Fantasy land it often too tempting to not take a
risk at attempting. I viewed a 9 page insurance
advertisement that virtually guarantees the stairway
to insurance sales heaven in one years time period.
Want to start climbing
immediately or do you want to
pause and find out truth
first?
If your read the classifieds, you will typically see
the biggest ads being those of
sales opportunities. The
better the opportunity, the trickier the wording..
These advertisements are written by some of the best
sales copywriter professionals that exist. This is
especially true in the field of new agent
trainees recruiting by
Insurance Companies and firms. Their insurance ads
stick out, and tend to be the most tempting of all
sales position opportunities offered.
Some of
these insurance firms have taken to adding an
internet address, where you can get an overload of
fluff. In fact I have in my hands a copy of a nine
page advertisement, that is a real knockout.
First a quick dose of reality, and then I will
get back to explaining all the fantasy.
"Help Me, I've Fallen and Can't Get Back Up", is
not the mantra of senior citizens. It is the outcry
of new insurance agents, while they stumble farther
downhill. The career death pit lies just below,
already mixed with those still gasping, along with
those too injured to continue. If you decide to
answer any of the insurance ads, you will be
fighting defeat for four years. Over 90% of fellow
agents will fall quickly. Four years does not mean a
success earning, but merely survival. I survived and
prospered, others have too. Nothing in the insurance
ads I read turned true, its really all up to you.
THE ULTIMATE FANTASY AD EXPOSED
Listed are some of the insurance advertisement
statements.
1. ____ agents can earn over $100,000 their
first year. The real truth is
that less than 9% of
currently licensed insurance representatives
earn $100,000 sometime later when then become a
product specialist.
2. FREE Lead Program. This has more hooks
and snags than a catfish trotline. The Wiggly bait
somehow always slips away. A quality insurance lead
costs $50.00 to $75.00 to obtain. Plus there is
never a guarantee that the insurance lead will
produce a sale. Maybe when a
licensed insurance representative makes
the office $500 or more,
a company or office manager will
you slip them a "free lead"
3. Free product and sales training. You
get this from weekly Emails, and the home office in
Dallas. If 94% of locally trained agents fail, how
is this better?
4. A management team with over 100 years of
combined experience and success plan for our agents
second to none. 100 years of combined experience
mean nothing. That could be 2 people with 40 years
average performance, combined with 5 people of 4
years of bouncing around "experience". Every new
agent recruiting firm can say that have a success
plan second to none. That is because NONE have a
true proven success plan.
5. An option allows you to sell over the phone.
Wow! How many life and health
licensed insurance representatives sell
their client a policy over the phone? Probably less
than one tenth of one percent.
6. Best producers are
treated to trips to Mexico, the
Caribbean, and Orlando. (during hurricane season?).
Win round trip airfare for you and a friend, plus
attend the awards banquet. What about accommodation
costs? How many are staff and how many are first
year agents?
7. Gigantic Income for you.
They calculate 4 issued and paid sales a week
with $3,000 average annualized premium, will reach
$102,953 income, which includes lead credits value.
First, lead credits is a deduction from income, not
a value. Given that most of these sales are major
medical, still, who writes 208 policies for 3,000
premium. That means $624,000 of written and issued
premium. Considering a new agent might get 50% of
the profits, it made the management $100,000.
BACK TO REALITY LAND FOR AN INSURANCE
TRAINEE
Way more than 60% of newly hired agents in their
first year make enough money to survive. Incomes
(without subsidies) of $15,000, $20,000, and $25,000
are typical. $1,000 premiums, and one or two sales
weekly is more the norm. Real sales training is
uncommon.. Company provided scripts and manuals are
hard sell and not prospect friendly. True leads are
rare, so phone books are often called your book of
leads. You will be pumped to sell family, friends,
and relatives. Remember when you leave all upcoming
money from your sales becomes the property of the
insurance company.
Make your decision based
on your
personal selling skills. Your determination,
grit, attitude, and ability
to be a self-starter. Read the
advertisements, and show them to any
currently licensed insurance representative.
Ask their opinion of how much is true.
