NOTICE: *UPDATE December 1. Consumer complaints recently discovered that all but 2 consumer complaintss about The David Zophin Agency of American Income Life were posted by the same person. A competitor no doubt. Consumer complaints has the evidence that shows the same person filed every one of the Reports. Complaint will go after anyone found posting Reports like this. This type of behavior will not be tolerated. Either way, The David Zophin Agency still stands by their comitments made to consumer complaints. Just like people can file ridiculous and frivolous lawsuits every day, we do realize consumers might try and take advantage using the Internet / consumer complaints to do the same thing. THE REPORT BELOW IS BOGUS!
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A heads up about American Income Life Insurance Company, Zophin Agency,
The interview process - You are contacted by the "human resources department" from AIL telling you that they came across your resume on Monster.com, they are looking to fill positions in entry level and mid level management, and they are very interested in you sitting down with their "director of operations". You are excited, you set the interview
FACT - the human resources department is actually an agent trying to fill a quota of interviews booked for the week. They don't even look at your resume, a heart beat and a shirt and tie are the only requirements for this position.
FACT - the agent will book a cashier from McDonalds to fill the spot on their interview log. I have actually booked an interview with someone who listed on his resume that his dad fired him from his family painting company because he smoked to many cigarettes during the workday.
Is this is the type of person you want in your home going over life insurance options?
Is this the way to build a solid agency?
FACT - the "director of operations" you will be meeting with is probably the same person you spoke to on the phone, but if you try to find out a little more about the company, they will tell you that "it will be covered in the interview process"
FACT - you show up for the interview and are interviewed by a "manager" who has probably been with the company for a month, but they are wearing a suit, so they must be successful, right?
They feel like you would definately be an asset to the company so they move you along to the next step of the interview process... The GROUP interview.
FACT - they need to put at least 10 people into the group... They have no idea whether or not you would be an asset to their company... You have a tie on and can form a complete sentence without drooling on yourself... That is enough to get you through to the group
The group presentation spits out numbers faster than you can write them down, telling you that 3rd party endorsed leads are supplied to you for FREE, you won't ever have to sell to your family and friends, your contract starts out at 40% of the annual premiums, you will make somewhere between $60,000 and $90,000 in your 1st year... Well into 6 figures by your second year. You can't believe what you're hearing... This sounds too good to be true. (hint: if you are a 35 year old working the grill at Wendy's and someone offers you a 6 figure position... It probably IS too good to be true)
FACT - They tell you that the numbers in the group are conservative, but in reality the comissions on most of the products worth selling are somewhere around 25% and you get advanced only 65% of that. Even if it were true, you're bringing home $800 for an 80 hr week. I can make $10 an hour cleaning toilets... And what if you have a bad week and don't sell anything... Now you have worked an 80 hr week and made $0... Then take into consideration the $ spent on gas, food, etc. Now it actually COSTS you money to work there.
Where do i sign up?
FACT - you CAN sell to your family but you CAN NOT get paid on the business... Wait a second, you are selling a product to your own family, (the product HAS to be good if you are going to sell it to your own sister, i can think of a better testemonial than that... But why don't i get paid on it? Every other insurance company would have paid me on it) they are paying premiums like everyone else, someone is getting paid on that deal... Hmm, i wonder where that $ is going?
FACT - find me someone in the agency that is making over $100,000 a year besides David Zophin and i'll eat my words...
You get out of the group and you sit down again 1 on 1 with another manager, they ask you how you feel about the opportunity. You have some questions... But they tell you, "that will be covered in the final interview"
FACT - They are required to get you in and out of that office after the group in 3 minutes. No time for questions... Chances are that the "manager" interviewing you still has questions. You show up for the final interview and you still have questions, but the opportunity seems so great. You accept the position.
I want to know when these questions are answered? Certainly not in the interview process, not as a manager in training, not as a Supervising Agent or a General Agent... I guess its on a need to know basis
You are hired and start your training... Sorry, UNPAID training.
