by johnnypop » Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:30 am
I found a recruiting ad on craigslist for Independent Agent Advantage. I went to their website and their offer to start your own agency seems a little too good to be true. Anyone ever heard of these guys or work with them?
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 06:59 am Post Subject:
Haven't heard of them :( I'm sure that someone will be soon around with information, but too good to be true proposals often scare me.
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:22 am Post Subject:
....start your own agency....
It doesn't take much to "start your own agency."
Back in 1985 I started mine in the master bedroom with a phone, a kitchen chair and used the bed as a desk and the night stand for files.
True story.
I was too cheap to buy a desk with my money. I waited until I got paid my first insurance commission before I bought a desk.
As far as someone offering to start an agency for you I would be quite skeptical. Insurance doesn't sell itself.
From my short look at their WEBSITE it appears to me the one time $99 set up fee is what's being sold.
New agents are suckers for this type of thing because they just can't grasp the simplicity of making sales calls.
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 06:52 pm Post Subject:
Gary, yes, I agree. It seems for $99 you get all this support, leads, and the ability to easily recruit agents in other states. I also saw on their site about starting a mortgage office for $99 without licensing and you can recruit loan officers in other states and you get support and leads, etc. It just doesn't add up.
Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 08:53 pm Post Subject:
I found out last night that Independent Agents Advantage is an agency of HBW - Helping Build Wealth - another 'buy term invest the difference company' The $99 is for their start up kit.
Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 11:03 pm Post Subject:
Johnny by pass that one..are you interested in becoming an agent? do you have any marketable skills/education/background? or was this just something that caught your eye?
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 09:31 pm Post Subject:
Lori, I am looking to become an agent again. I had my life/health license from 1992 - 2000. I also had a Series 6 license. I was a mortgage broker from 2000-2007 and now I am looking to get back to life insurance. I have been doing some loan mod and debt negotiation stuff lately, but finding I miss the life insurance biz.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 06:23 am Post Subject:
Hey Johnny, a while back, I had a guy from Independent Agent Advantage actually call me at work with a spiel about starting my own agency. As is my nature, I started asking questions and immediately Googled his company and references. It was then that I discovered he was linked to HBW. In case you've never heard of them, HBW is known as the Amway of the insurance industry. In my opinion, they are a cult of glassy-eyed, sunken-faced dreamers who never sleep and regularly meet to hold hands, stare at the sun, and chant things like "wet on Met and screw Pru." Term zombies, all of them - in my opinion.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 05:22 pm Post Subject:
Thank you for finding that information. I got enough of that business model in the 90's. I appreciate your help with this.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 09:43 pm Post Subject:
We usually never respond to these 'forum' formats due to the inaccuarate information being placed online by those that do not actually check out a subject before they make their 'opinions' or their' know facts' known.
But in this case we are making an exception to respond to the inaccurate information being put on this forum.
1. John, if you wanted to know the truth about us then you should have dialed the toll free number. You have never contacted us by email or phone to get information.
2. Gary, Yes anyone can 'start their own agency'. But we are not talking about a 'bedroom' agency. We are talking: education, training, support that NO other company offers any agent today.We DO NOT start an agency for ANYONE. Most of the "sucker" agents you referred to ,that are with us now are veteran agents with over 26 years experience that are now turning their business around by utilizing the training we give them.
3. There is NO 'startup' kit. Where did youi get this "information" ?
4. We do NOT supply leads, nor SELL them to any agents.
5. InsInvestigator, Sorry........but we NEVER call agents unless they have requested more information from us and have asked us to call them. We have NEVER called you. So that conversation never happened.
6. HBW is anly one part of our agency. No one seemed to mention the other companies in Life and Annuities, Senior Markets Sales, Guaranteed Issue Health Plans, Dental & Vision, Group Benefit Solutions....or How we help unlicensed men and women find their way to get their study materials and to take their state exams.
6. No one mentioned how we have helped 1000's of struggling agents turn their businesses around with proper education that that could not receive anywhere else.
7. We are NOT "buy Term and Invest the Difference"........since that philosophy rarely works in the real world. We educate and train all our agents on the benefits and downfalls of any type of insurance and/or financial product.
8. Met Life and Prudential are 2 of our main carriers. So your flippant 'chant' reference as you state is ridiculous. Our agents are totally non captive and have whatever carriers and products they choose to have in their portfolios."Term Zombies"???? Another ridiculous 'opinion' !!!
9. If Mr InsInvestigator wishes to 'bash' a company with his inaccurate remarks then that is his perogative....But the truth should be known....if anyone wants to know the TRUTH about something, then step up and do your own due diligence.
10. We are very proud of who we are and how we are able to help so many agents across the country.
As I said before, Not ONE person on this message forum has had a conversation with anyone at Independent Agent Advantage. Therefore their 'opinions' are just that.
We feel that these type of forums could and should be a source for those that are genuinely looking for assistance.
We suggest that unfounded statements and flippant opinions stop being placed by those 'experts' that are being asked for help and professional guidance.
Our contact information is on our website and we always welcome newly licensed as well as seasoned agents to contact us for more information.
The "INFORMATION" that has been placed on this message forum is not correct.
It is a shame that so called ' experts' in this industry have chosen the bashing method to respond about something they have never taken the time or effort to educate themselves about...Guessing it is just easier to voice an opinion, than to actually search for the truth.
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 05:51 am Post Subject:
Ok Guest - I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I'll call the 800 number tomorrow, hear what you have to offer and decide from there.
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