by Chris Bantly » Wed Jun 24, 2009 02:47 pm
I have seen a trend in my area that has left me undecided, and I'm hoping some of our members can provide some insight. In the last few weeks, there has been an influx of advertisements on television and in the newspaper recruiting potential insurance agents. The ads are looking for individuals with or WITHOUT insurance licenses. They claim their successful agents come from all different backgrounds and that insurance experience is not necessary. One of the advertisements even states you can be selling in just a couple short weeks.
I have investigated a couple of the advertisements, and neither of them lead to SHC or NAA. The one that I was able to get the most information out of was a Life Insurance company that is looking for new agents. I believe the name was Cornerstone, but am not completely sure.
My debate is this: I understand that it is not difficult to get an insurance license. I understand that anybody with sales experience knows the basics as far as how to succeed in a sales career. I'm simply worried that somebody does not have adequate training or an adequate knowledge base to properly explain some of the more complex insurance products!
I know companies, such as NAA, are easily able to train someone (or give them information) on the specifics of Term Life insurance...it's not very complex. This company, however, sells annuities and all sorts of variable life contracts, ltc, and partnership policies.
What are your thoughts? Are you worried about inexperienced and unknowledgeable (Did I make that word up?) agents giving the rest of us a bad name?
I have investigated a couple of the advertisements, and neither of them lead to SHC or NAA. The one that I was able to get the most information out of was a Life Insurance company that is looking for new agents. I believe the name was Cornerstone, but am not completely sure.
My debate is this: I understand that it is not difficult to get an insurance license. I understand that anybody with sales experience knows the basics as far as how to succeed in a sales career. I'm simply worried that somebody does not have adequate training or an adequate knowledge base to properly explain some of the more complex insurance products!
I know companies, such as NAA, are easily able to train someone (or give them information) on the specifics of Term Life insurance...it's not very complex. This company, however, sells annuities and all sorts of variable life contracts, ltc, and partnership policies.
What are your thoughts? Are you worried about inexperienced and unknowledgeable (Did I make that word up?) agents giving the rest of us a bad name?
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:57 am Post Subject:
Hi Chris..
I guess the process of selling insurance works like any other sales process.
Would you put inexperienced agents to the job of selling more complex insurance products?
Selling insurance like any other products would need a combination of experienced and inexperienced agents.
Why would companies like NAA put inexperienced agents to sell products like annuities, ltc or partnership policies?
Don't you think they'd lose a large volume of sales by doing this?
Steven
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:01 am Post Subject:
What are your thoughts? Are you worried about inexperienced and unknowledgeable (Did I make that word up?) agents giving the rest of us a bad name?
Well, I'd allow them an opportunity since we all need a place to begin with. Chris, I guess you were not as well informed as you are now when you were a newbie.
A new agent may not explain a complicated policy well to the agent but he/she can start with simple policies and work his/her way upto the ladder. It would require determination on his/her part. Often you would come across an agent who is not well aware of the policies he is selling even after spending years in the business. So, discarding someone only because he/she is new IMO would be wrong.
However, its definitely a good topic for debate. :)
~ Jeremy
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 01:00 pm Post Subject:
I wouldn't suggest discarding someone because of lack of experience or education, but I think more training should be required. Maybe the newbies could start with simpler products, and learn more as they progress.
The practice that I worry about is putting inexperienced agents into situations where they are either going to make an answer up (we all know it happens) or where they are not comfortable explaining properly. This gives the client a bad experience and puts the new agent in a bad position as well.
I'm sure some firms do an excellent job of training, but I have seen many that just throw people out and see who can make some sales!
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:27 pm Post Subject:
Hi Chris,
I know all to much about Cornerstone. I started in the insurance business being recruited by such an ad by them a few years ago. Cornerstone is the field recruiting part of AMG, (agency marketing group) which is one of the two marketing branches of Healthmarkets (formerly Mega Life and Health and Midwest) who promote their products through the Alliance for Affordable Services.
The other branch is UGA, which markets the same products through National Association of Self Employed or NASE.
They hire new agents en-masse and do train them to sell their products, but because of the numbers they hire, there is often not a lot of one-on one attention, and in this business you have to know what you are doing to survive at first.
Another problem is that they pay their managers recruiting bonuses and also bonuses for new agents making their first sales goals, and in a way this would seem good except in reality, this is what I saw happen.
