Any Insurance Salesman/women out there?

[Allenberg]

Alright, so I have an interview with Bankers Life and Casualty to be come an insurance agent tomorrow. I checked opensecrets, and found that Conseco (the parent company) donated around $55,000 to Republicans. Typically, I'd thumb my nose at any company that donates to Repubs, but I'm jobless and the savings are dwinding at a fast rate. If I'm offered the job, which pays nice, I'll take it.

Has anyone around here ever worked and the insurance industry and have any comments on it? Thanks.

[ewagner]

1. Me

I interviewed with them and passed up the offer for a second interview/trial....I think they do something like put you on their sales floor under supervision for a week or two....

I am independent and would NEVER be a captive agent again...ever....

[NewJeffCT]

2. Not as a salesman, but as an accountant

Living in the Hartford, CT area my whole life, I know a ton of people in the industry.

I worked for two of the bigger ones. The 2nd one was a mutual life insurance & financial services company. I was not a high enough level to get this memo, but I remember a memo going around the company from the CEO that said something like, "XYZ Company feels that Republican candidates better support the issues of XYZ Company, so we kindly suggest you make any political donations through the company to Republican candidates. Please use the attached donation card and send back to the CEO."

Meaning, that any donations (or lack of donations) went through the CEO's office. So, Uncle CEO could check off his list of employees that were naughty & nice. I don't want to use their name in case somebody is watching me, though.

The first insurance company I worked for was originally a great place to work, but some bad high level decisions really screwed them over in the late 80s through the mid 90s. Doctors used to love dealing with them and it was a great place for women to work, and anybody in general. (if anybody remembers, Bill Clinton's first nominee for attorney general, Zoe Baird, came from there...) I think they were one of the first major corporations to have an African American on their board of directors, and they have been cited as a great place for gays to work. However, due to the bad decisions, it has really gone downhill and I noticed in recent years their execs have donated heavily to Republicans, even their African American president (who donated to Dems a few years earlier!) . Unfortunately, those execs who made all the bad decisions still made their millions, but thousands of the worker bees got laid off throughout the 90s. Somebody who was there much longer than me said that every year in the 90s, their benefits got a little bit worse & they paid a little bit more for them.

[Wapsie B]

3. Former agent here.

I was a captive agent for a company and it was a tough road to hoe. They'll expect you to have a list of as many friends, relatives, acquaintances you can think of to prospect from and sell to. People who don't want to do that aren't looked on with any favor, at least not from my experience. If it's a salaried position they'll give you a certain amount of time and then expect results. If you don't make the quotas you're out.

[ewagner]

4. Bingo!

If you don't make the quotas (after exhausting your list of family and friends) you're out! and guess what....they keep the policy premiums and commissions from the sales to YOUR friends and families.

That particular company is constantly advertising for "Mangaement Trainees" aroudn here....the turnover is terrific.

[Wapsie B]

5. Oh and to top it off

the company's run by a rwing fundie too. Glad I got out of that mess.

[Allenberg]

6. Hmm.. Doesn't seem like you guys had too good of an experience.

If it pays the bills for the next few months at least, I'll be okay. After being in the military and busting my hump for terrible pay and the lack of a chance for advancement...this can't be too much worse.

[ewagner]

7. Give it a shot

If you really need a job its okay to be there WHILE YOU KEEP LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB! Whatever you do, don't stop looking....

[Allenberg]

8. Oh, I plan to,

I just need some cash to pay the bills while I take a few classes. :)