Knox Tn Returning Agent ...need Suggestions on Carriers

gittarpikk · 10-02-2009, 09:46 PM

Greetings,

I live in the Knoxville Tn area, have a bit of a unique need and looking for competitive carriers I can work with on a 10-99 basis.

First, here is my history

1978 agent with Met Life , too young and nieve and did not consider myself very sucessful although I was around a lot of VERY sucessful agents... had good training.

Mid 90's , and old agent took me under his "wing" and I signed with a health company that provided leads for all the agents and we worked through the leads generated from the county co-op. I became quite successful but eventually the lead system was corrupted by the young office manager and a lot of the agents (myself included) went elsewhere....but was not near as successful.

Lately, I was intrigued by the NAA opportunity and set about getting my Life and Health license. I did some research on the NAA deal and found a lot of woes about it and the associated leads. The couple I was to start with never returned my last emails and phone calls, so I gave up on NAA....maybe or not this may have been a "sign"

Was offered an opportunity with a local company and liked the program and benefits but not sure I could provide the required "agency" work and would be captive with them....another thing I did not like.

Here is my situation and thoughts.

I took a position with a credit card processing company and like the work and the free appointments (all B2B) and am actually quite sucessful with them and make good money.. I am always around business people every day and can and have been turning up a LOT of good propects and RL's. So much so, I could actually probably write a new piece of business each evening...at least every other evening.

I work B2B during the day and would like to offer competative

Group or individual
Life (all products including accelerated benefit riders)
Health
Disability
Cancer
Annuities

I would need some good "training" on the products and support including forms etc.

Although I have a great B2B lead system, I was originally looking at the mortgage term lead program NAA has and would really like to see something similar if it is reliable.

To me the business I am in, and the mortgage term program would work hand in hand and stay out of each others way.

I am very web savvy and know a LOT of proven google tricks and could easily set up my own website.One of my sites had over 200 search phrases in google, msn and yahoo as number one, two and three. (have a LOT of proven successfull placing experience (SEO) in this area) so the ecommerce angle (backing up a good on the ground business)is also important.

I would also like a good affordable insurance group option if achievable as I lost all my group benefits in a lay off in the spring.

Nuff sed! Any of you guys got any suggestions?

somarco · 10-03-2009, 10:08 AM

Let me see if I understand.

You sell credit card processing by day and want to add insurance products as an oh, by the way?

hockeyday · 10-03-2009, 10:36 AM

I have no idea what you want, i think your saying you have cc leads that your
Going to sell health insurance too is that right

TristanTLC · 10-03-2009, 12:39 PM

If all you are looking for are products to add to your portfolio, and the training to sell them; there are lots of people on the forum that can assist you. If you are looking for an agency to hang your hat that will provide you with group benefits, and still let you work the credit card business; I don't think you'll find such a place.

Perhaps best to take some contracts, get some training and then sell those products on your own. Add the products you want to your portfolio and be completely independent of any agency. If you are looking for a good mortgage term and non mortgage term product, we will be glad to make recommendations.

magagent · 10-03-2009, 04:21 PM

I am kinda confused by the question also but let me put my personal spin on it. It sounds like you have a good set up with the CC company and are doing well so stay put... From 8-5 work the CC appointments, In the evening time work a few nights a week and go on some Mortgage Protection appointments..

HarryRenard · 10-03-2009, 06:38 PM

Did you ever think about any possible conflicts in trying to sell insurance to your company's clients. Insurance is really a full time job if you want to be successful.

gittarpikk · 10-03-2009, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by hockeyday

i have no idea what you want, i think your saying you have cc leads that your
Going to sell health insurance too is that right

actually no....but if in the course of the conversation I lead into an insurance need, yes... I plan to do the ole' cloverleaf around the CC lead for the insurance ...and the insurance is not an Oh , by the way. Actually later will eventually turn into the only thing I do. But the fact that I am "out there" in the B2B environment (due to an appointment) is invaluable IMHO
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Originally Posted by TristanTLC

If all you are looking for are products to add to your portfolio, and the training to sell them; there are lots of people on the forum that can assist you. If you are looking for an agency to hang your hat that will provide you with group benefits, and still let you work the credit card business; I don't think you'll find such a place.