Many agents were recruited and were helped out a lot until their managers made the first production bonus, then the manager just moved on to helping the newer agent meet theirs, and so on. (Fortunately my manager did not do that). Part of me thinks that was okay, you have to sink or swim, but on the other hand, this left a lot of inexperienced agents on their own, and a lot of them ended up doing stupid things to make sales.
They also paid on submission rather than approval, and although that was good to get money in your pocket quickly, it also left the company open to abuse by people who were writing "clean apps" just to get advanced then disappear when it caught up with them.
Can't say this outfit is totally bad like many people make them out to be, it is that their recruiting methods are really flawed and leave them open to abuse.
My experience with them was actually pretty good, and I made some really good lifelong friends there, but it is hard sell something that has had such bad publicity, especially when there are far superior products out ther for a better price.
(Kind of like trying to sell a ford festiva for the price of a Lexus )
:D
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 08:02 pm Post Subject: HealthMarkets Companies
Is this a viable fit or just another taker to groom them
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 03:00 am Post Subject:
Insurance marketing like any other field has rooom for professionals with different levels of competencies.
mass recruitment of agents by any company indicates that they are planning to concentate more on volumes (with small value policies), than high value policies those are normally sold in lesser numbers.
As insurance professionals, we all know that financial stability of companies depends upon the numbers.
However, the above development should not be a cause of worry among experienced agents, as they will always get a preference over new ones as long as they maintain their edge over newbies.
Cheers!
Aryan
Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:45 pm Post Subject: 0440 licensed Looking for Job
Jean Williams jecrois
11211 S.Military Trail Apt# 2722
Boynton Beach, FL 33436
Tel: (561) 856-2440
jecrois 9@hotmail.com
OBJECTIVE
To obtain the position of Case Manager, Outreach Counselor at Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County, Inc.
EDUCATION
South Technical School West Palm Beach, FL
Certificate of Completion for computer 1&2 December 1994
South Technical School West Palm Beach, FL
Certificate in Bookkeeping & Accounting June 1994
Yves Albert Boucher High school Port-au-Prince, Haiti
High School Diploma June 1992
WORK HISTORY
Minority Development & Empowerment, Inc. Palm Springs, Florida
Outreach Counselor June 2008-Present
• Provide HIV Rapid testing & counseling.
• Link clients to Ryan White Case Management & other medical services.
• Educate clients on disease transmission and prevention strategies.
• Attend health fairs & other social events in order to conduct testing & distribute educational materials about HIV/AIDS.
• Complete monthly & quarterly statistical reports.
• Maintain accurate case documentation on all clients.
• Attend medical appointments with non-English speaking clients to provide translation.
Island Coast AIDS Network Fort Myers, Florida
Outreach Counselor August 2007-June 2008
• Provide HIV Rapid testing & counseling.
• Link clients to Ryan White Case Management & other medical services.
• Educate clients on disease transmission and prevention strategies.
• Attend health fairs & other social events in order to conduct testing & distribute educational materials about HIV/AIDS.
• Complete monthly & quarterly statistical reports.
• Maintain accurate case documentation on all clients.
• Attend medical appointments with non-English speaking clients to provide translation.
Haitian Educational Center Fort Myers, Florida
Vice President October 2004-June 2008
• Managed the day-to-day operation of the agency.
• Conducted classes, group sessions & workshops to educate the public on disease transmission and prevention strategies.
• Attended health fairs & other social events in order to conduct testing & distribute educational materials about HIV/AIDS.
• Completed monthly & quarterly statistical reports.
• Maintained accurate case documentation on all clients.
Mobil Gas Fort Myers, FL
Assistant Manager January 2002-October 2004
• Supervised a team of eight employees.
• Completed weekly employee work schedules
• Provided employee training.
• Assisted the manager with day-to-day operation of the gas station.
SKILLS
• Abilities: Provide HIV Testing, counseling, linkage and management skills.
• Computer: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, QuickBooks, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook and the World Wide Web.
• Languages: Fluent in French/ Creole.
•
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES.
Customer Service Representative.
Resident Insurance License # W087982
References & Supporting Documentation Furnished Upon Request
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 05:17 pm Post Subject:
I am an agent of State Farm insurance from Florida; If you require any help please contact me here.
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