Insurance Agent Forum

[NewHealthStrategies]

Somarco: Say what you will about A.L. Williams (and I started in this business on the life side)...but it's hard to refute that he turned a trillion dollar business on it's head.

You'd be hard pressed to find any financial planner today that doesn't say the same thing that he was saying in the 80's.

As far as network marketing goes, there is WAY too much empirical evidence that says it's growing in strength and attracting some very visable players. "Rich Dad Poor Dad" is but one example.... there are horror stories in virtually every niche'.

Let's get together and play some golf?


I'm not a vegetarian because I hate meat.... I'm a vegetarian because I hate Plants.....!!!!

[somarco]

Then you will recall that Art Williams put together an agency of 30 day wonders turning housewives and tire changers into hapless dreamers who built a legacy of dreams. They used a high cost 10 year, non-renewable, non-convertible term product paired with a high cost annuity and illustrated returns that no one could achieve.

At the end of 10 years the annuities still had termination penalties and the term ran out leaving many unable to secure replacement coverage.

As a result of this racket, states instituted new changes in licensing, requiring 40 hours of classroom instruction and ongoing CE credits in an attempt to squash the part-timers who were twisting policies and replacing quality products with junk.

The agency business was built by folks like Frank Sullivan, Al Grannum and others. There is no doubt that a lot of people were under-insured as a result of the heavy promotion of whole life, but guess what? The American public is STILL under-insured in a day when 80% of the policies sold are term.

Put any career agent from NML, Guardian, Met against any agent from NAA, ACA, WFG and the part-timers will look like tin men.

NAA and ACA are heavily promoted on bulletin boards for GRQ "team building" opportunities. Wonder why?

If you want to defend organizations like this, that is your prerrogative. I have no use for any of those agencies and would like to see them all shut down.

[rapidrobert]

Gee, recruiting people underneath them so the managers can make money? That sounds like EVERY insurance agency out there. Paying for leads? You mean YOU don't?

I don't sell for either organization and never have, but the hyperbole and bitterness are a bit much.

The guy up the thread HAS sold for ACA and has stated from HIS experience and with the actual products they sell that you are wrong. All you do is toss out bitter ex-agents on "rip-off" report. Is there ANY insurance product, or for that matter organization, who doesn't have some "bitter ex" write something on "rip-off" report?

[TimLett]

Originally Posted by somarco

A few years ago I was recruited by NAA and later ACA. I only post what I know from first hand experience.

I stand by my earlier posts.

Both organizations have their roots in A. L. Williams/Primerica.

A turd is still a turd.

I have been recruited by several organizations for whom I chose not to work. Concerning those organizations, out of an ethical obligation, I have chosen to keep my pie-hole closed. You would do well to adopt the same policy. I was recruited by both. I failed to investigate NAA and made the worst mistake in the world and spent 18 months there. But, on the other hand, I did learn how NOT to do it. I was recruited by ACA. I did my homework and investigated it. It has been a very good experience. Speak about what you know and leave the rest alone. You may stand by your earlier posts, but I sure hope you don't try to lean on them for support. You'll be picking yourself up from the ground.

[healthagent]

I wouldn't get too riled. The undercurrent on this board is "if you are not me you are unethical" - and theme gets played over and over again.

Some of the biggest whore houses in the country shill for two of the top health insurance carriers - I don't see any difference is ethics when those said companies sit back and watch boiler room outfits slam and cram clients into policies to make a buck.

[TimLett]

Originally Posted by somarco

Then you will recall that Art Williams put together an agency of 30 day wonders turning housewives and tire changers into hapless dreamers who built a legacy of dreams. They used a high cost 10 year, non-renewable, non-convertible term product paired with a high cost annuity and illustrated returns that no one could achieve.

At the end of 10 years the annuities still had termination penalties and the term ran out leaving many unable to secure replacement coverage.

As a result of this racket, states instituted new changes in licensing, requiring 40 hours of classroom instruction and ongoing CE credits in an attempt to squash the part-timers who were twisting policies and replacing quality products with junk.

The agency business was built by folks like Frank Sullivan, Al Grannum and others. There is no doubt that a lot of people were under-insured as a result of the heavy promotion of whole life, but guess what? The American public is STILL under-insured in a day when 80% of the policies sold are term.

Put any career agent from NML, Guardian, Met against any agent from NAA, ACA, WFG and the part-timers will look like tin men.

NAA and ACA are heavily promoted on bulletin boards for GRQ "team building" opportunities. Wonder why?

If you want to defend organizations like this, that is your prerrogative. I have no use for any of those agencies and would like to see them all shut down.

Did Art Williams do everything perfectly? No. Are we all reaping the benefits of his work today? Absolutely. You should thank God for him every day.