Perhaps best to take some contracts, get some training and then sell those products on your own. Add the products you want to your portfolio and be completely independent of any agency. If you are looking for a good mortgage term and non mortgage term product, we will be glad to make recommendations.

I am seeing this concerning the "hang your hat " agencies ..I should be able to just purchase a good health policy for me and wife, however a group option would be better.

Yes, I would be interested in a good mortgage term reccommendation ...med and non-med

TristanTLC · 10-03-2009, 08:24 PM

Give me your email address i'll send you some grids for your review

gittarpikk · 10-03-2009, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by magagent

I am kinda confused by the question also but let me put my personal spin on it. It sounds like you have a good set up with the CC company and are doing well so stay put... From 8-5 work the CC appointments, In the evening time work a few nights a week and go on some Mortgage Protection appointments..

Exactly...

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Originally Posted by TristanTLC

give me your email address i'll send you some grids for your review

gittarpikk2008 (you know) aol (dot) com

somarco · 10-03-2009, 08:53 PM

Tristan is (by his own admission) a whore willing to work for anyone who will flash some cash. I would not follow up on his offer.

You need to make a decision which road you will follow. You lose credibility when you promote one product then follow up with something else totally unrelated. The folks in Knoxville are not all that sophisticated but they know enough not to fall for a guy who comes across like a tin man.

TristanTLC · 10-03-2009, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by somarco

Tristan is (by his own admission) a whore willing to work for anyone who will flash some cash. I would not follow up on his offer.

I don't remember admitting to anything of the such or any references to "flash some cash." I have decided to not be associated with many people, and I still get to choose which group I associate with. The beauty of having free will is the ability to decide and see for myself as opposed to listening to what others believe. Just because other people find someone to be of one matter, does not mean I will find that person the same. I say the same thing to you as I said before: You choose who you work with, and so will I. No one has come here and said anything about my ethics or actions, but plenty of said things about companies I have been associated with. For the record, I've done work with many companies that are highly liked and many companies that are highly disliked. That is the beauty of being an independent contractor.

I ask you to find someone that will speak against my ethics personally. That being said, you - and everyone else - are free to pass judgement as you see fit.

gittarpikk · 10-03-2009, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by TristanTLC

If all you are looking for are products to add to your portfolio, and the training to sell them; there are lots of people on the forum that can assist you. If you are looking for an agency to hang your hat that will provide you with group benefits, and still let you work the credit card business; I don't think you'll find such a place.

Perhaps best to take some contracts, get some training and then sell those products on your own. Add the products you want to your portfolio and be completely independent of any agency. If you are looking for a good mortgage term and non mortgage term product, we will be glad to make recommendations.

Actually, this is also accurate...when I have gotten the training on each product and have sufficient products in my portfolio, with hard work, the volume , RL base and personal popularity should also increase. At that point I would not hesitate to rent an office and staff it.

This point could and probably would take quite a while, or could be done earlier if things go well...who knows... but would be a good goal to work towards.

Have to start somewhere, and I have been down the road as captive agent several times before ...so I already have that experience.. SF would be a good way to achieve this, however I am not sure if it would be in >this< lifetime I would become eligible for an agency

I hear the list is sort of long.

Thatguy · 10-03-2009, 10:51 PM

Lol. Let me say my bit about Tristan. I've known him since his days at Miracle, and even when he was working with Ali, he was still the most honest and knowledgeable person there. I got frustrated many times asking for a release from Miracle, and he finally got it for me after what was otherwise a dead end street. I'm glad he was there, because if not then many of my contracts would still be stuck under Ali.

I'm not too thrilled about his choices either, he still works with Amerilife and Parker as well I believe. That being said, I have had nothing but good dealings with him. I still have a few contracts under him, but I make it clear to him that I will not take any contracts through him that are by way of Ali or Parker.

