Question for the Borg

[goillini52]

Yeah, but anybody know 'bout RetireCo vs Smart Choice vs Beightway? What other options are out there for a newb to the industry with a large hierarchy?



But I guess the question would be who are you? How do any of us verify who you are? How do any of us know you're not on a fishing trip trying to hook stupid agents into working for you?

I think if you want straight answers be straight forward and let agents see who you are. But that's just me thinking here with years experience in the business and listening to all sorts of BS during those years. So you may be straight up, but it doesn't seem this way with you approach. That is sorta why you're getting BS answers as we all deal with BS in different ways.

Tell us how you really feel LG.

 

[LGilmore]

Tell us how you really feel LG.



I guess my tolerance for this stuff isn't very high is it?

 

[LTS]

Wow...lighten up Francis! I dig Star Trek...hence the title of my thread...and diggin the banter. At some point I would like some help, 'cause I need it.

So you want to see my papers, Mr Forum Gestapo? I'm a Liberty Tax franchisee (LTS is short for Liberty Tax Service). I opened the Health agency inside my tax offices because ObamaCare created a huge collision of insurance and taxes. It's been a big success and good for my tax business, too. Now my franchisee friends in my neighborhood
want me to operate out of their offices. In some cases with my recruited agents manning their office and in some cases making their employees also my licensed agents. I kind of fell into an opportunity here that's too good to pass up, and I think I want to turn my own offices into a fully developed insurance brokerage. But I need help in this.

There now I've gone and opened my kimono to bear all. Still not convinced??

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BTW, I'm not recruiting! I'm now only turning my existing tax preparers into agents. As expected, my tax clients are very pissed off at paying the ObamaCare penalties to the IRS, so we're helping the comply with the law for this year by signing them up for insurance as we do their taxes.

I'm merely trying to figure out how best to generate a second income stream from my already-paid-for but seasonal offices and keep a few of my best tax employees earning a good income year round. business.

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And LG, before you accuse of saying I'm recruiting then not recruiting...I just hired the final recruit I need today. So please don't come asking...oh wait...nobody did before.

As before, I'm looking for answers to how I now break out of Health and into other lines. I understand I'm a very non-standard path to agency ownership and I'm out of my league. Need a good GA to help. What GA/clusters should I look at and why?

 

[blue_wynd]

The non standards P & C you can yourself. The standard ones, you will need to join a cluster. Pm if you want to know who I use. Also for the life mga I suggest Pinney Insurance or Cary Levinson. Good back office support, which is what you will need starting off. You can also head over to the final expense forum if you want on selling to seniors too.

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Oh, I would also hire a P & C person to help you out too.

 

[agentinsouth]

The non standards P & C you can yourself. The standard ones, you will need to join a cluster. Pm if you want to know who I use. Also for the life mga I suggest Pinney Insurance or Cary Levinson. Good back office support, which is what you will need starting off. You can also head over to the final expense forum if you want on selling to seniors too. ---------- Oh, I would also hire a P & C person to help you out too.

This is intriguing because I get at least 2 calls every tax season wanting me to go into this business due to having an agency. I pass every time because my clients are mostly successful professionals and have CPA's.
With that said, I don't think you need a cluster... I personally hate clusters! Not knowing a lot about Liberty tax, H&R, etc....I assume most of your customers are naturally non- standard? If I am correct and it was me, I would focus on cross-selling auto to every person who walked in the door.

 

[LTS]

Thanks. You are correct...most of my early season clients (which accounts for 60-70% of my tax clientele) is "non-standard". I was thinking of marketing auto and renter's insurance to them. Renter's may even be a stretch for them. The remainder of my clientele are middle class, military with semi-complicated tax situations or people with a small or in-home business. I see opportunities there for homeowner/renter, flood, business liability/umbrella, life/final expense, auto, etc.

I do have 1 of my tax preparers who is a former Personal Lines CSR and agent but only experienced in Auto. Her license is lapsed, but she's testing soon. I'm just not sure how to get the good appointments and, as you say, where to find backstop support. I will PM you for your info...thanks.

I don't mind going direct appointment, but I understand commissions are often lower. Also, I really think I need to start off at least with support. If I sign up with a supportive GA, what happens when I have experience enough to reduce their costs by either dissolving the relationship or using less support?

 

[axeman462]

Its amazing how quickly these threads spin out of control sometimes

 

[moonlightandmargaritas]

I'm a Liberty Tax franchisee (LTS is short for Liberty Tax Service).

On a somewhat related note, do you have someone in a Statue of Liberty costume dancing on the sidewalk in front of your office? Great human spam!

 

[Rearden]

"There are FOUR LIGHTS!"

"When the walls fell... His arms open..."

 

[LTS]

Of course I have the dancing Lady Liberty. Because of that, you know exactly where every Liberty Tax office is in your town. Kinda cheesy, I know. But you wouldn't believe how effective it is!

What's more, you wouldn't believe how long the waiting list of applicant's I have for that job. I hire mostly teenagers, but I have many adults in my stack of applications.