SMS Questions

[captain94]

I have a questions about SMS I have found 2 on the forum. wich one is eveyone talking about. Thanks.
Senior marketing Sales inc. or Senior Marketing specialist
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I have a questions about SMS I have found 2 on the forum. wich one is eveyone talking about. Thanks.
Senior marketing Sales inc. or Senior Marketing specialist

Here are the links to the websites

 

[Josh]

Senior Market Sales. They are HUGE and have a lot of clout with carriers. The other is more of a GA than an FMO.

 

[captain94]

Senior Market Sales

And you are happy with them, no problems. What is the diffrence to an agent if its a GA or an FMO? sorry if its a dumb question.

 

[patch36]

smsteam.net is who I use. I am confused now

I have had no problems with them. They are out of Columbia, MO.

 

[retread]

I have a questions about SMS I have found 2 on the forum. wich one is eveyone talking about. Thanks.
Senior marketing Sales inc. or Senior Marketing specialist

You are correct, there are two distinct organizations that go by the title SMS. Senior Marketing Specialists is one of my FMOs, and they are home based in Columbia, MO. Here is their URL: Senior Marketing Specialists. They are good people, but I still recommend to all Independents to go direct whenever possible.

The other is based down in GA, IIRC. Don't know much about them, but they seem to be liked by many, and panned by some others. I think they recruit more agressively and have an active lead program. I think their lead program is what gets panned from time to time. Perhaps other forum members will chime in here.
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WOW! Two posts before I could hit the send key! Guess you have the info you need. Except the SMS in Columbia is not a GA.... very much an FMO and long history in the Senior Market....

A GA is General Agent.... which is what most of us on the forum are. An FMO is Field Marketing Organization and who recruit GAs, who in turn recruit SOAs (Solicitor Only Agents), etc. and are "downline" in the heirarchy.

 

[captain94]

Thanks for the help I will check them both out. Coming from a captive company this FMO, GA, IMO and so on is very confusing

 

[retread]

Thanks for the help I will check them both out. Coming from a captive company this FMO, GA, IMO and so on is very confusing

It doesn't get any better... I know some people in the heirarchy still don't have a clue about where they stand. This is especially problematic for newbies. A lot of GAs take advantage of this vulnerability of newbies and the newbies get screwed royally. You are fortunate to get informed at the outset!!

I have yet to get an accurate definition of how an IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) differs from an FMO (Field Marketing Organization)... sometimes they are one and the same, sometimes one is over the other in the hierarchy. And there are some pyramids where there are more than one FMO in the downline. It is hard to determine how one comes out on top of the other, and it appears to be more than just size. Since I am on the bottom looking up, it seems to be too fixed and ripe for corruption. But that's just my opinion. There are some FMOs that post on this forum, and they appear to be honest and decent, so you can't paint with a broad brush either way.

Bottom line, read the contract they offer you thoroughly, and compare it with others before you sign, and never sign any contract with blanks to be filled in later! AND ABOVE ALL... GET A PRE-NEGOTIATED RELEASE AND THE TERMS OF THE PRE-RELEASE before joing any group.

 

[captain94]

It doesn't get any better... I know some people in the heirarchy still don't have a clue about where they stand. This is especially problematic for newbies. A lot of GAs take advantage of this vulnerability of newbies and the newbies get screwed royally. You are fortunate to get informed at the outset!!

I have yet to get an accurate definition of how an IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) differs from an FMO (Field Marketing Organization)... sometimes they are one and the same, sometimes one is over the other in the hierarchy. And there are some pyramids where there are more than one FMO in the downline. It is hard to determine how one comes out on top of the other, and it appears to be more than just size. Since I am on the bottom looking up, it seems to be too fixed and ripe for corruption. But that's just my opinion. There are some FMOs that post on this forum, and they appear to be honest and decent, so you can't paint with a broad brush either way.

Bottom line, read the contract they offer you thoroughly, and compare it with others before you sign, and never sign any contract with blanks to be filled in later! AND ABOVE ALL... GET A PRE-NEGOTIATED RELEASE AND THE TERMS OF THE PRE-RELEASE before joing any group.