VolAgent · 10-04-2009, 09:23 AM

Since I am one of those unsophisticated people from Knoxville, as Somarco put it, I'll chime in.

You sell credit card services by day, B2B. You've established several spheres of influence in the community, that has the ability to send you referrals for life insurance, mortgage protection specifically. So, now you want to sell insurance at night to these referrals.

I fail to see where you have any credibility. What are you going to tell the people when they ask about the referrer, and if you've done business with the referrer? That you handle their merchant services, and you've decided to do insurance by night?

Or, is the situation such that you will be pitching insurance to someone you just pitched for CC services? To me, if you are working in two totally unrelated areas, it says you are not very successful at either one. I would be suddenly questioning my decision to do business with you on the credit card front. Now, you say you are successful with CC and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But, if I were your prospect/client, I would think you were unsuccessful in both areas.

I'd say you have three good choices. First, continue with your CC and forget about insurance. Second, dump the CC and go insurance full-time. Third, continue with the CC, get licensed and refer the insurance leads for a commission split. I'm sure you'll find plenty of agents here in Knoxville willing to do that. You'll have your two streams of income without risking your credibility.

gittarpikk · 10-04-2009, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by somarco

Tristan is (by his own admission) a whore willing to work for anyone who will flash some cash. I would not follow up on his offer.

You need to make a decision which road you will follow. You lose credibility when you promote one product then follow up with something else totally unrelated. The folks in Knoxville are not all that sophisticated but they know enough not to fall for a guy who comes across like a tin man.

respectfully, Please re-read my posts....

DHK · 10-04-2009, 11:03 AM

Gittarpikk,

You are becoming an opportunist instead of a specialist.

Opportunist meaning: If you can sell something (anything) for a profit, you'll do it.

Specialist meaning: You know what you do and do it well. Anything that isn't in your speciality, you refer elsewhere.

The only way I can see you doing this well, is if you have your own ISO company.

Then you can position yourself as a Business Cash Flow specialist. You help businesses enhance revenue and free up cash so they can have proper protections in place, an attractive employee benefit program and a healthier business in general.

I don't see how you can do that until you have your own company and can brand yourself to do just that.

When you work FOR another company, you can't position yourself in that broad category. You're a salesrep for the company and you had probably better stay true to what the company wants of you.

But if you can start your own... or be affiliated with a company that isn't captive on your time... ?

gittarpikk · 10-04-2009, 11:18 AM

I am not interested in people casting "judgement" on a concept they do not fully understand. Fact is most people with a diversified portfolio are quite successful,(ask most doctors) and is >their< choice. I am fully aware of possibilities and pitfalls of the complex co-existence of multiple marketable goods or services , tangible or non-tangible.

I do not ask whether you >think< my concept will work... I only ask for source of a given reliable and competitive "product"

Maybe most on this forum are independent, maybe they're captive; All have a viewpoint created from a walk in "their" shoes along "their" lifeline....but... that is not the issue here.

I am >me< and I know my market and how I will approach it. BTW, my thinking , in the past, was also influenced by what the "powers that be" (read:agency manager-boss). Since I have had plenty of time to rethink those "efforts" and feel, I have a more viable option now than before .....for >me< and in no way comes across as the proverbial "tin man"

Example: non-related

I fly R/C and wish to create a park flyer club for the new electric planes. I also produce R/C aircraft of my designs and will be eventually producing them by the hundreds.

