Constructive criticism about the forum

[somarco]

Well . . .

I have ignored this thread for a few days, but without imploring the ignore button, and this is amazing.

Somehow I missed the hairpiece comment from another thread. Frankly, it would not surprise me. Just wonder what happened to the Hot Air Club for Men? Did KoolAid drinkers tire of ponying up $20 per month?

As for the rest of the diatribe, this forum is viewed by "outsiders" as well as agents, carriers and marketers who target agents. Can't say this is much of an endorsement for some of those who post here.

I come here to learn and to share my experience. Those who read can decide if the information is accurate or not.

Or if it is biased or not.

But regarding outsiders, while I do not post here in hopes of finding clients I have picked up 3 clients in the last year or so as a result of internet searches. Postings I make on blogs and other forums have also resulted in clients finding me.

I can directly trace at least a dozen new clients last year to one forum in particular and a few others to blogs.

That's 15 - 20 clients (last year alone) directly tied to internet "work" and that does not even count their referrals.

I am not anonymous and never have been.

Some of you should be glad you are anonymous. It won't help your cause with attracting or keeping clients.

And others should consider either a cloaking device, or the cone of silence.

Sorry. Just couldn't resist . . .

 

[moonlightandmargaritas]

Back on the old board I announced consulting. Paul went nuts - launched on a dissertation that information should be free and agents should never be charged.

Selective memory once again.

I actually asked you how you could expect to be an expert on New Mexico health insurance, and you replied with some stuff you looked up on ehealth.com.

My objection, if you recall correctly, was with having you continuously sell yourself on this forum, and being a moderator at the same time.

As I've said before, I do NOT believe that newbies should attempt to go independent, out-of-the-box with no experience.

I mean really, in what profession do people go into business for themselves, with no experience.

Recipe for disaster, notwithstanding the $20 a month (only $199 annually!) fee.

 

[somarco]

I do NOT believe that newbies should attempt to go independent, out-of-the-box with no experience

For most folks, that is a recipe for disaster.

I have suggested on more than one occasion that rookies go captive (with a decent company) for 6 months or so to get their feet wet. No way I would ever suggest going independent from the get-go, or even in the first few months.

There is plenty of free information on this board if you are willing to dig and sort thru the BS.

The trick is figuring out who really knows their stuff and who is just puffing their ego.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

I don't have a super strong opinion on this, but I also agree that the training you receive from a "captive company" can be top-notch. You don't have to spend an entire career there, but many ex-captive brokers credit some (not all) of their success to their captive training.

 

[bill3173]

I don't have a super strong opinion on this, but I also agree that the training you receive from a "captive company" can be top-notch. You don't have to spend an entire career there, but many ex-captive brokers credit some (not all) of their success to their captive training.

They are lucky. I got my licensing training paid for and was paid a very good salary while waiting for the licensing paperwork to go through, which I didn't have to pay back. Additionally, was on a very long and well paid guarantee period. The company has done away with that program now, but I stuck with them for 2.5 years before going independent several years ago. There was no training involved, when they did have someone come into speak, they were ususally poorly prepared and knew less about the products than I did and I was new.

I think the best reason to be captive for any period is the guaranteed salary while you are learning about insurance policies and the guaranteed salary while you are learning about insurance policies. Uh that's it. I don't credit anything to being captive other than the free lunch for the first 6 weeks, but they got a lot out of me over the next two years.

I guess everybody's experience is different.

 

[Guest]

I have suggested on more than one occasion that rookies go captive (with a decent company) for 6 months or so to get their feet wet.

You don't see an honesty or ethical issue here? I do.

Thirty years ago EDS had the BEST training program in the industry for computer people. It was better than IBMs (which it was based on.) I went through it.

Lots of guys would join EDS just to go to their 3 month "boot camp" programming or operations school in Dallas... and then up and leave the company to work for someone else. Ex-EDS people were in huge demand and were offered much, MUCH better salaries than EDS paid.

It got so bad that the company had to come up with a contract that the candidate had to sign saying that if he left before three (I think) years, he had to pay $10,000 (something like that) to the company. It was challenged in court and was upheld.

I think it is disingenuous and plain old dishonest to join a company just to get its training... with the express intention of leaving after six months or a year.

YMMV.

"Jackass" Al
InsuranceSolutions123 Agency

 

[The New Guy]

I don't know, I think Ross Perot has done quite well for himself.

He's pretty much a free market kind of guy, but then you know him better than I.

By the way, Did IBM mind that Ross designed his training program based around their's?

Some might say that would be disingenuous and plain old dishonest as well.

I for one, joined this forum with the express intent to jump ship, once I have realized all there is to know about the insurance industry.

Could be here awhile.

 

[Dave020]

I mean really, in what profession do people go into business for themselves, with no experience.

Amway?

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

PPL?
GM of the Knicks?

 

[insuremojo]

I too fell strongly about this subject.

3 years ago when I got into the biz I was brand new with no experience and went indy on a certain "experts" advice.

Ultimately the decision was mine but if I had gone captive or even semi captive (as I am now 1099 with a captive agency with a brokerage) when I had started I would be far ahead of where I am now.

I would never recommend a newby starting out with no experience go indy. There are always exceptions to the rule but it just doesn't make sense to me.