Hello from Phoenix, Arizona

[rebiii]

Hi,

I'm from Phoenix, Arizona. I've never sold life insurance! I found this forum because I'm getting emails from AIL and other companies, and googled what they were. I found a thread from a while back on this forum. (I can't post the link because I don't have 20 posts.) Sounds like AIL is not recommended by most people.

I'm here to find out what is recommended. Off to post in the "Getting started" forum... Best, Bob

 

[BADTROUT]

Why go with one carrier... Find a good brokerage and have all of the most common carriers at your disposal. Good news is you have MANY options.

 

[rebiii]

Thanks, BadTrout.

I'm about as raw as you can get. I'm just poking around to find out what this is.

So AIL is a carrier, with their own line of products, and if I work for them, I'm stuck with what they offer? That's what I get out of what you said.

Does that mean you recommend opening a brokerage? I feel like I'm light years away from that. I haven't made a single insurance sale. I don't even know the difference between products. Where do you recommend I look? Should I work for AIL, just to learn some terminology and basic skills? I do have fundraising experience, some of it high-dollar. I know how to ask for money.

EDIT: Reread your post and saw "find" a good brokerage. Good advice. I'll start looking. Best.

 

[BADTROUT]

No no sorry, let me explain... There are life brokerages... These are organizations that will actually in most cases offer support, and a higher than retail commission for selling products from the carriers they offer.

 

[GreenSky]

Why did you get an insurance license? What products interest you? Do you have any money set aside?

Rick

 

[rebiii]

Why did you get an insurance license? What products interest you? Do you have any money set aside?

Rick

Didn't know I needed an insurance license. So your reply puts me farther down the line than when I started the day.

I got unsolicited emails to sell with AIL because my resume is on a job board.

As far as products, I am a total newbie. A lot of times people think that newbie means "dumb." Not the case. You could put most people behind a McDonalds grill and they'd be failures their first day. There's a learning curve for everything.

I guess my best answer is that I'd like to sell a mix of products. From the very little I know, I would like to have options to offer people high-dollar products when appropriate, but also sell lesser plans to have a more reliable income at first. Is there a good glossary on this site?

I do have experience at cold calling in a fundraising environment, but I'd prefer to work with leads if possible. How are they generated? I know nothing.

 

[adjusterjack]

I'm also from Phoenix and was in the insurance business from about 1973 to 2006 (retired).

Didn't know I needed an insurance license.

Yes.

Every state requires a license to sell any kind of insurance.

The Arizona Department of Insurance has a "producers" page with all the information you need about an insurance agent's license and the educational requirements.

https://insurance.az.gov/producers

Before you start looking for markets or employers you'll need to meet the educational requirements and get licensed.