Senior Healthcare Consultants/RJR Insurance

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 01:47 pm Post Subject: Senior Healthcare Consultants is now Apex-Elite?

Received a call from someone at a company called Apex-Elite. Their pitch was almost identical to SHC. When I callled the number, the lady answered greeted me with "Human Resources". No identification of the company. I left a message for a "Jessica" to call me back. When she did, I traced the number to none other than.... Senior Healthcare Consultants. I actually called the number and asked if they were affiliated with SHC and the laady said "no" and hung up on me. Looks like the clowns in Dallas are trying to pull a fast one again.

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 01:56 pm Post Subject: SHC is operating under "Apex-Elite?"

Received a call from a company that had an almost identical pitch to SHC. They are called "Apex-Elite" and can be found on the web. When calling them back at their number, a lady simply answered "Human Resources", which is somewhat strange. I was then forwarded to a Jessica who then called me back. I traced the number and lo and behold...it was SHC. I did call back and talk with the "Human Resource" lady and asked if Apex-Elite was affiliated with SHC in any way. She stated that she had no idea what I was talking about and then the line went dead. Hmmm... Looks like the crooks are doing the name change game. These guys are the lowest scum bags on the planet. STAY AWAY FOM SHC!!!

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 03:52 pm Post Subject: CHECK OUT THEIR APEX - ELITE SITE

I just checked out APEX - ELITE site - this company just started in the last several months. The testimonials are from 3/2010 and on..... They don't have one testimonial from any of their upper management.

The only contact number on their site -ZERO - you have to submit your name and they will contact you. That should be a RED FLAG they aren't willing to give you a name only a number - 800.297.9682

If anyone lives in the area of their so called place of business, I would love to see who is working there. If it really exists. Here is the address - 6300 Ridglea Place, Suite 1008 -Fort Worth, TX. 76116. It might be a office but everything still at SHC address.

If you look on CAREER BUILDER where you now find APEX - ELITE -you will see that SHC / RJR has no job postings available. What's up with that if they are the LEADER in the BUSINESS.

Jobs at Senior Healthcare Consultants:

Sorry, currently there are no jobs available

The contact number used to be Mr Brian Corder but now that has also changed to the following on the job websites:

call 800-320-2809, extension 139.

Then if you google SHC / RJR Insurance it doesn't bring up the shcsales.com web address. HMMMM!!!

The same with MONSTER.COM - no job listings. It came up COMBINED and other insurance companies. When a year ago they have almost 1000 job listings. If you don't think that is odd there isn't even any job listings on APEX - ELITE - MONSTER.COM. I leave it to you to speculate.

Also the APEX - ELITE is not listed with the BBB of Texas. Their company website is VERY VAGUE!! They don't give out much information. I just tried SHC / RJR Insurance for the BBB in Dallas, Texas - it has DISAPPEARED. I'm telling you some stuff is going on BUT we all can only imagine!!!!

If you also check SHC website you will see some testimonials have been REMOVED. Once I again I will let you speculate!!!! I'm a firm a believer what comes around goes around!!!!

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 04:26 pm Post Subject: too many options

Thanks for the mountains of information from all who posted trying to explain many of the differences and pitfalls of this industry and the marketing companies who market for the various carriers.

I started in the business nearly 10 years ago and the landscape has changed in many ways (and remained the same as well). I’m currently not very happy where I am, and looking to move. I’m trying to decide which market to focus on. From my research it seems the senior market is going to be growing for quite some time ~ since I have another 30-35 years to work I’d like to find a home where I can build a client base and build a renewal income.

I live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and there are literally 9-12 million people here in the outlying suburbs (this should keep me busy and clients shouldn’t be too hard to come by). Can anybody recommend a good marketing company that has solid relationships with carriers who provides excellent back office support? I have plenty of sales experience/skills but hate sitting in the office doing paperwork (once when asked what I did for a job I commented, “I kill trees for a living – with all the paperwork I’m forced to endure”). I'd love some feedback on some options I have run across although some of them have some questionable things posted about them as well, on this site and others.

For instance, has anyone worked with BLC Bankers Life and Casualty? They seem to have a good rating and great incentives but have had some negative press as well, but they have been around for a long time so they must be doing something well, right?

What about Mutual of Omaha? They seem to have a very comprehensive set of products and sales strategies, and a decent Medicare Supplement product, but how is their local office support?

I made the mistake of getting in with two companies in the past who didn’t appreciate me and took me for granted and I don’t want to make the same mistake again (and I am willing to look in the mirror and accept that some of the problem may be me) – In advance I appreciate the info provided here and look forward to your feedback.

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 05:10 pm Post Subject: Ritter Insurance

Get appointed w multiple companies and no captive contract. The insurance companies pay you!!

