Insurance Agent Forum

[Russ]

Originally Posted by snowman

O.K. I think I see what the problem is. The original post was about referrals. I responded with how I get "references". If you'll notice, none of my posts refer to referrals.

I think there is a quantum difference between referrals and references. IMO referrals are for agents who operate from a position of weakness. To me asking for a referral is kind of like a dog begging you to throw him a bone. Please oh please, if you think I did such a good job for you then please, oh please, can you, could you please tell me who else would be kind to me. If that's your style and it suits your personality fine. For me, I provide references when I sit down with someone and they have the freedom to check me out at anytime. I should be able to and have the right to do the same with them. If this intimidates you or otherwise makes you feel uncomfortable that's your problem not mine.

You have a peculiar way of selling insurance. IF you do a good enough job, THEY will refer you to others and those are the best sources for sales you'll ever get.

Like the lady who has a med-supp with me and a PDP on herself and her husband, that has referred me, just this month to....an annual med-supp + a PDP plan....another med-supp + a PDP plan...another med-supp + a PDP plan and has referred me to others in previous months that I have written.

Like another lady that has a med-supp and PDP plan on herself and her husband, that just yesterday referred me to someone I wrote insurance on...who also referred me to someone I wrote a med-supp and PDP plan on...and another person I wrote a PDP plan on.

I could go on and on............."position of weakness"???? It's like a chain you keep adding pieces to. A successful chain....treat the customer right and you'll be able to provide service to others they refer you to. Without the reference dilemma.

[snowman]

Quote:
Don't knock me for trying my best to find the best clients
So it's OK to lie to your clients. I presume you don't care if they lie to you as well.

Whaaaaat?

Somarco - You don't know me but you call me a liar. Nowhere in my posts have I lied. Talk about character. I don't accuse anyone without proof. But this is not a court of law. I guess you can accuse anyone of anything here without having to prove it.
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Russ - Read the post again. I was talking about "asking" for referrals, NOT having someone refer someone to you for the professioal job you do for them.

[insureitnow]

Originally Posted by anyloan2

I Have Been Selling Final Expense For Almost 9 Months And Have Had A Great And Rewarding Time Doing It. (i've Written Over 210,000 In Personal Production, 36k Which Was In My First Month In The Biz, And Have 16 Agents Under Me Currently Writing 70k Plus.)

Its either BS or your a man among men, stay away from my wife..............

[Russ]

Originally Posted by snowman

Quote:
Don't knock me for trying my best to find the best clients
So it's OK to lie to your clients. I presume you don't care if they lie to you as well.

Whaaaaat?

Somarco - You don't know me but you call me a liar. Nowhere in my posts have I lied. Talk about character. I don't accuse anyone without proof. But this is not a court of law. I guess you can accuse anyone of anything here without having to prove it.
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Russ - Read the post again. I was talking about "asking" for referrals, NOT having someone refer someone to you for the professioal job you do for them.

Here's what you first said...."IMO referrals are for agents who operate from a position of weakness.".....you didn't state whether you asked or they told.....then you said...."To me asking for a referral is kind of like a dog begging you to throw him a bone.".......whether you ask or they tell, so what? If you do a good enough job they'll give you good referrals, most of the time.

As far as the references you require, I would tell you to find the door. If you need 3 folks to qualify me to buy a FE plan, I'll find another agent. We're not talking about a job application....it's an insurance policy. I've never had to do that for homeowners insurance...car insurance...or health insurance I've bought from another agent. To me, that's a good way to lose sales.

[snowman]

Russ - It's just my opinion, not the end of the world. And there is a big difference between asking for a referral and having a client voluntarily refer someone to you. Yes, the product itself is "just an insurance policy", but, I know that you have to know that it's more than just transfering risk AND the clients and what they do for you are far, far more than just a customer. You are becoming part of someone's life and they are becoming part of your life. You say you would find another agent, but we're not in a sales situation. We're on a forum where everyone can express how they conduct their business and their lives. I operate from a position of equality with my clients. You can take umbrage if you want, but I never said anyone here had to or should or needed to do what I do. It does seem though that I have hit a nerve with some of you. That's good, may you always find life interesting.

[somarco]

referrals are for agents who operate from a position of weakness.

Really?

What an interesting, and totally misinformed position.

Are you really this arrogant in person, or do you just portray an asshole in this thread?

If you were one of my agents I would fire your butt in short order.

[Jim]

I agree with most of that but I used a medicare mail order lead though one of my carriers a few months ago and I got around 100 back out of 2000 sent. This was not final expense though but it was by fare the bets return I have got.

Originally Posted by Stratos

What truely amazes me, is having an agent state his income, sub agent total, and yet is online fishing for information on how to improve on his "Final Expense Selling Machine". It could be his youthfullness (25y/o), his immaturity, his lack of being accepted growing up. I don't know. But everyone thinks there is a magical answer to being successful at anything.

Here is my tip, work hard, work smart, and be respectful. You will be amazed how far that will take you in life and in your business.

There is no magical trick to this. There are no leads drawing 5% or 6%. There is no way to make money selling in your underwear. You are not going to find the holy grail surfing the internet 8 hours a day.

The next tip will cost you a 10% override.

