Insurance sales - doubts?

Question

I just got a job with Aflac, and I'm already considering quitting. I haven't even started yet; I have about three days of training to do and then they're pretty much going to throw me out there to start setting up appointments. I have to come up with like 60 businesses plus 100 "circle of influence" leads, which include friends, acquaintances, and so on. I'm supposed to memorize these lame scripts they have on a CD. It's commission only and it just sounds like a dishonest and tiresome job. Has anybody tried insurance, hated it, and quit soon after starting?

Answer 1

Something like 95% (not sure of the exact figure) quit within the first year, but not all because they hate it.  Some are unable to make many sales and therefore do not get paid enough money (insurance sellers are usually paid commission only, no salary or hourly rate).

Answer 2

What's dishonest in the scripts?  

I am a district sales coordinator with AFLAC and can tell you, my people are not dishonest with our clients.  The company as a whole is very keen on maintaining a good record of service to clients.  

Here are some perspectives:

You have to believe in what you are selling.  It sounds to me like you don't even know what that is yet.  We provide people with a number of options to help with out of pocket expenses when they need it the most.  I believe in it, but I have seen it help people.  I have the policies and it's important to me to make sure all my friends and family at least have had the chance to get them.  

You have to be willing to go to work.  I respectfully submit that sound like a classic case of someone who's scared to get out there in front people.  You can get over it, or you can quit.  

The financial rewards of this job are amazing!  You get a great commission, plus trailing money, plus renewals, plus stock.  That means you continue to get paid for as long as your client get use from your product.  That's pretty awesome.  

Compare our loss ratios with our competitors and you will see the kind of value our company brings to our clients.  

In short, go through the classes, do what they say, then, when you get out, you can tweak it.  That's what I did and I opened the most new groups in my state in my first year with the company.

Also, check out this blog for some ideas on alternate scripts and what it takes to make it with AFLAC.

http://calfa.blogspot.com

Answer 3

As already mentioned, 95% of agents fail in the first year, and half of the remainder fail within two years. It is hard and tiresome, but Aflac is a good company and it's not dishonest. The Aflac market is saturated so it's not going to be easy. The problem with any companys' scripts is they emphasize the good points and gloss over the "bad" points.