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 05:31 pm Post Subject: Johny Doe

Johny,



I feel your pain as it applies to trying to find a good place to work out there. It seems almost impossible to find a place where you can get a little support and help with the mundane side of trying to find people to work with and maximize your time in front of people. I have looked, and am continuing to look, for the right fit!

Banker’s is one you are asking about and is a great example. I have not worked for them personally but I have a good friend who has had all of the experience with them that she would like. They, like many apparently offer ways to maximize your time in front of prospective buyers but according to her if you do not want to spend half of your week, if not longer, prospecting for leads and setting things up for the remainder of the week then this will not be a good fit for you. The paperwork is apparently about the same but some of the approaches she is saying they are using have her looking for another opportunity.

She is saying that their sales force is shrinking rapidly and that much of that has to do with their approach as well I guess as the fact that they are owned by Conseco and the bankruptcy is supposedly still as issue for some reason. I am not an expert but it is clear that things are not all good there.

I guess what has gotten them into some hot water of late is selling high deductable Medicare Supplement plans along with annuities that are then designed to pay the high deductible amounts each year from the profits generated from the annuity? Not sure how that is supposed to work seeing it would generally take months if not years to generate enough income to pay even a single year of a high deductable amount. Again, I am not an expert but from the outside looking in that would not make me comfortable.

As it applies to Bankers, and based on your comments above I would say stay clear. Good luck and please keep me posted on what you find out there. Who knows, maybe we will end up working together some where nice.

Thanks!

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 05:37 pm Post Subject: 9123

Thanks 9123

Why this industry is such a mire is beyond me - I guess if it was easy, everyone would do it and there wouldn't be room for me.

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 05:49 pm Post Subject: One more thing Johny

Johny,



Oh, and you also mentioned Mutual of Omaha. I forgot to mention that one. They do have a lot of product but again based on what you are saying you may want to stay clear.

You can get appointed directly and have the carriers pay you, which avoids some of the apparent pitfalls of the captive agency thing, and they start out very competitive in the marketplace. The issue is that once you get a good bit of business with them their rates seemed to go up at about the same time and you are left spending all of your time trying to maintain what you have already sold. Long term renewal growth will take some serious fighting to obtain.

I quite selling for them because of this and it sounds like it may have been just in the nick of time. I am not sure how wide spread it is but I guess they came out with new plans effective 6/1/2010 that have already seen 15 – 20% increases. I am sure most have not sold a lot into those plans yet but what they have written they may have a hard time keeping. Those are conversations I would not want to have with someone I just sold only months after selling them their policy.

I love being completive and I love the good name recognition but I sure don’t want to be back in front of someone every 3 -6 moths explaining why they are back in the same boat that generally got them to change with me in the first place. My credibility with them is shot at that point and I am left trying to explain how it will be different in the future, and I am not sure it will be different. I just have to tell them that it can happen and take my chances.

I know that there are likely many more situations and carriers like that but I sure would like to find a good stable carrier to work with where it is not this same old thing over and over again. It gets old trying to build only to take huge loses to the book of business that you have worked so hard to get every time the premiums take a big jump up.

If anyone has any good thoughts there please do not be shy about sharing them, I would really appreciate the rest.



Thanks!

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 06:21 pm Post Subject: AFLAC

I started in the industry working for American National after I graduated college. I was a bit nervous going into sales on straight 100% commission, so I took a job as a agent with them b/c they paid me a base salary every week. Course, the downside is you have little freedom (8AM to 6PM Mon-Fri and 8AM to 1PM on Saturday) and compared to straight commission jobs in this industry, they paid tiny commissions... but again, they do pay you a weekly salary.

So, if you are a bit weary about entering this industry on the direct sales side, particularly in this economy, I really think you should look at American National.

Oh, plus they give you insurance for you and your family after 90 days, retirement benefits, etc... kinda like what my wife used to say to me, get a "real job". What she meant, bless her heart, was she didn't want me to take a risky job b/c in straight commission sales, if you don't sell, you don't make any money and you end up paying to go to work. Some people I knew (and still do to this day) that had failed in this industry had such financial difficulty that it literally cost them their marriage. I wasn't ready to take that risk. American National provided me the chassis I needed to understand the entire life/health insurance sales industry and then I was able to gain enough confidence (and my wife's backing this time!) to go into "my real job" as a straight commission agent... my own boss.

Hey, if anyone would like me to shoot them a recommendation for you, no problem. I don't know if I can put my email on here, so if you know another site where I could give it to you, let me know. I am still on good terms w/ American National, so I think my recommendation could help out... well, it certainly won't hurt! lol

Take care and stay positive!

worked for AFLAC for about

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 06:28 pm Post Subject: Forgot something

Forgot info on AFLAC!