Need Advice on IMOs Please

[Guest]

Hello everyone!

I am in the process of choosing an IMO here in Texas, to sale Final Expense. I am looking for one that will provide 20-25 leads for me to work every week. Fresh leads that is, not used by other agents. Had bad experience with LH before so I am a little weary. They promised a lot and delivered very little, and I was considered one of the top producers but still, I did not see they would handle leads properly, some where over 2 year old!!!, so you can imagine what quality leads they would give to other agents that where not considered to be "top producers". So now I am in no mood of wasting time/energy buying old overused leads and/or be stuck for years in the same commission level (the company I was working with ended up, after almost 2 years of being with them, putting me under some other agent I didn't even know, because she was promoted but had no downline. Therefor I was no longer candidate for a "promotion". That was the cherry on the cake for me, so I left.
I have a list of IMOs that I have contacted, and they all promise they have the best growth plan for their agents and lead program, it all sounds good, but I have learned from experience it is best to ask around and investigate before even signing with just anyone. If there is anybody in here that may give me some info on any of this Cos, I would greatly appreciate it! I cannot afford to loose money buying old overused leads this time! Thanks a million!

Here is the list I have to choose from:

EFES
North American Senior Benefits
Securus
Berwick Insurance
Federal Financial group
One Life America
Securus

Please if there is another overall good IMO out here in Texas would you let me know? Thanks a million!!!

 

[Newby]

Normally my answer would be none of the above. I don't recommend buying leads through your upline. Most bad experiences come from doing that.

The problem for you is that you are in Texas. Your state has the worst direct mail responses in the country. But the fact is, no FMO can produce leads any cheaper than you can. Don't limit your thinking to FMOs that promise the golden leads.

You can definitely remove Securus from your consideration. No agent should consider them. They will tie up your contracts for no reason other than to screw you up.

 

[jdeasy]

Hello everyone!

I am in the process of choosing an IMO here in Texas, to sale Final Expense. I am looking for one that will provide 20-25 leads for me to work every week. Fresh leads that is, not used by other agents. Had bad experience with LH before so I am a little weary. They promised a lot and delivered very little, and I was considered one of the top producers but still, I did not see they would handle leads properly, some where over 2 year old!!!, so you can imagine what quality leads they would give to other agents that where not considered to be "top producers". So now I am in no mood of wasting time/energy buying old overused leads and/or be stuck for years in the same commission level (the company I was working with ended up, after almost 2 years of being with them, putting me under some other agent I didn't even know, because she was promoted but had no downline. Therefor I was no longer candidate for a "promotion". That was the cherry on the cake for me, so I left.
I have a list of IMOs that I have contacted, and they all promise they have the best growth plan for their agents and lead program, it all sounds good, but I have learned from experience it is best to ask around and investigate before even signing with just anyone. If there is anybody in here that may give me some info on any of this Cos, I would greatly appreciate it! I cannot afford to loose money buying old overused leads this time! Thanks a million!

Here is the list I have to choose from:

EFES
North American Senior Benefits
Securus
Berwick Insurance
Federal Financial group
One Life America
Securus

Please if there is another overall good IMO out here in Texas would you let me know? Thanks a million!!!

#1. Good choice

#2. Not such a good choice, but there are worse IMO's.

#3. Not a choice at all anymore

#4. Never heard of them. Probably not a player.

# 5. See # 4

# 6. Run away. This is Parker and Asses. Worse than even LH

#7. See # 3.


look at fexcontracting.com They didn't make your list but should have.

 

[Guest]

Thanks so much for the answer, how kind of you to help me out. I will consider all the advice here posted. I have though also of not going to a IMO but the thing is, I really don't think I have the time and money to get my own leads, probably can mail them myself, but how much does it cost? what GOOD mail companies I can find out there? I have heard I would have to invest at least $600-$800/week to start seen any results. I simply cannot afford it. Any advice?
Thanks again!

 

[tins]

Thanks so much for the answer, how kind of you to help me out. I will consider all the advice here posted. I have though also of not going to a IMO but the thing is, I really don't think I have the time and money to get my own leads, probably can mail them myself, but how much does it cost? what GOOD mail companies I can find out there? I have heard I would have to invest at least $600-$800/week to start seen any results. I simply cannot afford it. Any advice?
Thanks again!

Get good contracts and walk door to door asking people if they want to buy insurance.
I'm not being a wise-azz...there is somebody on here that does just that and makes almost a sale a day. You could do it until you have the funds to buy leads...just keep investing in yourself and your career.

 

[Newby]

Out of curiosity why would #2 not be such a good choice?

I don't know anything about them. If they are doing fixed price direct mail leads in Texas and if the commission levels are not too low and if the company choices are good...they would be a good choice. But I would want an exit agreement if they fail to deliver on the promises.

Their leader board looks pretty bad. It's all negatives. Must have a bunch of chargebacks this month. http://naseniorbenefits.com/leader_board.asp

 

[jdeasy]

Out of curiosity why would #2 not be such a good choice?

I've a lot of bad about them and not any good things. Everybody could be wrong on them?

 

[bboman23]

I don't know anything about them. If they are doing fixed price direct mail leads in Texas and if the commission levels are not too low and if the company choices are good...they would be a good choice. But I would want an exit agreement if they fail to deliver on the promises.

Their leader board looks pretty bad. It's all negatives. Must have a bunch of chargebacks this month. http://naseniorbenefits.com/leader_board.asp

I think that leader board shows negatives to tell how far behind the leader those people are. I worked with this company when they were getting started out. Wasn't that bad in the beginning. But 70 percent contracts with 21 dollar direct mail. I've heard they lowered it to 55 contracts now. But you can move up some by production. The calls every morning used to be good, but then it turned into mostly recruiting calls. "build a team, recruit, ect.) Then they sell tele leads through aic for 20 dollars a lead. They get the leads cheaper than 20 dollars, so they make money on them. If they offered higher contracts it wouldn't be so bad. Guess they think the calls are worth giving up 40 to 60 points on contract. That's my opinion. I know some people personally doing great there, but they all have huge teams.

 

[Newby]

I think that leader board shows negatives to tell how far behind the leader those people are. I worked with this company when they were getting started out. Wasn't that bad in the beginning. But 70 percent contracts with 21 dollar direct mail. I've heard they lowered it to 55 contracts now. But you can move up some by production. The calls every morning used to be good, but then it turned into mostly recruiting calls. "build a team, recruit, ect.) Then they sell tele leads through aic for 20 dollars a lead. They get the leads cheaper than 20 dollars, so they make money on them. If they offered higher contracts it wouldn't be so bad. Guess they think the calls are worth giving up 40 to 60 points on contract. That's my opinion. I know some people personally doing great there, but they all have huge teams.

OK. I get it. It doesn't show what numbers "Bama Girl" has. Just that she's $63,000 behind "the Monster".

I've never understood the appeal of the reverse recruiting model. The ol' you take 1/2 your normal commission contract but if you bring on 10-people under you we can bump you up to 80% of what you would normally be at anywhere else.

How do they put a positive spin on that?

 

[bboman23]

They hire a lot of new agents that don't know any different. I was on 85 and buying my own leads. And the only way to get higher would have been to have a team. Production requirements get high.