by hurtarte30 » Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:27 pm
I plan to make a career change, I have decided I want to sale insurance for a living. I have some sales experience but I have never sold insurance before. I am considering starting my career with Aflac, but I would like to get some feedback regarding Aflac as my first option. I have been told that I should look into other insurance companies, I have gone to the state farm and Allstate websites but it seems that they are only looking for people that want to open an office. Any feedback, especially from experienced agents, will be greatly appreciated.
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:23 pm Post Subject: Are there too many az ducks
I am considering Aflac but does anyone how many agents there are in Phoenix? What's the turn over rate here? Thank you
Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 10:10 pm Post Subject: Aflac
Afllac Agents aren't captive, they're only expected to do 75% Aflac business. (I just did the appointment paperwork today.)
When Aflac hires you the first step is to learn the scripts. This is how you get appointments. Once you've learned the scripts you learn all about the products. While you're learning about the products you watch other agents do presentations.
When you're ready to go it alone you start making your own money.
The comparison to an MLM is a good one, Aflac supervisors are called District and Regional sales coordinators or managers. These individuals want you to succeed because they get overrides on your business, just like a real estate broker earns overrides on agent's sales. If you fail, or are porly trained, then they don't get the strong income they could have gotten otherwise.
I suggest asking two very important questions of your interviewer and direct supervisor:
How long have you been in management with Aflac?
How long were you doing field work before you became a manager?
There's no right answer to these, just make sure you're comfortable with the answer you get. Some people get promoted fast, some slow. You might want someone agressive to keep you motivated, or someoen experienced to really be able to teach you everything. Again, it's what's best for you.
Lastly, as has been said... Insurance is a difficult field with no one to yell at you if you don't start on time. Sometimes you are your own worst enemy. Get up on time, do a full day's worth of work, and make it as much fun as you can. (I love the challenge of getting over objections and getting in front of business owners.)
Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:22 pm Post Subject: Aflac
Aflac can be a wonderful career if you are willing to accept the financial sacrifice at the beginning. As an aflac agent, you are not an employee, you are an independent contractor so you are building a business from nothing. Right there, I can tell you that 80 percent of people are not ready to do that. Most people think that when they are self employed, that they are going to make a huge salary and all their financial problems will be solved. The truth is that when you work for yourself, you have to work MUCH MUCH harder than when you work for someone else and it takes time to build the income you want. As an aflac agent, there will be nobody to get you out of bed in the morning. You get out of it what you put into it. The compensation structure is very lucrative if you do the work. But if you're the type of person that wants to do the minimum amount of work so that you can keep your job, being an aflac agent is not for you. You need to be self motivated.
Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:55 pm Post Subject:
Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 12:45 pm Post Subject: Real Life
I was reading this, and this board actually has some merit. But also some inconsistencies. First of all, I have been employed by Aflac for 3 years in 2 different states. I do admit the first 12 months, unless you are a superstar or very lucky you will not make 80k. In reality your 1st year expect to make 45k to 50K before expenses (Gas, E&O ins which is about 360$/year). Now into my 3rd year, my renewals and stock bonuses are worth 21,000.00. So in lamens term, this year if I sell NOTHING I am getting 21k... Since my business contacts have grown tremendously, my second years income was 71k, for my 3rd year I should sell about the amount (its gets harder to prospect because I CHOOSE to care for my customers and service them at least 3 times a year at LEAST in addition to taken care of ALL THEIR claims. This is how I built my sales book, service your customers, help them in their time of need and you will get referrals. I do not need to ask for leads, my customers refer them to me. So in a nutshell this year I am expecting 85 to 90K Total. Aflac as a job is NOT for everyone, but if you can manage YOURSELF and be ACCOUNTABLE to YOURSELF and actually work 30 to 40 hours a week, you will succeed. As a single parent, this job gives me the flexibility to drop off and pick up my offspring at school. I personnaly think this is the best move I have ever done. When you interview for Aflac, if the interviewer says you'll make 100K your first year, ask yourself some questions. Believe 100k in your 1st year is possible but not probable. Most of the people I work with earned 45 to 60k in their first year working 30 to 40 hours aweek. If you can find another job that will pay you that and probably double your income in 4 years.. go ahead. I just never found another one quite the same.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 08:57 pm Post Subject:
do you have to pay for your own license with aflac?
