Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
If you do not see the value or wish to pay to join an association - then do not do it. A ton of members on this forum are NAHU members for CE (training), meetings, and industry support.
Personally - I have never joined NAHU, I may revisit down the road but this is my choice. My local chapter didn't have a lot for me since I was an individual producer in what was arguably an organization geared towards group insurance.
This is my call - I see nothing wrong with the association or who joins it.
Some people could argue DO NOT PAY FOR A QUOTING ENGINE. I do pay for a quoting engine because it saves me time and that is my choice.
There is no right answer - to make a blanket statement to NOT do something I respectfully disagree. To each their own.
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
You're not going to do anything public without disagreement - comes with the territory. Some people feel the need to vent - guess it's some type of psychological thing. For me, I try not to invest too much emotional time in things that I can't change.
------------------------------------ Health Insurance Agents: Training, Support, Discounts, E&O for $440 www.ihiaa.com
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
From what I have seen you are doing a great job with your association. Is it exactly how I would do it? Maybe , Maybe not - but I am not running an association so I do not care to comment.
If others see the value they will join, if not they will pass - it is really that simple. Unless you are being unethical, (which you are not) then you are providing a service that virtually no one else is specific to our industry - more power to you.
You did the American Dream - which is find something in your own life that is not being serviced and provide such service to others, good for you.
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
Well, the best comparison I can give for what the association does is a gym membership.
You join a gym to lose weight or maintain health. You can also do that at home for free - why pay for a gym.
Yet many people want the gym atmosphere. Now, say you're offered a personal trainer. Then you'd have to take the group of people who work out on their own vs the group of people who use a personal trainer and see who loses weight faster.
Maybe the personal trainer will tell people - both newbies and people who have worked out for years, new exercises and techniques. I'm not the only person in the show - I have others like Carl - 22 years licensed, 15 year CE instructor - 3 more senior agents came aboard this week - all 10+ years in the biz.
Like a gym membership the tools are simply all there - you use them or not. Having a gym membership doesn't make you lose weight - you make you lose weight. The gym also doesn't keep the weight off - you do. No gym guarantees fitness - nor do I guarantee success. I provide the tools.
So saying "don't join my association" is a bit like saying "never join a gym - work out at home by yourself at no charge."
Fine - well put. Many work out at home with great success - I prefer the gym; go 4 days a week.
So if you'd like to drop a few pounds or be in a community which helps you stay fit and it hasn't been happing on your own then my association is for you.
Saying "if you need a gym to lose weight then just forget it" or "if you need the association to be successful" is up to the individual. I personally have been going to gyms since I was 17.....when I stopped (which I have before) I packed on pounds.
I have friends at the gym - we get together and work out which is fun - as it's more fun to be independent with a team environment....for some.
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
This is really quite a silly thread. It sounds like someone just doesn't like John and is trying to attack the idea he had instead of attacking him personally.
First of all, there are many ways to skin a cat. I never went captive and I know a lot of other people who never went captive. You do not necessarily get solid training or experience from going captive. You are taking the fact that you did it that way and it worked for you to mean that that is the only way to do it, or even the best way to do it. I happen to disagree.
I think that there are other, even better ways to do it than your way, but that going captive is also a good solution. Nevertheless, I think even captive agents could learn a lot from John's Association.
If my a family member were to go into the business, and I could recommend that they went in one direction and there were only two choices, which would it be... sell for Mega but really learn how to sell, or join an association, and learn that way... Not much of a question in my mind.
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
And with a whopping 35 post count - just who is "insurancebenefitsgroup?" From his posts, I'd say he's here only to harm my association - possibly a PO'd manager (and there are many now) who doing unethical things with their agents and I exposed them. Yes - I'm getting a lot of "love mail" lately after members get back to their "managers" and say "hmmm, I just found something out."
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
Originally Posted by TXINSURANCE
Personally - I have never joined NAHU, I may revisit down the road but this is my choice. My local chapter didn't have a lot for me since I was an individual producer in what was arguably an organization geared towards group insurance.
Most of the members/attendees are group reps lookin' for business?
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
Most of the members/attendees are group reps lookin' for business?
That's the way the Atlanta chapter was for years (and probably still is). The CE credits were mostly BS. Yes, I did get credit but it was more fun having bamboo shoots shoved under my fingernails.
The meeting room did not have a hat check area. No need. All the swelled heads in the room were too big for hats any way.
Total waste of time and money.
And John. Nobody really cares about shooting down your association. Don't be so paranoid. Just because you think the guys in the huddle are talking about you does not mean they are.
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
Lol - well then allow me to shoot out some of the nicer emails I've received. I have members joining from all sorts of nefarious outfits - and of course, I let them know what's available and they're pissed - run back to their managers saying "guess what I heard." The managers say "really...so where did you hear this again?" - then I get nice VM's a emails. And it's only gonna get worse.
There's no shortage of unethical shops out there taking advantage of agents....and making a lot of money doing it. Tell me how you think they'd react when that money is in jeopardy. I've already been threatened with legal action - that's not paranoia.
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
I totally disagree with this post. DO NOT GO CAPTIVE. They will just make you go broke and live paycheck to paycheck and never have the ability to start on your own because you will not feel secure enough to do it financially.
Also, The ASSOCIATION is dirt cheap. John is hooking his guys up with General Agents that pay out good commission. They are getting insight from somone that's been in the trenches.
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
"I totally disagree with this post. DO NOT GO CAPTIVE"
Respectfully, I disagree with this post. For many people (not all)... the training you receive will be the foundation of a successful career.
Re John's Association...I have stayed clear of commenting...until now. I think $20 bucks is a fair price. $50? I don't know. The discounts are nice although you can negotiate many of the deals yourself. Norvax actually offered me an even sweeter deal than the Association gets. Lead companies will often negotiate.
The bottom line---if it's worth $19 bucks per month to you...then go for it.
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
Originally Posted by CHUMPS FROM OXFORD
Re John's Association...I have stayed clear of commenting...until now. I think $20 bucks is a fair price. $50? I don't know. The discounts are nice although you can negotiate many of the deals yourself. Norvax actually offered me an even sweeter deal than the Association gets. Lead companies will often negotiate.
Sounds like we should get "The Rabbi" in here for some negotiations...
Would you take $30?
------------------------------------ Don't steal - the government hates competition.
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
Lol - it's actually been discussed and solved that some of the discounts we've arranged can be obtained by just an agent calling and asking. I have a big problem with that since sending a lot of business to any company has to be worth something - more of a discount then simply one person can get on their own. If not, what's the point. So the few companies who are simply matching what they said the "special discount" is are re-figuring their discounts for the association.
If I hear they are matching it simply because one agent calls that's a non-issue. We just won't drive business to them any more.
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
Chumps - regarding your deal with Norvax - it's important to me since the discounts offered need to be legitimate - if not then it's just a farce.
I'm being told that the association discount is only for members - cannot be negotiated individually.
We our deal is; the quote engine, broker office and the Norvax website for $75 per month. You can add the auto-responder for $50 so if you want the whole nine it's $125.
That's your deal? Everything for $125 or the quote engine/broker office/website for $75?
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting StartedGo to Top
My offer was everything for $100 per month (I keep very good notes). There were some other perks involved that I won't get into at this time.
I believe it is called their "Premier" web site.
Granted, I had to negotiate this deal and I still have not accepted it. But I'm thinking about it.
Re: What NOT to Do as a New Agent Getting Started
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