In the course of a day, I sometimes yak about the new electric planes, and see if there is anyone they know, or have been associated with that have, or has flown them...what type , etc

Does this mean I am "pushing" my R/C plane...no
Does this mean I have come across as a "tin man"....no
Does this mean I have come representing one company, and switched to another....no
Can profit be >eventually< achieved through a sale of a "plane product" to someone you found out about "out there" in the course of the conversation.....yes
Can a goal of creating the first all parkflyer model aircraft club in the area be achieved......(one that also buys my product ---although not the central point of creation)......yes

Many agents have been member of this or that organization, club, church etc....and used them for prospecting purposes... you only need to remember your "captive agent" roots and that "friends and family" list you had to fill out to figure that one out...so he who is without sin , cast the first stone...wonder where I heard this before..? I could go on for a while about this one, and how it relates to the capitalist society...and how one with multi-talents or services will have the advantage (to the good of the people) in a community setting that we may end up with in the not-to-distant future of this country and world..but let's not bring that up for now.

You only need the gift of gab...and to collect your info with some sort of organized fashion to take advantage of all your sources of inventory (people=prospects)...and that is the salesmans job.

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Originally Posted by VolAgent

Since I am one of those unsophisticated people from Knoxville, as Somarco put it, I'll chime in.

You sell credit card services by day, B2B. You've established several spheres of influence in the community, that has the ability to send you referrals for life insurance, mortgage protection specifically. So, now you want to sell insurance at night to these referrals.

I fail to see where you have any credibility. What are you going to tell the people when they ask about the referrer,
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Think....the truth here.........as you should always.
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And if you've done business with the referrer? That you handle their merchant services, and you've decided to do insurance by night?

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I can think of a better way to describe it.....but who said anything about only day ..or only night... one can have an insurance interview at anytime...but the CC is better done in the day
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Or, is the situation such that you will be pitching insurance to someone you just pitched for CC services?
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Pitching....?
I prefer to help people solve problems, save money and/or create a better way of life for them. If I cannot do this, why am I there?.. i can find other things to do than waste time

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To me, if you are working in two totally unrelated areas, it says you are not very successful at either one. I would be suddenly questioning my decision to do business with you on the credit card front. Now, you say you are successful with CC and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But, if I were your prospect/client, I would think you were unsuccessful in both areas.
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You've never met me...and you >know< this?

I have and will be successful in both
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I'd say you have three good choices. First, continue with your CC and forget about insurance. Second, dump the CC and go insurance full-time. Third, continue with the CC, get licensed and refer the insurance leads for a commission split.
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My apologies, I forgot to add I am licensed in L&H
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I'm sure you'll find plenty of agents here in Knoxville willing to do that. You'll have your two streams of income without risking your credibility.

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And this can go the "other" way as well... I have a friend who could set up the CC service in a pinch or cover an appointment for me.....and I've even handed off large sign sales for a split...This is called networking....something the youth have figured out works well.

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somarco · 10-04-2009, 11:24 AM

I should take this opportunity to apologize for the characterization made of Tristan last PM. Bad day, too much wine.

Just because someone chooses to associate with people who are unethical does not necessarily mean that individual should be painted with the same brush. Personally, I would never do business with someone who has a reputation of cheating others, but that is my choice.

As for the comment about Knoxville being unsophisticated, that one stands. I grew up there, still travel there from time to time. The business community in general is at least 30 years behind the times. Some agent/friends who work there share this view as well.

DHK · 10-04-2009, 11:28 AM

If your prospects wanted a pair of shoes, would you sell it to them?

I've already given you an idea on how you can position yourself in the market place - as a business cash flow specialist.

You need to be able to show how your products can inter-relate within certain strategies.

If you can do it, good for you.

VolAgent · 10-04-2009, 04:10 PM

Gittarpikk, I suggest you get the chip off your shoulder.

I give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are successful in CC since I've never met you. Yet you take that as an insult. Now, if you fail to see how someone can doubt your credibility and success when you represent two totally unconnected products, then you have serious issues.

Your doctor example does not hold water. Yes, doctors have plenty of outside business interests, but they don't represent them. Find me one doctor out promoting his car wash, restaurant, etc. on the side. A doctor knows better than to risk damaging his credibility in such a manner.

The point is, don't risk your credibility. Pick the area you want to focus on, and then refer away the other. The fact you already have your L&H license just makes it easier to refer the insurance business.