As for the things he did not do right or perfectly, there are still agents in the field today who are doing things wrong and not servicing the client in the best possible manner. Is it an excuse? No. But as long as there are human agents in the field, clients will need to employ that built-in bullshit detector and do their due diligence. I'll always do my best to serve the best interests of the clients as most agents will. But, there will always be someone out there who screws it up for the rest of us.

As for comparing agents from NAA and ACA and other organizations to agents who are not from those organizations, you are going on faulty theory. I have received excellent education from ACA. I listen to training weekly on legitimate industry topics from other ACA agents...and not training on how to recruit. That is such a small part of what ACA talks about. Not defending NAA as a whole, but I even knew some NAA agents who were top notch, knew their stuff, and cared about the client. Again, you simply are speaking out of sheer ignorance. My 6th grade history teacher once admonished us that it is "better to remain silent and be thought of as a moron than to open your mouth and remove all doubt".

Yes, you will see ads from organizations like NAA and ACA which promote the team-building aspects of it. My question is: Why Not??? If someone wants to be a personal producer and never bother with a team, group, or whatever...then fine. No problem. There is good money to be made without ever recruiting the first person inside or outside of an organization like this. But, if someone wants to build a team, an organization like this offers a system one can follow and be successful. As long as the recruiter is honest and upright in his dealings with his team members, what is the harm? Some agents work better on their own with little or no support. Some agents work better within a system and organization. Its not an issue of which one is right and which one is wrong. Its an issue of what is best for the agent. Personally, I work within ACA's system and I work outside of ACA's system. I enjoy the fellowship that comes from a system like this, but I like the idea of having another venture that is totally apart from anyone else's system. There is nothing wrong with working either or both methods.

If you, or anyone else, has no use for organizations such as these...fine. Stay out of them. But, don't bash when you haven't been there and given an honest effort to make it work. When I trash NAA, its based on personal experience. When I give testimony of my positive experience with ACA, its based on personal experience. Am I saying that ACA is perfect? No. There is not an organization on the planet (Happy Earth Day, everyone) that is perfect and that performs every element just right. You can search all your life and you will never find that agency or agent. But, when I look for my associates and choose associations, I look for integrity, common sense, and a pursuit of knowledge. A pretty good formula, I do believe.

[TimLett]

Originally Posted by rapidrobert

Gee, recruiting people underneath them so the managers can make money? That sounds like EVERY insurance agency out there. Paying for leads? You mean YOU don't?

I don't sell for either organization and never have, but the hyperbole and bitterness are a bit much.

The guy up the thread HAS sold for ACA and has stated from HIS experience and with the actual products they sell that you are wrong. All you do is toss out bitter ex-agents on "rip-off" report. Is there ANY insurance product, or for that matter organization, who doesn't have some "bitter ex" write something on "rip-off" report?

Absolutely correct. The entire insurance industry is built on a hierarchy system. Its just the nature of the animal.

And since "rip-off report" was mentioned, go to that website and search for both NAA and ACA and see what you find. The scales are not exactly balanced. One is pretty clean. The other is "weighed in the balance and found wanting".

[midwestbroker]

With outfits like NAA and others, there are bound to be some decent branches and agents out there.

[Agent4Life]

American Classic Agency is not a pyramid scheme or MLM. I am a full-time, seasoned, independent, career Agent and I am simply stating the FACTS as I KNOW them. The author of this thread asked a question - and I replied to him. I thought that perhaps he and some of the other people on this fine forum might be interested in "the truth" and "facts" rather than ill-informed conjecture and speculation.

[moonlightandmargaritas]

Originally Posted by somarco

A turd is still a turd.

One word. Prophetic.

[TimLett]

Originally Posted by moonlightandmargaritas

One word. Prophetic.

One word....pathetic.

[Wildlatino]

Hey Sir,

Thanks for clearing up the whole ACA issue. I know its an old thread that I read.. from about August of last year.

At first I was quite distraught about what Somorco was saying THANKFULLY you cleared everything up.

I'm about to join ACA. I'm doing a little bit of research on the company and I wanted to ask you one thing.

How has your experience been thus far? Since August specifically?

I really hope you reply.

Thanks,

From Miami

[eilife]

Worked with them briefly didn't care for their non system
Email eilife@verizon.net for more information and possible opportunity

[The Rabbi]

Originally Posted by moonlightandmargaritas

Rabbi,

With all respect due clergy, from your posts it sounds like you've been involved in every insurance marketing system known to man. Off the top-of-my-head, haven't you been with;

- NAA
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida
- Health Benefits Direct
- blah, blah, blah

Did I miss any?

Are there any you haven't tried out?

And your point is what? To put me down? It won't work.

