most agents burn out within a year. Until they figure out a way to retain the talent they train, they will continue leaving after 6-12 months and contract with FEX, 360, etc., where the agents will be paid what they are worth.

All FMOs are in business to make money off its down line -- where I differ is that when the business relationship is clearly one-sided and self-focused, and not mutually beneficial, is where I think the voluntary contract should end.

Hopefully you recognize now, based on your recent interaction, that Joe/Jorge care about their bottom lines at the expense of yours, beyond the point of reasonableness.

Is that the kind of relationship you want with your upline?

[/ATTACH]Ok. I figured I would try to get this thread back on topic. It's going to be a bit long but it is directly related to the question posed by the OP in regards to "Loyalty."

First I'd like to say I truly do enjoy my work and working with EFES, ok, that's out of the way.

I've been full time FE since Dec with EFES and since then I average 18K a month. When I came on board with EFES I was put under another "Manager," then Joe. After three months of good production I met with Joe to discuss raising my contracts, to which my immediate upline made it sound like he was doing me a HUGE favor by signing off on the nickel increase.

Now another three months has went by and I again met with Joe to raise my levels. To which he didn't want to raise my retail numbers but said he would raise my Wholesale numbers, one at street and two a little less than street.

Now, as far as training goes....I've been on one ride-a-long with my immediate upline to which I feel I didn't gain anything.

I've been on one ride-a-long with Joe, and I do admit he helped me tweak my approach and helped me realize that I needed to work on my presentation.

The only time I call my immediate upline is if I come across a Spanish speaking prospect and have him help me with the presentation via phone.

The only time I call Joe is for him to reiterate something that I've told a client and having Joe reaffirm. Now Joe has given me guidance on other issues with unethical agents that I've encountered

I don't call the office or my upline for underwriting advice, they actually call me if they aren't sure about something.

So, I have breakfast with my immediate upline yesterday morning and he asked me about me speaking with Joe about raising my contracts and me being taken out from underneath him. Needless to say he wasn't pleased and he told me "No" he would not release me from underneath him. He then said that there has to be some kind of "LOYALTY" to the one that trained me!???

I didn't mention that he didn't train me, that I took the initiate and trained myself by studying the apps, underwriting guides, calling underwriting to run scenarios past them, and learning the other products that I run up against.

As my upline was saying this I told him that "Loyalty" is fine but at what price?

I ran some quick #'s for him and if I had a street 120% contract that I could make 74K additional a year based on my current production. I asked him if he thought he or Joe were worth 74K. I got no response.

So, I came home and did an Excel spreadsheet of projections of production. Please help me see that I can make considerable more money on my own. The numbers I ran are very conservative but what is getting me is basing my numbers off of a 1% return and having to drop 2000 pieces a week just to get my current 20 that I get with EFES.

Any advice?

 

[Newby]

The thing is that my current upline didn't recruit me. I walked into Joe's office cold because I wanted to focus on FE. After reading on the forum I knew that I would need a little guidance and I liked the guaranteed lead flow since I couldn't afford my own drops and wasn't sure where to drop. When I came in he automatically put me under somebody. When I went in for my first meeting with Joe I was speaking with Heather and was discussing my contracts and when I asked about why I was put under somebody else she replied that she nor Joe thought I would last three months. So the main question is how feasible is it to maintain or increase my production with my 20 leads a week @ 17 a lead other than dropping 2K pieces a week which is 880 a week? I'm currently contracted with: Americo, Monumental, Foresters, RNA, Liberty Bankers (I don't use them though), and UHL. Are there any other carriers other than Americo and Monumental that offer 1st day for COPD or would I have to do graded for six months? Which ones are diabetic friendly? And what carriers are available in FL?

20 leads a week will cost you between $500 to $560 per week depending on what state you are in. There are more carriers for the 1st day COPD and you are only limiting the ones you are familiar with for 6-months anyway.

You should take a look at our business model which is definitely not based on multi-level marketing. You won't hit that ceiling that is your problem now.

 

[goillini52]

Before my time for sure, and I am almost 41. I was so poor as a kid though, that we had to buy Wylers because it was cheaper. As if 5 cents wasn't cheap enough.

