What can be expected from interview process of Met Life, Mass Mutual, New York Life, and so on? How many interviews usually take place? Are there any types of tests? Are you able to meet with established agents? Is there a drug screening? Any type of info would be a huge help.
For Northwestern Mutual, I had 4 interviews if I remember correctly. Recruiter, Field Director, Seasoned Agent then GA.
You'll probably have a first interview with a hot little recruiter who doesn't know the business, but looks good and makes you want to say yes to the next step. Then the real interviews come and you'll take a sales/personality test. You will get to speak with a seasoned agent and if you don't, make sure you ask.
They'll probably go over your natural market in the interview process.
What can be expected from interview process of Met Life, Mass Mutual, New York Life, and so on? How many interviews usually take place? Are there any types of tests? Are you able to meet with established agents? Is there a drug screening? Any type of info would be a huge help.
I interviewed with New York Life, Met Life and Mass Mutual agencies here in the L.A. area.
The differences between the three of them were like night and day.
MassMutal had me back for 4 interivews, they were the only people who threw the cold water on my face, non of this six figure income once you call your 200 circle of friends stuff.
For me, at least the courtship was long, and, at the end of the day, worth the wait.
I'm in an agency that is connected to MassMutual, yet gives me the freedom to hook up with other carriers, health and life. Plus I've got access to over 100 other Mutual and public insurance companies, includng the other companies that I interviewed with.
The work here is hard, not having a "natural circle of friends", all mine are back in the UK, I'm forced to do cold calling B2B at the moment, both phone and "belly to belly". I'm now working on orphan files, not a bad gig, three appointments so far, I'm meeting with them to update things, and do a PS&G model with LEAP (Lifetime Ecconomic Accelartion Process) fact find.
As far as your interview goes, please, please check and double check that you have fully charged batterys in your portable BS decector (You DO have one don't you?)
Some agency people are like the high school kid and the cheer leader, he'll promise her anything to get his way.....
How was the interview process at Mass different than New York Life? I am asking because I have set up time with both.
I was offered a job with New York life after the inital interview.
With FMC/Mass Mutual, I was offered the job after the forth meeting, and after having an interview with the GA.
Neither of them pulled any punches with me.
The BS dectector remained silent during the entire time.
Mass Mutual has an edge over NY Life, IMO given it Mutual status, and the fact that it's got over 500 Billion in assets. The products are excellent, and the training comes out head over heels over the other carriers that I interviewed with.
I don't like Kool-Aid so please don't ask me not to drink it.
As I mentioned, I am not 100% tied to MasMutual, I can, and am appointed with other carriers. This, plus the training, plus the Branding Quality of MassMutual made this a no-brainer decision for me.
Opinons above are my own and are representative of my own experiences, your experiences may be better or worse than my own. Void where prohibited.
Thanks for the info. I thought New York Life was also a mutual company? Did any of those two you interviewed for do drug screenings?
NYL is also a mutual. Both are top notch companies. Neither do drug screen (I know that made your day, J/K). NYL is a co. you keep for life (good pension for good producers). Mass is much more flexible like Reuben mentioned. If going independent sometime in future is an important consideration I would choose Mass.
It all depends on the agency but passing the interviews should be the least of your concern. They are ALWAYS looking for new agents with "potential" so just look straight at them in the eyes and say "I know I could do this" and they'll hire you. DON'T FORGET TO DEMAND NEW AGENT FINANCING! jmo fwiw
Again, thanks for the replies. To be honest I haven't thought that much into the independent side of things. My main concern is that all I know about the insurance industry is what I had to study for my license and I have no sales experience. So I want a company that will train me properly and have the name recognition that will benefit me as someone with no experience. When you say its easier to go independent with Mass, why is that? Is it very difficult with New York Life? Also, I know the job will be 100% commission, but do any of these companies offer any training salary? Thanks.
Again, thanks for the replies. To be honest I haven't thought that much into the independent side of things. My main concern is that all I know about the insurance industry is what I had to study for my license and I have no sales experience. So I want a company that will train me properly and have the name recognition that will benefit me as someone with no experience. When you say its easier to go independent with Mass, why is that? Is it very difficult with New York Life? Also, I know the job will be 100% commission, but do any of these companies offer any training salary? Thanks.
Everyone I've talked to heard of NYL but not Mass. IMO you'll find what you're looking for at either place (good training). With Mass you can later become their broker and keep your books. Financing = salary for new agents but you have to ask for it. They won't volunteer the information. Again both are good companies and a lot of big producers work for both as career agents.
Everyone I've talked to heard of NYL but not Mass. IMO you'll find what you're looking for at either place (good training). With Mass you can later become their broker and keep your books. Financing = salary for new agents but you have to ask for it. They won't volunteer the information. Again both are good companies and a lot of big producers work for both as career agents.
How do you go about asking for "financing"? Is there no way to keep your books at NYL and still go independent?
What can be expected from interview process of Met Life, Mass Mutual, New York Life, and so on? How many interviews usually take place? Are there any types of tests? Are you able to meet with established agents? Is there a drug screening? Any type of info would be a huge help.
MetLife has a a number of interviews you have to go through. Plus some kind of online test. You also have to have a series 6 before you can start. They offer a 19 week training wage. I would suspect that the BS varies office to office. The office that I work out of didn't lay on any BS. Met also offers benefits which is a nice thing. The training is good and there are plenty of resources to use. You can sell products from other companies if you want.
Is new agent financing given at Mass or Met Life without having to bring it up? Also, what are the working environments like? Do you basically pay for your own space? Are you allocated any money for marketing?