[TimLett]

Originally Posted by Wildlatino

Hey Sir, Thanks for clearing up the whole ACA issue. I know its an old thread that I read.. from about August of last year. At first I was quite distraught about what Somorco was saying THANKFULLY you cleared everything up. I'm about to join ACA. I'm doing a little bit of research on the company and I wanted to ask you one thing.
How has your experience been thus far? Since August specifically? I really hope you reply. Thanks, From Miami

Wildlatino, sorry for being so long to reply to this posting. Somarco is just blowing smoke about something he knows nothing about. But, on the forum, we are used to that. My experience is this: I have no complaints about ACA. Its a reputable company with good relationships with good carriers. I am not an marketing-organization kool-aid drinker and my affiliation with ACA is only part of my business. Feel free to ask specific questions or email me, if you'd like.

[TimLett]

Originally Posted by eilife

worked with them briefly didn't care for their non system email eilife@verizon.net for more information and possible opportunity

Hmmmm.... Two posts and you are advertising your email for a possible "opportunity". Yep...that's credible.

You didn't care for their "non-system". Strange. I've been affiliated with them since back in the Fall of '07 and have never seen or heard of their "non-system".

[rsegal]

I am a manager with American Classic Agency (ACA) and have been with ACA since it began operating in January 1995. I invite anyone to investigate our company and reach his or her own conclusions. However, I caution relying on some of the postings appearing on this site, especially from Somarco. I have read Somarco's postings. Either Somarco is mistaken because he or she is greatly misinformed or else it is being done intentionally. FYI, saying ACA is an spinoff of NAA is as accurate as saying that Great Britain is a spinoff of the United States. NAA was formed by three former ACA managers about 6 years ago. Should you wish to learn about NAA, you should visit their website or speak with someone at that company. The same is true for ACA. I would invite anyone with a serious interest in learning about ACA to contact me or visit our website (Welcome to American Classic Agency).

It is at the very least unethical for anyone to disparage any company, especially if the disparagement is the result of completely inaccurate information. A good salesperson spends his or her time explaining why a prospect should do business with him or her, not why the prospect should not do business with one of his or her competitors. Again, I invite anyone, including Somarco, to contact me, should you wish to obtain factual information about ACA. ACA is a wonderful company which looks out for the agent. That is why so many agents and managers who have joined ACA have remained with ACA for years and years and years. I suggest we must be doing something right.

[Winter]

Originally Posted by rsegal

It is at the very least unethical for anyone to disparage any company, especially if the disparagement is the result of completely inaccurate information. A good salesperson spends his or her time explaining why a prospect should do business with him or her, not why the prospect should not do business with one of his or her competitors.

That is a little bit of a lecturette. In the real world, agents have an extremely limited number of months or years before they either make it or succumb to failure. One of the very best things that agents can do for each other is to keep someone from getting involved with shlock companies that will burn up a year of their life getting in and getting out and leave them too broken down financially to recover and make it in the business -so it is entirely proper and useful for agents to engage in exchanging that kind of information, however imperfect it may be.

You impugned Somarco's ethics for his comments. At the same time, it should be remembered that NAA was created by people who learned the business and values and ethics from your company and then went out on their own. That's your problem and your cross to bear, not his. Friends do not let friends drive drunk and friends do not let friends join companies that spawn NAA type companies without waving a flag.

That does not disagree in any way with anyone here who says that your company can pass the smell test when looked at in detail, only that the reason that there needs to be a smell test is because historically you have given rise to NAA type characters, not because of the ethics of folks here.

Winter

[xrac]

Originally Posted by Winter

That is a little bit of a lecturette. In the real world, agents have an extremely limited number of months or years before they either make it or succumb to failure. One of the very best things that agents can do for each other is to keep someone from getting involved with shlock companies that will burn up a year of their life getting in and getting out and leave them too broken down financially to recover and make it in the business -so it is entirely proper and useful for agents to engage in exchanging that kind of information, however imperfect it may be......Winter

That is a very good point. These forums can save us all a lot of grief and it is up to each one of us to share the good, the bad, and the ugly.

[ims01]

Barry Clarkston, Phil Hudgens and Andy Albright of NAA started with Jerry Policastro and ACA. When ACA took on LSW, they ran into some conflict with F&G. That gave Barry, Phil and Andy the chance to spin off with a chunk of the organization and create NAA on a very similar model.

Without a doubt they both have their faults, but each can be a good place for an agent to start. If you like that kind of model and product, you may find a long term home. If not, you have at least learned about the market and can then venture out on your own.

The success a person experiences in this business is based more upon that person than it is on the model they particiapte in. You can take your experiences and continue to grow and excel as you find the right match with your goals, personality and ambition.

I am not a member of either organization and have nothing to gain by promoting or disparaging either agency.

The bottom line is just go do something and do a lot of it.