What is a good reson for a release? just higher commision or should it be do to not receving the right amount of commisions in the contract? Also if you get a release do you lose your book of business or due they contract you dirctly with the carrier? If you sign your commision over to them I wuold think they own your book of business or is that incorrect?

 

[retread]

What is a good reson for a release? just higher commision or should it be do to not receving the right amount of commisions in the contract? Also if you get a release do you lose your book of business or due they contract you dirctly with the carrier? If you sign your commision over to them I wuold think they own your book of business or is that incorrect?

Yes, you have the concept down corrrectly...

You do not get a direct contract with the carrier through an FMO. That is an oxymoron. You either get a direct contract with the carrier through their licensing department, or through licensing at an FMO.

The FMO scheme was intended to relieve the carrier from administrative costs of licensing, training and supervising agents. They are not set up to do this for independent agents. They only do this for their captive employees. The FMO is supposed to provide this function, but often do nothing more than collect their override.

If you find a good FMO that will train you, provide good lead sources, and keep in touch with you (have a good web site), then proceed with caution. Stay away from those blacklisted in this forum.

The pre-release is common sense. Human nature being what it is, is pre-disposed to eventual difficulties. If, and when, you find you and your FMO don't get along anymore, then you want a way to part amicably. A reasonable FMO will recognize this and will not object to a pre-release. If he doesn't, that may be a good clue he might be a hard guy to get along with. Even with a pre-release, you will more than likely lose your book of business, but you should be able to find another FMO or get a direct contract (preferred) so you won't have to wait out the contract term for non-production to be free of your contractual obligaitons.

Most FMO contracts with the carriers have provision for contract termination only after 6 months of non production... some longer. You will almost NEVER see this language because it is held close to the breast between the carrier and the FMO. When you sign a contract with the FMO, this information is not disclosed. Whether or not this will hold up in court has not been determined because it costs more to find out than to just move on, which is what those FMOs count on.

The flip side of this argument is that they do not want to be stuck with any charge-backs they might incur from your business after you leave. Carriers are moving to direct payment to contracted agents nowadays, and this is protecting the FMO from that cost. This reduced exposure is leaving the FMO in a better position, so they have less argument against a pre-release.

 

[captain94]

Yes, you have the concept down corrrectly...

You do not get a direct contract with the carrier through an FMO. That is an oxymoron. You either get a direct contract with the carrier through their licensing department, or through licensing at an FMO.

The FMO scheme was intended to relieve the carrier from administrative costs of licensing, training and supervising agents. They are not set up to do this for independent agents. They only do this for their captive employees. The FMO is supposed to provide this function, but often do nothing more than collect their override.

If you find a good FMO that will train you, provide good lead sources, and keep in touch with you (have a good web site), then proceed with caution. Stay away from those blacklisted in this forum.

The pre-release is common sense. Human nature being what it is, is pre-disposed to eventual difficulties. If, and when, you find you and your FMO don't get along anymore, then you want a way to part amicably. A reasonable FMO will recognize this and will not object to a pre-release. If he doesn't, that may be a good clue he might be a hard guy to get along with. Even with a pre-release, you will more than likely lose your book of business, but you should be able to find another FMO or get a direct contract (preferred) so you won't have to wait out the contract term for non-production to be free of your contractual obligaitons.

Most FMO contracts with the carriers have provision for contract termination only after 6 months of non production... some longer. You will almost NEVER see this language because it is held close to the breast between the carrier and the FMO. When you sign a contract with the FMO, this information is not disclosed. Whether or not this will hold up in court has not been determined because it costs more to find out than to just move on, which is what those FMOs count on.

The flip side of this argument is that they do not want to be stuck with any charge-backs they might incur from your business after you leave. Carriers are moving to direct payment to contracted agents nowadays, and this is protecting the FMO from that cost. This reduced exposure is leaving the FMO in a better position, so they have less argument against a pre-release.

Im missing something, If you work to build a book of business and have good renewals and decide to go to a new FMO you will not be paid your renewals? is it better then to have 3 FMOs and have your book of business spread out to minimize this exposer. or maybe have 1 FMO for advances and go direct with others an take as earned so you can get advances to pay your bills and build a book directly with other carriers? I am going to go nuts trying to figure this out..