I don't know if Wylers was around when I was a kid. Kool Aid was only 5 packs for .06.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Ok. I figured I would try to get this thread back on topic. It's going to be a bit long but it is directly related to the question posed by the OP in regards to "Loyalty." First I'd like to say I truly do enjoy my work and working with EFES, ok, that's out of the way. I've been full time FE since Dec with EFES and since then I average 18K a month. When I came on board with EFES I was put under another "Manager," then Joe. After three months of good production I met with Joe to discuss raising my contracts, to which my immediate upline made it sound like he was doing me a HUGE favor by signing off on the nickel increase. Now another three months has went by and I again met with Joe to raise my levels. To which he didn't want to raise my retail numbers but said he would raise my Wholesale numbers, one at street and two a little less than street. Now, as far as training goes....I've been on one ride-a-long with my immediate upline to which I feel I didn't gain anything. I've been on one ride-a-long with Joe, and I do admit he helped me tweak my approach and helped me realize that I needed to work on my presentation. The only time I call my immediate upline is if I come across a Spanish speaking prospect and have him help me with the presentation via phone. The only time I call Joe is for him to reiterate something that I've told a client and having Joe reaffirm. Now Joe has given me guidance on other issues with unethical agents that I've encountered I don't call the office or my upline for underwriting advice, they actually call me if they aren't sure about something. So, I have breakfast with my immediate upline yesterday morning and he asked me about me speaking with Joe about raising my contracts and me being taken out from underneath him. Needless to say he wasn't pleased and he told me "No" he would not release me from underneath him. He then said that there has to be some kind of "LOYALTY" to the one that trained me!??? I didn't mention that he didn't train me, that I took the initiate and trained myself by studying the apps, underwriting guides, calling underwriting to run scenarios past them, and learning the other products that I run up against. As my upline was saying this I told him that "Loyalty" is fine but at what price? I ran some quick #'s for him and if I had a street 120% contract that I could make 74K additional a year based on my current production. I asked him if he thought he or Joe were worth 74K. I got no response. So, I came home and did an Excel spreadsheet of projections of production. Please help me see that I can make considerable more money on my own. The numbers I ran are very conservative but what is getting me is basing my numbers off of a 1% return and having to drop 2000 pieces a week just to get my current 20 that I get with EFES. Any advice?

I have many thoughts I would love to share. I really like and respect Eric Brenen at EFES and he has built a nice organization. However that lead program has evolved into a nightmare for the writing agent. PPL-RD's-Managers, all factors that make it hard to really make any money. There are way to many people living off premium generated at the kitchen table.

What is your Americo contract? 110% first year with NO RENEWALS? 90% or so with the rest?

Those are some expensive leads and supreme high quality training you are receiving.

 

[Norwayguy]

[/ATTACH]

So, I have breakfast with my immediate upline yesterday morning and he asked me about me speaking with Joe about raising my contracts and me being taken out from underneath him. Needless to say he wasn't pleased and he told me "No" he would not release me from underneath him. He then said that there has to be some kind of "LOYALTY" to the one that trained me!???

Any advice?

I would ask why his question of loyalty is not good for him as well why is he not loyal to his trainer as he could still be back at your commission level allowing the person who trained him to earn the same override on his production as he wants on yours.

 

[wingateexpress]

Loyalty comes second to making money. If you're making money you wouldn't change IMOs over 5% points.

 

[onefastpony]

Loyalty comes second to making money. If you're making money you wouldn't change IMOs over 5% points.

I agree, but we're talking WAY more than just 5 points!

 

[goillini52]

Loyalty comes second to making money. If you're making money you wouldn't change IMOs over 5% points.

Where you been Jay...We've missed you...especially Rick!

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I agree, but we're talking WAY more than just 5 points!

30-40 points is more accurate. They use the term loyalty to instill guilt to keep you to stay. Loyalty is not even involved. It's a business decision. It was business when they contracted you it is business if you want to leave.


"Stockholm syndrome, or capture-bonding, is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the point of defending and identifying with them."