Newbie to Insurance & Selling

[gingerkat]

Hello all, new to everything regarding insurance and this board. I beg of you to please be gentle with me. I've gone back and read some old threads on the company I am going with and I'm nervous. The reason I was reading about them is because I'm pretty unhappy already.

I was hired with Aflac with no sales experience and not sure what it entailed. The Regional mgr said that since I was very personable he thought I was a great fit, but after reading other sites, I know they hire anyone.

He told me about how much my license would cost (BTW, he was off by quite a bit). It was a lot of money for me, but it was something I was willing to invest in. So after all was said and done, I passed, was happy and ready to get my training. Now all kinds of other things started to come into play. I was also told that I would get a print out of companies and would go off of that, but on Friday my mentor said that was incorrect. Talk about sucker punch.

I'm just looking for a little input for experience agents or anyone wishing to comment. I don't know if I should cut my losses and give up or try elsewhere. To continue on with the training, it will cost me another $500 in cost for gas & parking, not to mention office cost (which was not mentioned). I have such a bad taste in my mouth already when it comes to Aflac, I'm not sure I can do this. I originally came to them because of a good product, but because of his deceptive recruitment process, I'm unsure. I've been looking for other companies,but nobody wants an agent with no experience.

Thoughts, advice?
Thanks in advance
*sigh

 

[DHK]

Let's analyze a few parts here:

Hello all, new to everything regarding insurance and this board. I beg of you to please be gentle with me. I've gone back and read some old threads on the company I am going with and I'm nervous. The reason I was reading about them is because I'm pretty unhappy already.

Let's verify exactly what's wrong before jumping to conclusions.

I was hired with Aflac with no sales experience and not sure what it entailed.

That's okay. That's how most people get started in insurance sales. It's kinda like a rite of passage.

The Regional mgr said that since I was very personable he thought I was a great fit, but after reading other sites, I know they hire anyone.

Does that make the compliment any less valid?

He told me about how much my license would cost (BTW, he was off by quite a bit). It was a lot of money for me, but it was something I was willing to invest in.

Most managers don't keep track of costs that they don't have to directly pay for. No surprises there.

So after all was said and done, I passed, was happy and ready to get my training. Now all kinds of other things started to come into play.

Like:

I was also told that I would get a print out of companies and would go off of that, but on Friday my mentor said that was incorrect. Talk about sucker punch.

Based on your post, this is the only real concern you have - how to get in front of companies that you can sell to?

My best recommendation is to get unlimited leads in your local area by using ReferenceUSA database from your local library. You can search by zip code, # of employees, sales volume, etc.

I'm just looking for a little input for experience agents or anyone wishing to comment. I don't know if I should cut my losses and give up or try elsewhere. To continue on with the training, it will cost me another $500 in cost for gas & parking, not to mention office cost (which was not mentioned). I have such a bad taste in my mouth already when it comes to Aflac, I'm not sure I can do this.

Before moving forward, ask your manager about ALL your expenses that you are responsible for. Office, phone, copies, laptop... anything that you are responsible to pay and when.

Once you have that information, you can make a more informed decision.

I originally came to them because of a good product, but because of his deceptive recruitment process, I'm unsure. I've been looking for other companies,but nobody wants an agent with no experience.

Thoughts, advice?
Thanks in advance
*sigh

If you believe in the product, you can do it.

I believe that the biggest hurdle - besides the turnover of Aflac agents - is that once a company signs up with Aflac, they are tied to the writing agent, if they are active with Aflac.

Determine your costs and ask your hiring manager EXACTLY what they are going to do to help you make money to pay the expenses and have a livable income. If you can't get a specific marketing plan... you may have your answer right there.
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BTW, you'll get more input and advice if you post in the "Getting Started" sub-forum.

 

[xrac]

Starting to other companies: AGLA, COMBINED, WESTERN SOUTHERN, etc. are candidates.