[snowman]

Somarco - I don't understand. I replied to a post from someone asking what others do. That's it. I thought this forum was for the exchange of ideas, not personal verbal attacks. That's pretty unprofessional on your part.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by snowman

Russ - It's just my opinion, not the end of the world. And there is a big difference between asking for a referral and having a client voluntarily refer someone to you. Yes, the product itself is "just an insurance policy", but, I know that you have to know that it's more than just transfering risk AND the clients and what they do for you are far, far more than just a customer. You are becoming part of someone's life and they are becoming part of your life. You say you would find another agent, but we're not in a sales situation. We're on a forum where everyone can express how they conduct their business and their lives. I operate from a position of equality with my clients. You can take umbrage if you want, but I never said anyone here had to or should or needed to do what I do. It does seem though that I have hit a nerve with some of you. That's good, may you always find life interesting.

You have a right to your opinion. I have a right to disagree with you and vice versa. And you're right, it's not the end of the world. I've just never heard or read of what you do.

[HoosierDaddy]

Originally Posted by snowman

I tell them they do have to qualify as to their character and I need the names, phone #'s and addresses of 3 references that I will be contacting for a reference.

The original poster asked about FE referrals. I bet you have never said this in a FE presentation or any other presentation for that matter. I think you read this in a book and decided to post it, and probably wish you could take it back at this point.

If you do say this I would stop, and just buy more leads, because it sounds very creepy, and I doubt it works out very well for you in the Final Expense Market.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by HoosierDaddy

The original poster asked about FE referrals. I bet you have never said this in a FE presentation or any other presentation for that matter. I think you read this in a book and decided to post it, and probably wish you could take it back at this point.

If you do say this I would stop, and just buy more leads, because it sounds very creepy, and I doubt it works out very well for you in the Final Expense Market.

I'm sitting here imagining a few of the elderly policyholders that I have and me telling them...".... they do have to qualify as to their character and I need the names, phone #'s and addresses of 3 references that I will be contacting for a reference"......they would probably tell me....don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. I couldn't ask them for references

[midwestbroker]

Are you sending the reports of what their references said about the client to the underwriting department?

If you are not, that is where the deception is. The client is understanding (as am I) that the answers will in some way have effect on the outcome of acceptance of their application. I have yet to see where a final expense company has this in any of their underwriting guidelines.

Now, are you being malicious about it, I do not know and that would be where your character comes into play. However, to ask for references for your own personal use is a little misleading.

[insuranceexec]

GEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Some post are not even worth responding to; but wait I just did.

The problem here is not a misunderstanding, or a clever play on words. It is somebody who got their hand caught in the cookie jar and trying to tell us that they were JUST "TRYING" to clean it.

Sorry I was hungry!

[Russ]

Originally Posted by midwestbroker

Are you sending the reports of what their references said about the client to the underwriting department?

If you are not, that is where the deception is. The client is understanding (as am I) that the answers will in some way have effect on the outcome of acceptance of their application. I have yet to see where a final expense company has this in any of their underwriting guidelines.

Now, are you being malicious about it, I do not know and that would be where your character comes into play. However, to ask for references for your own personal use is a little misleading.

That makes me think....what if say, 2 of the references say, Joe Blow is a real boozer or...I always heard he was a spousal abuser. Then what do you do? Go back to the applicant and tell them that 2 of the references they gave, gave less than a good character opinion and I now can not submit the app? Or do you just tell them that based on what you found out, you can not submit the FE app?

This just sounds a little fishy to me.....

And if my scenario plays out, imagine the friendships lost between potential client and references. Ain't no way I would get involved in any of this.

[Newby]

Originally Posted by HoosierDaddy

The original poster asked about FE referrals. I bet you have never said this in a FE presentation or any other presentation for that matter. I think you read this in a book and decided to post it, and probably wish you could take it back at this point.

If you do say this I would stop, and just buy more leads, because it sounds very creepy, and I doubt it works out very well for you in the Final Expense Market.

Geeeze Travis...give the guy a break!

You probably won't believe this either but I require my clients to name their next born grandchild after me as a requirement to do business with me. I allow Scottella for girls so it's not so bad.

[HoosierDaddy]

My guess is that the "Snowman" will re-invent himself and create a new (Login Name) after this thread has ran its course...

Has this ever been addressed on here before...

I see new names with only a handful of post, but their post sounds similar to a long lost screen-name...

It's OK, Snowman... You need a "do-over." Go to the login page and you too can metamorphous into someone new as many before you have done... Try the "Bandit" this time... or "Flash”... East bound and down...

[insuranceexec]

Originally Posted by Newby

Geeeze Travis...give the guy a break!

You probably won't believe this either but I require my clients to name their next born grandchild after me as a requirement to do business with me. I allow Scottella for girls so it's not so bad.

"Scottella" is that a disease? LOL........Oh wait that is Reubella...

I love it.

[Newby]

Originally Posted by insuranceexec

"Scottella" is that a disease? LOL........Oh wait that is Reubella...

I love it.

If her name's Scottella, you know two things about her.
1. I sold her Grandparents some insurance
2. She hates limericks where the first line ends with fella, reubella or smella.

[Russ]

Snowman....even my kid(Russ jr.), is skeptical of your 3 references.....

[insuranceexec]

Originally Posted by Newby

If her name's Scottella, you know two things about her.
1. I sold her Grandparents some insurance
2. She hates limericks where the first line ends with fella, reubella or smella.

Thats good. I might even bump your comps on your current contracts if you are not careful. Just kidding, Hey can you increase mine!