Questions about being an Independent Agent

[rob81001]

So I've worked for a large call center for a few years now and am selling Cigna Medicare supplements.

I want to start selling supplements on my own. I have a few questions, as being in the call center they handle pretty much everything on the back end.

I primary would like to dial out of a computer system on the internet. Any recommendations for a dialer? I've looked it up and have seen a handful.

Cigna requires you to go through a FMO. Any recommendations? The entire reason for me wanting to leave is so I could be independent and not split my commission.

Is there a good resource or any reading materials you guys recommend that I should start with?

Thank you,

 

[kgmom219]

Are you sure on the FMO? I go direct with Cigna.

You need to contract with more than just Cigna. Talk to Todd King here or medicareagenttraining.com is good too. (I think it is. I have had a great experience. Others will say differently.)

You need figure out Part D's.

You need figure out how to find people to sell to.

You need to figure out how to keep track of people.

Your dialer is at the bottom of the list. I used a cell phone for 15 years without anything else. Worked just fine. I use Nextiva VOIP, but I have no idea why. The COO is in charge of techy stuff.

 

[rob81001]

Thanks for your feedback.

How much money is in drug plans ? I've been selling just Cigna for years and just referring to medicare for there part d. If it's not lucrative I don't plan on adding it. And chlic is very competitive. I may add additional carriers but I don't think that is a necessity

 

[rob81001]

My biggest mystery would be buying the leads and loading them. I have no experience in that department

 

[somarco]

Define lucrative.

Comp on PDP is something like $1.50 - $2.00 per month.

IMO the real comp comes in the goodwill earned and referrals. Especially when you can save them $500 to $3,000+ per year by showing them a different plan.

Hard to show those kind of savings.

Unless you are an AOR specialist replacing ARLIC with the current Cigna flavor of the month.

But then that has it's downside too.

Can't help you on buying leads. Haven't bought any in years. If you are not careful you can go in the hole real quickly sinking your savings (assuming you have some) in leads.

If you are currently selling the Cigna plans, have everything given to you, and you want to continue selling Cigna, why do you want to leave?

 

[rob81001]

To be my own boss, and to get renewals. I sold 500+ plans 2 years in a row and not much to show. Other than some money saved up

 

[Todd King]

Are you sure on the FMO? I go direct with Cigna.

You need to contract with more than just Cigna. Talk to Todd King here or medicareagenttraining.com is good too. (I think it is. I have had a great experience. Others will say differently.)

You need figure out Part D's.

You need figure out how to find people to sell to.

You need to figure out how to keep track of people.

Your dialer is at the bottom of the list. I used a cell phone for 15 years without anything else. Worked just fine. I use Nextiva VOIP, but I have no idea why. The COO is in charge of techy stuff.

Thanks for the recommendation!

Rob8101, we can certainly help you out. Just give a call when you're ready.

 

[JimmyCrappedCorn]

Thanks for your feedback.

How much money is in drug plans ? I've been selling just Cigna for years and just referring to medicare for there part d. If it's not lucrative I don't plan on adding it. And chlic is very competitive. I may add additional carriers but I don't think that is a necessity

I have sold a thousand drug plans and can state beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no money in it! I wish I was wrong but I am not. In a perfect world I would be collecting a thousand or two thousand a month in renewals but we don't live in a perfect world. I am happy for the seniors that they have drug plans but as a career agent doing this for years I loathe the day Drug plans came into existence.

 

[somarco]

I have sold a thousand drug plans and can state beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no money in it!

Looks like you didn't sell enough.

Seriously, the REFERRALS I get from annual reviews make it worth my time. Still a PITA to do, but you can't place a value on the kudo's you get from clients.

 

[mudhound]

two happy days: The day i started offering DP and PDP's and the day i stopped