New to AFLAC

[Searay370]

I have been in insurance over a year now. I just left BLC and I was doing ok there. I left BLC because my father went into Hospice and I took some time off. Anyway, I was not present at a meeting and the Branch Office Manager said that I should have been working even though my dad was dying. I actually was well liked at BLC, but I wish they would have just called me and said something. But I understand that is not easy to ask.

Anyway, my father passed away December 24, 2013 and I am now with AFLAC about a month.

So I gave some background info and I want to know:
- why some agents do not make any effort to go out into the field.
- How big of problem is it when agents have conflicts (whether they are legit or not) about stealing business. I was told the rule is...if I door knock a business and I do not set an appointment to do a decesion maker presentation then it is fair game. However, if I do a DM presentation I have 3 months to seal the deal.
(I think that is fair)
-I know if I go out with the district sales coordinator and do sales I get 100% of the split if I set the appoinmtment.
-I know if I go out with another agent we split the commission 50%.
-What I do not know is I go out with a CIT (Coordinator In Training) do I get 100% like I was with a DSC or 50% like I was with another agent.
- Is this split different for different regions.
I love my DSC. I also love my CITs and RSC. RSC is awesome great and good guy.
Thank you in advance for any input you have.

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I would also like to say, I did not realize how tough BLC was...and that really helped me.
So even though I planned to go back to BLC one of my fellow BLC agents told me what the BOM said.
So I think I really, really lucked out. I am at the top of setting appointents in the office at AFLAC. I realize your first year is like an internship and the money is tough. But my acitivity rocks and I feel I am doing as well as I can with AFLAC.

I also find AFLAC much more fun, much easier, and it seems like I can vision good results. I don't know how the heck I did it at BLC and stayed upbeat.

I am asking because I am hearing different things at different offices for AFLAC.

BUT I LOVE IT. ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

 

[DHK]

I don't know how to answer your question. It would be better to ask someone at your office.


AFLAC doesn't enjoy a great reputation on this board, but if you're working it, and it works for you... keep going.


I wouldn't spend a nanosecond wondering why agents do or don't do the things they do... unless you're considering going into management or starting your own agency.

 

[smokin goose]

Sorry to hear about your dad. Best of luck to you.

 

[Searay370]

Thank you for your condolences.
As far as respect to the duck, could you elaborate a little.
BLC, I liked everybody there and they liked me. I was doing fine. I just feel if they had a business decesion to have me back instead of with my father they should have called me, not at a meeting that I did not attend. I am not mad. I am motivated.
Going back to the duck. I have done final expense, also. It just seems this is the most enjoyable way to make money. It is easy for me to stay motivated, I had to psych myself with FE and BLC. It is also easier for me to stay active and get appointments.
I understand it takes a while to going...I am retited and have a pension coming in no matter what.
Thank you in advance for any input or advice.

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I guess I was asking DHK to devulge a little more into why the duck does not have a good rep in this forum. I have never seen any other get asked for by name like AFLAC does. I have heard in my short time from clients that the service is good. I did hear one bad one, but they got paid and this client still loved their agent. It was the main office that gave this one particular client a hard time of paying the claim..which they eventually did.
When I worked for BLC they told me how good the customer service was but when I contacted the orphan accounts I found it not to be good at all.
I had a fellow BLC agent wanted to try to do a 'fact finder' on my dad. He was in his last days of his life and did not even have the mental capacity to do anything. I just laughed that off. I understand how some can be.
But I got a long with everybody at BLC. I do not think they treated me bad. I do believe the BOM was so gung ho that he forgot about tact. I made a choice of my dad and family over work. But before they always treated me with respect.
And I do not believe BLC with be in high regard on this forum, but I just wanted to let you know I have no ill will towards them. I think BLC is in a very, very bad position to do business. And it is unbelievably tough. That is my humble opinion.

 

[NinjaNic]

Let's say there is 50% commissions in a product, and 8% renewals. The renewals are what the DSCs and RSCs work for, they could care less about 1st year advances. The turnover rate is ridiculous at AFLAC, like 90%. They know that chances are you will be leaving, and they will be keeping your accounts and renewals. An agent is not vested into their accounts and renewals for I believe 3 years. The split is as follows;

5% State
5% Regional Sales Coordinator
10% District Sales Coordinator (If the DSC uses a CIT, they split the 10%)
5% Coordinator in Training
30% Producer

Again, they work for renewals. They know that you have a 90% drop out rate and they want to recruit recruit recruit to have dozens of guys out there prospecting so that they can inherit the accounts and renewals later. This is without mentioning the huge bonuses AFLAC pays to DSCs that have agents that hit certain production numbers.

When I was with them, I didn't follow the territory rules. They were complete BS. I also never split my commission with another agent...I was smart enough to realize that I had a free closer (DSC) and I made him work for his overrides. I left after 3 years and still get some small renewals.

As far as AFLAC as a recruiter...they have a bad rep. They are high volume recruiting, not much training. Their products are killer and definitely have a place. Being the largest Section 125 plan administrator in the country says a lot too.

my $.02

 

[SingingSabre]

Searay, congrats on your success with Aflac and I'm terribly sorry about your dad.

Don't worry about the other agents. The only reason I didn't prospect as much as my DM said to was A) to protect my mind from the insanely high amount of rejection and B) save the little gas money I had (prospecting on foot in AZ during June is not a good idea if you want to stay presentable).

Splits are usually negotiable. You set the splits when you write their policies, so if you can get the person you're working with to agree to it, you just need their code when you're writing up your client.

If your DSC is good at training and actually works with you, jump on that and learn as much as you can.

The biggest thing to remember is to ask whoever you go out with how you two are working splits BEFORE you get in the car. Example: when you're setting up your prospecting time or appointment date say "Hey, how much of a split do you want to do here? 50%?" and then confirm the day of "So, we're doing a 50/50, right?"

Don't give off 50% off the bat, though. If they're higher up than you, they get more referrals. Offer 20-30% to start.

Aflac is a tough, tough company to make it long term. Most people I know (including myself) lasted 1-3 years. If you add some other life and non-supplemental health products, you can be a lot more than just an Aflac agent to your clients. That's the best recipe for long-term growth. That, and other products will net you higher commissions and better renewals.

EDIT: Wait for the extra life and health until you've been solid with Aflac for 6 months or so. Your DSC and RSC will hate the idea, so you may not even want to tell them or pursue it until you don't need their help with everything. Of course, they may be into the idea, in which case, seize that ish.