Edit: I just read your post EdHead. How do you like working at Met? You are paid while you are studying for the series 6?
If you need a salary to survive at the start then Metlife is a good option. I think they will pay you up to $800 per week for 19 weeks. This is a salary and not a draw. What they pay is based upon what you have previously earned and you have to show W-2s.
Is new agent financing given at Mass or Met Life without having to bring it up? Also, what are the working environments like? Do you basically pay for your own space? Are you allocated any money for marketing?
Edit: I just read your post EdHead. How do you like working at Met? You are paid while you are studying for the series 6?
No you need the series 6 before you are officially hired. I took my test on a Monday afternoon and started at 9am the next day. The office I'm at helped me study which was a big help. I really like working at Met, every one at my office gets along which makes for a good working environment.
You don't pay for your office space for a number of years because it takes time to get yourself established. No marketing budget but they have many free print materials you can customize with your picture and contact info.
Everyone I've talked to heard of NYL but not Mass. IMO you'll find what you're looking for at either place (good training). With Mass you can later become their broker and keep your books.
Not exactly true.
Check your MassMutual contract. When you leave the company you are not allowed to take your book in order to sell other products, they in effect have your book, unless you've got a book of clients who don't have any securities related products and you get your licence.
Financing = salary for new agents but you have to ask for it. They won't volunteer the information.
Again, not correct, it may be the case in your particualar agency.
There are two types of contracts that are available. For new hires there is a probationary contract that is usually for 90 days. There is a 5K/5K requirement.
Once that period expires and a new contract is offered, a stiped is kicked in, along with addtional bounus' for each policy sold.
I suspect that each agency has their own method of payment, but, at least in my case, as well as the case of the other 80 agents in our agency, financing / salary is discussed.
Mass Mutual has the flexibility I like, I'm not tied down to their products, thanks to their relationship with ASH Brokerage, I've got 103 other companies, including Met, NYL, MONY, Mutual of Omaha, and other companies to work with.
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Originally Posted by rpowlis
Is new agent financing given at Mass or Met Life without having to bring it up?
At both interviews agent financing was brought up, although, from what I've read here, and elsewhere, this might vary from agency to agency.
Also, what are the working environments like? Do you basically pay for your own space?
$50.00 a month seems to be the norm for desk space. At my agency, this fee is waived for 90 days.
Plan on paying for phone usage, fax/photo copy/stationary costs. I did get both sets of my business cards, letterhead stationary and envelopes for free, but I will have to pay for them when I need to re order.
Are you allocated any money for marketing?
Here in my agency there is fund allocation, but that comes after the 90 day probationary period. The same was true that NYL, MET, and other agencies I interviewed at.
May I make an obivious suggestion here?
Your questions are excellent, and the feed back here, including mine, may not reflect your particular agency, for example, the Met here in the Whittier area has a 1grand training salary, that is not payback. This is paid to each agent who is studying for their series 6/63 exams.
The catch is this. This Met branch is run by Chinese Americans who offer this "salary" to applicatants who are Chinese and who have recently arrived in the US.
I was told this directly by the GA.
Not being Chinese, although I did recently arrive in the States I was more than a bit put off by this discrimination, especially since a call to the Met office HR people confirmed that this was a hiring practice this is specific to this particular agency.
Take what is written here with a grain of salt, write down these, and other questions and then take them with you for your interview.
You're interviewing them as much, if not more, as they are interviewing you.
They might want to hire you right off the bat; but that doesn't mean that you will want to hire them!
Last edited by Reuben : 11-14-2008 at 09:52 AM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Had my first interview with NYL this morning and I think it went really well. The partner I talked to was nice and actually asked me some questions that I havent heard. I asked a lot of questions about the particular office and the responses I heard were more than satisfactory. There was no BS spewed at me and unlike another poster mentioned it wasnt a 1 and done interview. If I get a call back, which I expect to, than I have another interview with a 3rd one after that. Thanks to all that posted, i was able to ask some valuable questions.
Check your MassMutual contract. When you leave the company you are not allowed to take your book in order to sell other products, they in effect have your book, unless you've got a book of clients who don't have any securities related products and you get your licence.
I was referring to changing the contract to a broker from a career agent. They assured me the clients would still be mine in that case. If you understand otherwise please let me know.
Again, not correct, it may be the case in your particualar agency.
I'm not on any financing due to 'experienced agent' status. All I know is you have to write 5 apps/$2,500 FYC in 3 months and you're getting far more than I am.
Mass Mutual has the flexibility I like, I'm not tied down to their products, thanks to their relationship with ASH Brokerage, I've got 103 other companies, including Met, NYL, MONY, Mutual of Omaha, and other companies to work with.
I've always wanted to ask about Ash. Am I 'required' to use them or can I appoint with another GA and keep it completely OBA?
I was referring to changing the contract to a broker from a career agent. They assured me the clients would still be mine in that case. If you understand otherwise please let me know.
If you're staying within MassMutual, the non-compete claus would not be enforced.
I've always wanted to ask about Ash. Am I 'required' to use them or can I appoint with another GA and keep it completely OBA?
There's no requirement to use Ash, at least here in my agency, I've got the freedom to use whatever carrier I need. My question is, given the 100+ carriers that Ash uses, why would I want to go to them individually; it has no effect on my commision.
There's no requirement to use Ash, at least here in my agency, I've got the freedom to use whatever carrier I need. My question is, given the 100+ carriers that Ash uses, why would I want to go to them individually; it has no effect on my commision.
Thanks Reuben. I thought Ash had a lower commission contracts for MM career agents. At least that's the impression I got when I compared to what other BGAs had to offer.
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