Why Did You Choose to Be a Captive Agent?

[b61mack]

Depends what kind of insurance you see yourself, selling. We do have a few IMO's on here. Talk with them. Read through the posts. Ask more questions. We will tell you the good the bad, and the ugly, about IMO's.

 

[jdeasy]

Ok, now we're gettin' to the good stuff. NAA is a pyramid scheme, correct? I spoke with someone there - I want to sell insurance, not recruit people to sell insurance...LOL... if I wanted to be a recruiter, I'd be doing that now.

NAA is not a pyramid scheme. They do focus on recruiting now more than selling insurance. Nor are you captive with NAA.

NAA was my second gig in the insurance business after I left a captive situation. At that time NAA was focused on production. It was great for me. I was fortunate to be with a GA that was excellent at training and support. I became a top 15 producer with NAA.

As time went on recruiting pushed production to the side with the upper management and since I wasn't a recruiter the writing was on the wall for me. I went from being the fair haired boy to the red headed step child.

And I sold insurance, not "mortgage protection". When it was in the interest of the client to go fully underwritten that was my recommendation. Some didn't like that i did that, but, as I said, production was king and they left me alone about it.

I'm not saying I would recommend them now for a newby, but they are the debil they are portrayed on the forum. Well, not 5 years ago, they weren't. I don't have recent experience with them.

 

[xrac]

...... I went from being the fair haired boy to the red headed step child......

JD, I didn't know your hair was red??!

 

[cds251]

I was captive during my first 2 years in the business. And I am glad that I was captive.

I will be the first to admit that I would not be where I am today, without being captive.

I had some of the best training available, and still hold that company in high regard.

EVERY professional industry has a Captive v. Independent arrangement....very few start out Independent.

Attorneys very seldom open their own law practice out of college, same for Dr's, Dentists etc etc. They go work for someone else, then make the leap to opening their own practice at a later stage.

I have always said that if you are serious about this business, then you need to be in a place that will train you....and unfortunately most Independent agencies will not and do not do this. (for the most part)

 

[HomeService]

It can be great for a career or to train a person from scratch. I've known people who made a career of it, 401K, health insurance, benefits... Or it can be great to train a person who later goes out on his own. No biggie, it's either right for a person or it's not. Each person is different.

 

[sman]

AGLA for instance has an excellent comp plan and if you're not too lazy to prospect then you can make beaucoup bucks

Define beaucoup bucks. Seriously, how much do you think some of the top agents at AGLA are making?

 

[rousemark]

Define beaucoup bucks. Seriously, how much do you think some of the top agents at AGLA are making?

There are a few agents that make 250K - 500K. My AM made a little over 140K the year before he retired with only 6 agents, so agents and low level management can make decent money plus have their benefit package.. Health Insurance, Retirement, Disability, etc.

 

[sman]

I worked at AGLA many moons ago. My last full year there was 1997. I finished 25th in the company that year out of about 8000 agents and only made $85k. As a sales manager for 3 years I never made more than about $60k-$70k and I made convention every year with the exception of my first year as a sales manager. I didn't know a single person who made anywhere near the money you mentioned ($250k-$500k). Not even DM's. There were a few agents who made six figures, but not many. Some sales managers made six figures, but again they were the exception and not the norm.

I'd love to know who the folks are making half a million a year at AGLA. If they were there in the 90's I likely know them or know of them.

 

[rousemark]

I worked at AGLA many moons ago. My last full year there was 1997. I finished 25th in the company that year out of about 8000 agents and only made $85k. As a sales manager for 3 years I never made more than about $60k-$70k and I made convention every year with the exception of my first year as a sales manager. I didn't know a single person who made anywhere near the money you mentioned ($250k-$500k). Not even DM's. There were a few agents who made six figures, but not many. Some sales managers made six figures, but again they were the exception and not the norm.

I'd love to know who the folks are making half a million a year at AGLA. If they were there in the 90's I likely know them or know of them.

The last year I was there the top agent was right at 400K in production.. Considering that at that level, the contract in force at the time would pay about 120% with bonuses, you can estimate what the income should have been. Seems he was in a Southern Cal district. There were several agents, mostly in Cal and Texas for some reason, that produced $200K in AP.

Where were you located when you were with them?

BTW, that 85K in 97 is the equivalent of 119K today,

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[sman]

I was in a district a little south of Atlanta my entire 8 years. One of the coolest things that I got to do was have dinner with Joe Kelley (former CEO). I was one of the leading Sales Manager's one year and he came to Atlanta and took me and another sales manager out to eat. He had some great stories about his days at Alabama. Especially about when he was an assistant coach for Bear Bryant.

I doubt very seriously that I could make the same money I do as an independent at AGLA.