The Amber Scherloz Thread

[Josh]

Re: Magic Jack

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree about quality, it depends on the provider. I've used Skype, Vonage, RCN, & Comcast VOIP and I've had perfect quality with RCN & Comcast.

I switched to comcast for bandwidth purposes (I have around 50mbps download, 10mbps upload) and have crystal clear quality with their VOIP.

Most newer offices I've visited have VOIP and Cisco phones, more features than you can shake a stick at, many of which landlines can't compete with.

Even with the features aside, VOIP phones are still great quality. My call center runs on 100% VOIP lines and usually the biggest problem we have with audio quality is if the person on the other end has a lousy cordless phone with a lot of static. Once in a great while we'll have a bandwidth issue, but that has nothing to do with the phone provider. We're even doing live transfers and have telemarketers connecting prospects to agents and the only landline (if there is one) is the one the prospect is using. Believe it or not, the quality is great without any lag time. That all being said, I'm using some higher end hardware with a great long distance carrier, so that helps.

 

[WinoBlues]

Re: Average Insurance Agent Salary

When i started 5 years ago my boss told me i would be making 70,000 in 2-3 years. Well I am still making the 18,000 base pay and last year i made 5,000 in commission. I work a hard 40 hours a week and am trying every angle that I can think of to get new clinets.

Your boss? Base? Are you working in someone elses office? Are you doing the admin and get a sale every once in a while if it is not one of his clients? If this is you, you are a CSR, not an agent. Is this a P&C office.

If you want to sale insurance quit answering the phone and start calling people or knock on doors. If this is a P&C shop there is gold in those file cabinets. Add 4 more hours to your week till you are up and going. Saturdays 10am to 2pm

$23,000 after 1 year is to low. 5 years, there is a problem.

Good luck

 

[somarco]

Re: Average Insurance Agent Salary

A lot of folks are slow starters, but persistent. Nothing wrong with that if it works for you. I have always been a bit slower out of the gate than my peers but in the long run I usually catch up and pass most of them . . . especially the ones who flame out after a few months.

One of my favorite real life salesmen is Bill Porter. His story is inspiration for anyone except those who lack a pulse.

 

[Gulliver]

Re: Magic Jack

Everyone that is interested in it should try it. I have had one for over a year and I am happy with it. I would not drop all lines for it because it can fail. I would say 95% of calls are as good as land line. Usually just a redial and it is better. It is as good as a cell phone. Good internet connection also helps a lot. It is a good backup line.

Gulliver

 

[jdeasy]

Re: Average Insurance Agent Salary

From everything I've read over the years, the average yearly income for a life agent is nowhere near $60,000.

American General did a study about 5 or 6 years ago and found that the average was about $20,000/yr. I would guess it's not a lot higher now. For every one six figure agent I know, I know, at least, ten others that washed out or do very little in insurance sales.

I would like to see an updated figure. I would make a large wager that it's well south of $60,000/yr.

 

[somarco]

Re: Average Insurance Agent Salary

What does it matter what others make, or what the average is? Unless you are just . . . average . . . then so what?

I don't spend much time with guys who are not successful, so I don't really care if someone is content with $20k a year. I do try to find people who are successful and mimic what they do. It has served me well for years.

All that really matters is how I feel about my business and my own personal measure of success. As I indicated in another thread, I do a lot of "thank you" business but it pays off in ways that can not always be measured in bank deposits.

In spite of that, my banker and my accountant seem pleased with what I am doing and they never ask what other agents make on average . . .

 

[Josh]

Re: Is It Too Late?

I used to feel the same way, but now I really don't focus on age as much. Any age is okay if the person is really sharp, but early 20's is too young in most cases. However, I've met people in their late 20's, and have some as customers, that are great and wise beyond their years.

My first month selling life insurance I made $7k, I was 18. I think the biggest challenge a younger agent has is to present themselves as friendly and knowledgeable, without being perceived as arrogant or cocky.

 

[Edson]

Re: Is It Too Late?

About two months ago I met one of the agents in the Great American Ocala office who was three months into the business. He was a retired engineer and was 65 years old.

He proudly walked me and the big cheese to the sales board and pointed out that he had the second highest commission in the office for that month, at just north of $7k. Frank was telling me how he knew that he was sharp and when he interviewed him, he asked him to disregard his age and give him a shot.

He did and is now consistently a top performer in that office. I don't think there's such a thing as too old or too young, so long as you put the work and time required to refine your skills. I'm still in the refining process myself

 

[STIBROKER]

Re: How Careful Are You?

Or just one big Amber thread....

Amber...please don't take this the wrong way, but what are you asking?

Also...why don't you package 3-5 of your questions into one post? It would save a lot of space.

 

[Full Throttle]

My first reaction is brutally honest but true and good advise but then I remembered that it took John Savage about 9 years to become successful in this business and then he went on to make millions.

True, I came off as an arrogant prick, sorry for being so harsh. Anyone can turn themselves around at anytime, but its not easy and most do not. I keep referencing it, but I love Albert Gray's Common Denominator of Success, "it's easier to adjust yourself to the hardships of poor living than adjust yourself to the habit of doing the things you don't want to do" (I may have the wording off slightly).

John Savage took nine years to ramp up, but if I remember right from his book, he didn't completely take those nine years off. He had at least 100 clients on the life side, sold his P&C business for over $20,000 (that was a few decades back), and sold off another business he had been operating. He was already motivated to some extent and doing activity. My point: it can absolutely be done, but it's hard to change your habit patterns to do what needs to be done when they have been ingrained for five years. It will take a serious over haul of who you are and what you do on a daily basis.

If you want it bad enough, then do what needs to be done. However, don't delay another day or another 5 years will have passed. I'm currently over hauling what I do on a daily basis and changing my business model, it is tough to break old habits to say the least (written as I post on this board during business hours). However, I did hit my phoning goal for the day.