Jonase
Expert
- 21
Hi all, I've spent a lot of time searching the forum and absorbing as much as possible. The take away - I need to start a new thread because I'm still confused and things change quickly in this business for so many post from years ago.
I need help - here's why: I came to insurance about a month ago somewhat unexpectedly and reluctantly. A long time ago I got a 215 license to boost my prospects in a failing economy and only recently took a job for a company as a manger that quickly folded and turned into a gruesome beast that wanted to sell senior products - FE and Med sups mainly. I had the license and few other prospects so I agreed to stay on. Big mistake. Oh yes they conned me into letting them use my license. Thankfully I did my research.
Long story short, I am essentially a fully prepared agent without a clear idea what to do next.
I have multiple state licenses.
I'm certified in medicare, individual health and the marketplace.
I have appointments with quite a few medicare and health carriers including UHC, Mutual of omaha, aetna, Golden rule to name a few.
i have many FE appointments all with above street level contracts (115 -120%)
I am working through Berwick for medicare - they are nice but that is as much as i know.
I have a few FE appointments with PIP - nice also but don't know much more.
The rest of my FE appointments are totally independant because the people I worked for almost had me roped into One Life but I managed to get out of that after reading posts here.
So, I have my rate books, underwriting guides, enrollment kits, a website, a softphone, a CRM lined up etc etc
What i don't have is:
1) a firm grasp of what angle I should pursue. Should I focus on one type of product and completely ignore the rest - say just do FE? Or should I do one primarily and cross sell and get referrals for the others.
2) A marketing plan. The rat bastards i worked for had massive databases for the senior market and used Philippine call centers to cold call the database. We sold from that but I don't know what the cost was and i wouldn't know how to set it up even if I had a database big enough. That was purely phone closes by the way.
I do know this much - I need a steady stream of leads/ prospects. I tested some internet leads out of ignorance. Not favoring that plan at all. I really can't afford to be testing lead companies to find out what works. I am however, ready to put referral systems into action and do what it take s to market myself and create my own leads but that takes time and i need to start with something that gets that ball rolling....
Here is what I'm leaning toward - market medicare and cross sell FE with a little individual health hustle during open enrollment. Medicare leads seem to be a lot cheaper than FE and I can see a lot more avenues for prospecting and creating my own leads through medicare marketing. Plus medicare companies will provide marketing materials - brochures, banners etc.
My attitude is one of paying it forward and asking how can I help. I apply that in my personal and business life and i believe it is particularly important when selling (educating others about?) insurance. Which is why I believe in the value of a mentor. Unfortunately I know but one person in the business and he is obsessive compulsive and only does big WL and UL life contracts i believe. I'm not ready for that.
If someone in Florida that is successful and willing to help me out - I'm about as good a learner as you'll find.
Thanks in advance for your kind advice!
I need help - here's why: I came to insurance about a month ago somewhat unexpectedly and reluctantly. A long time ago I got a 215 license to boost my prospects in a failing economy and only recently took a job for a company as a manger that quickly folded and turned into a gruesome beast that wanted to sell senior products - FE and Med sups mainly. I had the license and few other prospects so I agreed to stay on. Big mistake. Oh yes they conned me into letting them use my license. Thankfully I did my research.
Long story short, I am essentially a fully prepared agent without a clear idea what to do next.
I have multiple state licenses.
I'm certified in medicare, individual health and the marketplace.
I have appointments with quite a few medicare and health carriers including UHC, Mutual of omaha, aetna, Golden rule to name a few.
i have many FE appointments all with above street level contracts (115 -120%)
I am working through Berwick for medicare - they are nice but that is as much as i know.
I have a few FE appointments with PIP - nice also but don't know much more.
The rest of my FE appointments are totally independant because the people I worked for almost had me roped into One Life but I managed to get out of that after reading posts here.
So, I have my rate books, underwriting guides, enrollment kits, a website, a softphone, a CRM lined up etc etc
What i don't have is:
1) a firm grasp of what angle I should pursue. Should I focus on one type of product and completely ignore the rest - say just do FE? Or should I do one primarily and cross sell and get referrals for the others.
2) A marketing plan. The rat bastards i worked for had massive databases for the senior market and used Philippine call centers to cold call the database. We sold from that but I don't know what the cost was and i wouldn't know how to set it up even if I had a database big enough. That was purely phone closes by the way.
I do know this much - I need a steady stream of leads/ prospects. I tested some internet leads out of ignorance. Not favoring that plan at all. I really can't afford to be testing lead companies to find out what works. I am however, ready to put referral systems into action and do what it take s to market myself and create my own leads but that takes time and i need to start with something that gets that ball rolling....
Here is what I'm leaning toward - market medicare and cross sell FE with a little individual health hustle during open enrollment. Medicare leads seem to be a lot cheaper than FE and I can see a lot more avenues for prospecting and creating my own leads through medicare marketing. Plus medicare companies will provide marketing materials - brochures, banners etc.
My attitude is one of paying it forward and asking how can I help. I apply that in my personal and business life and i believe it is particularly important when selling (educating others about?) insurance. Which is why I believe in the value of a mentor. Unfortunately I know but one person in the business and he is obsessive compulsive and only does big WL and UL life contracts i believe. I'm not ready for that.
If someone in Florida that is successful and willing to help me out - I'm about as good a learner as you'll find.
Thanks in advance for your kind advice!
