Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject: Can some one make it only with life?
I work for a company that has pretty good life insurance. We also have supplementals like cancer, critical illness, and accident policies, as well as annuities. The supplemental policies are good, the life is great, but the annuities pay such horrible rates that I don't even want to talk about them with people.
I am having a very hard time, despite decent name recognition of my company. All of the senior agents at the office compliment me on my phone skills and my work ethic, but I'm going no where. My level of activity is great (more than the other new agents), but it seems like I'm working for nothing.
They will continue to pay be a salary for several more weeks, but I'm starting to wonder if I should start looking for something else.
I really would like to think that if I sold major medical policies that I could be more successful. When I try to talk to people about their life insurance, I often hear "We're happy with our life insurance. Do you have health insurance, because ours is going up?" I can do nothing with these people, unfortunately.
So, I'm coming to a critical decision here. I could see myself staying in this business about 3 more months unless I start making some serious money (to me, this is about 4 to 5K a month).
Should I stick it out trying to focus on life, or go to a company that sells major medical -- or even independent?
What approach should I be taking with life insurance?
Thanks,
HungryAgent _________________ Register Now to have your Insurance queries solved.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:09 pm Post subject: Can some one make it only with life?
Hello HungryAgent,
Quote:
My level of activity is great (more than the other new agents), but it seems like I'm working for nothing.
It is good to be a "Hungry Agent". You are going through the same things that every insurance agent before you has gone through and every agent after you will go through. It's called "Rejection". We can never take rejection personally.
You say that your level of activity is high, but what kind of activity?
Are you honestly sitting fact-to-face with 20 qualified prospects per week?
That is what it takes.
Quote:
They will continue to pay be a salary for several more weeks, but I'm starting to wonder if I should start looking for something else.
Why did you get into the insurance business in the beginning? Some people think the insurance business is easy and one can make a lot of money by doing practically nothing. I think you know by now that these people are very wrong. In order to be highly successful in this business, insurance has to flow through your veins. We provide the same type service for our prospects that the financial planners do, the difference, we do it for nothing and the financial planners charge $100 per hour.
Quote:
I really would like to think that if I sold major medical policies that I could be more successful.
This is the "grass always looks greener" syndrome. Why do we always want to sell what we don't offer? Believe me, the rejection is just as real with health insurance and usually there is more premium dollars involved.
Quote:
So, I'm coming to a critical decision here. I could see myself staying in this business about 3 more months unless I start making some serious money (to me, this is about 4 to 5K a month).
You are absolutely correct, this is a "critical" decision for you and I know you will not make it lightly.
The only thing I could say to maybe help you is that you are in one of the most rewarding careers there is. You can make a good income, but there is also the satisfaction of knowing that you helped a family maintain a decent standard of living by spending two hours with the major breadwinner.
Do you have a manager? Why not ask the manager to go on a few sales calls with you and analyze what you are doing and what you are saying?
A manager's success depends on the success of those he/she manages.
I didn't really mean to be so lengthy, but, as you can see, insurance flows through my veins.
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:01 am Post subject: Truly!
Hi there,
I had been a tele-sales exec. at some point of time & I believe that selling is challenging & certainly one of the most rewarding careers ahead! At the same time we'd need to be sure that all the selling skills & etiquettes are at our finger-tips!
Quote:
Should I stick it out trying to focus on life, or go to a company that sells major medical -- or even independent?
Truly..what Insurance Maze has rightly pointed out over here regarding switching industries (or even different work areas within the same industry) is almost equiv. to switching jobs more often. And you must be knowing this fact how the industry would look down upon such agents as a mere 'job-hopper' when the next job-interview is under your nose. So, its better that you look before you leap!
Regards,
Sasha
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:28 am Post subject: don't get caught by imaginary fears..
Hi All!
Its good to see Insurance Maze & Sasha pouring out their invaluable suggestions especially for the new agents who are yet to make a mark in the industry.
I'd sincerely request HungryAgent to stick to work till its going good & not draw up your hands due to some imaginary fear. Believe me, every specialist agent (irrespective of his baggage of expertise) had to trudge through the same undulations that you are going through right now!
Again, this is just a passing phase. So, you'd need to invest some more time to it before you derive the results. Regards,
Fatman
Wonderful suggestions there already by Insurance Maze, sasha and fatman! I tip my hat to you all for sharing such good advice, thank you for that.
HungryAgent, I think in any job you can always look for a mentor that's close at hand. It's an approach that's often overlooked but can be invaluable.
Is there anyone in your office that does exceptionally well and is approachable? They may well be flattered if you asked them to give you some guidance on sales techniques or how to handle certain questions. It's about maximizing what you have already to work with, be it resources or customers. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh perspective, rather than a change of job.
Some of the best methods I learned when working in sales and customer service were gleaned not from the standard company training, but from the observation and studying of the highly successful staff. I was never afraid to ask someone if I could pick their brains sometime, usually bribing them with lunch LOL. A small price to pay to learn from the best. You just need to be open to hearing what they have to say.
One more thought that may boost you a little. This time of year I know the last thing I'm thinking about doing is reviewing my insurance but once Christmas is past and it's New Year, I do because I'm thinking about where to get the best deal going forward in the year ahead. I don't think I'm alone in that being part of my New Year resolutions.
Like most people, we want to save money if we can. Perhaps business will pick up then and people will be more amenable to a review of what you can offer if you put it that way- a possible better start financially to the New Year.
