What's a New Guy to Do?

[csstanley1973]

I honestly don't see anything in this business as easy. Whether it be captive and dealing with the pressure of someone over you and not having a book of business or going indy.

Nope, nothing easy about it. All that while trying to make a living.

Taking the Life portion Friday. Not real worried about passing the exam and to be quite honest, I've had some things starting to work out.

One of our guys on here emailed me and offered some help. Not gonna say who but that gives me hope and lets me know how thankful I am I found the site.

Also had a good chat with Jason at AgentCo today as well. I highly recommend these guys if you're in Commercial or Personal Lines.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

While it's not easy, there was an incredible difference between sitting down with a client and saying "here's the carrier I sell for" and "Let's take a look at which carrier has the best products for you."

 

[csstanley1973]

While it's not easy, there was an incredible difference between sitting down with a client and saying "here's the carrier I sell for" and "Let's take a look at which carrier has the best products for you."

Therein lies the difference between being an agent and a broker!
I did learn something didn't I!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I'd like being indy in the long run. Just call me Indiana Stanley.

 

[InUrFaCe]

Why, don't you check out Merrill Insurance Group. Shannon Davey is one of the guys who runs things they are teamed up with EFFES. If your interested look at finalexpencebootcamp .com they have leads, training, and support.

 

[b61mack]

You will learn from NAA, the problem with NAA is the 55%. If you can live on 55%. Go with them. Only you can decide, talk with other in the office, See if they have agents who have been their a few years. Look in the parking lot. If you see a lot of clunkers. That will speak volumes. Good luck.

 

[cds251]

Yes it might be. However, do you realize that when you leave a captive situation that you leave all of the business you have written including any renewals behind you?

The agent walks away penniless. He then has the unique opportunity of starting all over again from scratch.

I've heard that some agents enjoy a challenge like that.

True, but lets be realistic here. How much "renewals" is he really going to be leaving on the table anyway if he leaves within a 2 year period. Not much....AND if you have done right by your customer they will follow you anyway.....irrespective of whatever garbage is written in an agents contract about their clients.

As for contract levels etc don't be put off by taking a lower contract level INITIALLY. Attorneys and Doctors don't start on top dollar...so why should an insurance agent?

Sure the training might be BS to those of us that have "been their done that" but we can only say that with hindsight.....which is a nice luxury.......how do you know that you won't be suited to that? You don't UNTIL you have had the experience. Kind of like, how do you know you like girls until you try one? You don't.

I used to get 30% on life when I started.....am I still on 30% after 10 years? No I have had some pay raises since then.

 

[Franz Kafka]

I used to get 30% on life when I started.....

That's actually lower than 36% they started me off on. No wonder you're such an ass kicker.

 

[Frank Stastny]

True, but lets be realistic here. How much "renewals" is he really going to be leaving on the table anyway if he leaves within a 2 year period. Not much....AND if you have done right by your customer they will follow you anyway.....irrespective of whatever garbage is written in an agents contract about their clients.

As for contract levels etc don't be put off by taking a lower contract level INITIALLY. Attorneys and Doctors don't start on top dollar...so why should an insurance agent?

Sure the training might be BS to those of us that have "been their done that" but we can only say that with hindsight.....which is a nice luxury.......how do you know that you won't be suited to that? You don't UNTIL you have had the experience. Kind of like, how do you know you like girls until you try one? You don't.

I used to get 30% on life when I started.....am I still on 30% after 10 years? No I have had some pay raises since then.

You may very well be right.

 

[HomeService]

Out of all the things you read about NAA and you still are doing it? I understand this Andy character got to you and all, but..... please report back to us and tell us how it went.

My advice to you would be go straight to Mutual of Omaha and get trained by them. Or AGLA. Maybe Western and Southern. Not NAA.

 

[csstanley1973]

Homeservice, I haven't totally committed to anything yet. I'm weighing my options, plus I still have to get my life license before I can do anything. But rest assured, I will report on what I finally decide to do.

I'm looking at two factors here in making my decision. Knowing full-well that I'm new to the business, there's going to be a learning curve and it's going to take time to learn the in's and out's. As long as I can pay my bills right now, I'm going to be fine. I know I'm not going to start out making top dollar, that comes with time and how well I learn product and honing my people skills.

Andy is a salesman. I can gleen from watching him and picking up on key things he says. Face-to-face, he seemed like he's straight-forward and to the point. But what to say about those under him? I can't answer that other than to say, you're going to have idiots hired that give the company a bad name as well as disgruntled former employees that are going to run you down. How many indies here have hired people that they wish they had never met? I dare say plenty of you here have. Life, in general, is about learning, whether it be from those we don't like as well as from those we do.

My goal right now is to pass the Life exam Friday.

I'm seriously thinking FE as my true line of work. I spoke with one of our fellow board members yesterday and he's willing to give me a chance to do my thing and I feel inside that I will do just fine selling this product.

I honestly don't think I've ever felt any stronger about what I want to do with my life than I do about insurance. I've sold flooring, metal roofs, even vacuum's at one time and to an extent I sold Christianity. It sucks that I've went and got my Personal Lines and Health before I decided on my Life, but I think keeping up my CE's they can be something I can add to my arsenal as I grow in the business.