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 02:49 pm Post Subject: Aflac license
You have to pay all of your expenses with Aflac including your licensing fees. The only thing they provide you is upaid training and the products to make sales for them. They'll send you "counterpunch" statistics that show that they pay out twice as much in claims as they do administrative cost, but they don't have administrative costs, with the exception of their world wide headquarters in Georgia. If you are considering Aflac make sure you can afford to spend out alot of money in expenses the first two years. Aflac is hard business because they saturate the market with Aflac agents. It's sad because they do have excellent products.
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 08:33 am Post Subject:
Who has offices in your area? Training can be huge starting out. I say go with Colonial, they have superior training, underwriting and products for the most part plus you are non captive. Add some other carriers down the road and the sky is your limit. Check out insurance-forums.com and search these two companies. You will see one clearly stand above in most people's eyes. Why do you want to sell group? I would suggest starting out selling life insurance for a year and then move forward with some niche products. You better like cold calling and b2b sales or you will have no shot in this industry. Goals are key as well. It's all numbers, expect to make 50 calls a day and get 48 no's. You also should have another job to cover your bills for the first 1-6 months. This takes time to build. I have a part time job currently along with my job at Colonial. This is literally starting a business and you will live it or you will fail. I am working on my website and its 3:30 am. I just love learning how to do better and love the idea of working my own schedule. If you hate to prospect go sell cars and say goodbye to your personal life.
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 06:22 pm Post Subject: Uh..Yeah
Your own schedule? Worrying about a website at 3 in the morning is your own schedule? I went into this believing it was an actual opportunity, for some, maybe that is the case.
1.You must love to cold call, both on the phone, and in the field. Expect to be hung up on, cursed at, mocked, and generally viewed as scum from every business owner out there.
2. People are sick of hearing about Aflac. That's because the geniuses will hand you leads that have been raped by hundreds of other agents.
3. If you don't want to be on the phone, you must go into the field. This being said, you must have someone go with you a FEW times to get comfortable setting appointments.
4. Hold onto any cash you have. Assuming your probably unemployed now, or coming out of college, you will not make much at first.
a. call company or field call company and set appointment.
b. make pitch to owner or decision maker to allow an interruption in work schedule to sell their workers supplemental insurance.
c. pitch to workers.
d. enrollment date
e. payroll deduction.
Now how long would you think this process will take? A week? Two? Five? There are companies that will string you on for the rest of your life.
5. Have a good manager. If your Manager is texting you about your career, that's a bad sign.
6. Office environment. Though you should be in the field, you will not be at first. If you are sitting in the floor calling businesses, and you feel like you a pro-bono telemarketer, that's because, you are. If all 13 of you are scattered amongst the office, seeking a quite spot, bad sign.
7. Make a call quickly. You will be told to stick it out for many reasons. I'm not one to quit, but if your too stupid too see the writing on the wall before you go bankrupt, consider it a lesson learned.
Some will succeed, most will not. If you have a degree, you can do better, trust me. If you don't have one, you should get an education, or go get a job that pays you for every second you work.Commission only jobs can be lucrative, but you better have a very, very strong work ethic, and not mind being told to piss off 100 times a day, forever.
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:02 pm Post Subject: Aflac - West Houston Area
What is the saturation level of AFLAC in the West Houston Area? I'm thinking about supplementing my college with a part time job selling AFLAC until I graduate. My wife is a teacher so we have income, but my paycheck will pay for one car payment and any extras with my college. Is this a good choice?
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