You need to study for the state test, get your licence, learn the 20 page presentation. (20 page presentation? Are you serious? This is such a great product, and the union members know we are coming to their house to talk about insurance, why is there a need for a 20 page presentation? I thought the product sold itself?)
Now you have invested about $300 into the company, and have gone a month and a half without pay, but you're ready to go out on your own. Start making the BIG money.
Oh, sorry, we don't have enough leads for you, or an area to put you in... You're manager will just tell you that you need more training before you're ready to go out. Or until someone quits and you can get their area.
You FINALLY get your area and your lead pack
FACT - someone was just in that area, and most of the leads have been called 50 times, the ones that havent were born in 1930 and are either uninsurable or like most human beings that have families and arfe between the ages of 50 and 75, have already taken care of their life insurance needs.
Oooh, here's a guy w / a wife, 70 yrs old with NO life insurance... Well, this is his lucky day. For JUST $85 a month, you can get him $6,000 in coverage. This product is EASY to sell... Because we have the Freedom of Choice... Which is a piece of paper with the companies phone number on it... How many other companies out there can offer that?
OK, not ALL of your leads will be old or uninsurable. You will get some good ones... 35 year old fireman with a new house and 2 kids. This is going to be a good appointment. You call him up, set the appointment to bring by the "no-cost" benefits that the union has provided for him.
Now we're going to make money
Show up at the house, sit down at the kitchen table with him and his wife and he asks "OK, so whats this all about?"
Huh?
You mean to tell me that these people dont know we are going there to talk about insurance? OK, this company is starting to sound fishy... But i'm in to deep to quit now... I have to at least break even. I need to talk to my manager and figure out what i'm doing wrong. I mean, he owns 2 suits, so he must be doing something right.
I'm told that i need to get more appointments and recruit, "the real money in this company is in management"
Ok, so i put more child safe boxes out, (child safe boxes are free leads, who cares if they have no idea why i'm actually coming to their house?) i fill my days with appointments with single welfare moms with 7 kids and no checking accounts. These are insurance buyers. They HAVE to be, David Zophin said so.
At this point my life is in ruins... I no longer have friends, can't keep a girlfriend for longer than a week when they figure out that i can devote about a half hour a week to them. Havent talked to my family in weeks...
I just have to keep my eyes on the bigger picture. This is opportunity UNLIMITED... I am going to get rich with this company... Nobody understands.
I spend MORE time recruiting... Gotta build a team... Thats where the money is.
FACT - they are right, thats where the money is, you just dont see it. You basically just need to replace yourself, so Zophin doesn't take too big of a hit when you finally burn out and quit.
OK, i've been with the company for 4 months now and i think i have spent more money than i have made. But i have to stick around for the 6 month kitty check (that extra 35% that was held back on all my sales to date) plus i'm a manager now with a team. This might work out... I'm going to start making money now, i can feel it. AND i have health benefits now.
FACT - if you have 4 people under you writing $2,000 a week, you might see a couple hundred. Reality is, that most people in the agency average about $500 a week, so you're seeing MAYBE $100 a week in overrides. BUT, you are required to run appointments with them to see how you can get them to start writing business.
When do i get to run appointments to make money for me?
Hey, wait... They never told me i had to PAY for my health insurance
Get my kitty check... Wow!!! $600!!! Thank god i waited 6 months for a decent weeks paycheck. Well worth it
OK, i see this company is a farce... My credit is destroyed and I can't afford to pay rent. Car note is behind and i can't supersize my meals at burger king. I decide to cut my losses and find another job.
My team is redistributed to the other managers... I've replaced myself x4. All my hard work payed off... Just not to me
Forget about the deals that i have in the works... Or the business i submitted before i left. Money earned? Whats that?
Oh, OK. Money earned for David Zophin. I keep forgetting how this works.
I guess I just didn't do what it took to ensure my success. I couldn't financially weather the storm. It's too bad, because success was JUST around the corner, the opportunity was UNLIMITED. David said so, so it MUST be true.
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