Primerica?

Hello ladies and gentlemen! I've been offered a part in an insurance like company called Primerica... its a part of Citigroup. Has anyone heard of it or have any advice? It has many upsides- own business, helping families with financial planning, etc etc. The downside is the pyramid side of the business. The point is to recruit recruit recruit and make your own team along the line. I know I can be successful in it. I've heard positive and negative points, I've been to their meeting for the past month and have fallen in love with the people. But I'm trying to get outside opinions before I sign on the dotted line.... Can anyone offer me and insight?

Hi Jaci!!! I don't know this company, but I represented New York Life for some time and I can tell you that I enjoyed the job. The people in the insurance environment at least at NYL was beautiful. The job was really enjoyable. To be honest I wasn't succusfull there but it wasn't because of the company but for my own charecteristics. I wish you success!!! Alex

Thanks Alex! I do know that NYL is one of the competitors, lol. NYL is a whole life company where Primerica is a Term Policy.

My mother is the queen of pyramid schemes and has recently become involved with this or one similair. It is a lot of work, you have to be willing to approach family, friends and strangers and speak with them about something very personal - their financials. I have seen this tear apart friendships but of course, it is how you approach it and the strength of the relationship that is key. Sales is an overall 24/7 kind of position. My 'new' job of a year is VERY sales oriented in terms of number of transactions, cold calls and approaching people regularly and repeatedly - in often an aggressive manner. Like Alex said, it is a certain skill set - and again like him, not mine. (I found I am more relational sales, building business in a softer more team oriented approach which is really business development or account management). Can you be a pit bull in your approach? Can you impose your view on people who may be manipulated, even if your product is not 100% right for that person, just to close the sale, make your quota or get them to join the pyramid??? (there are a lot of unemployed/heavily debted people out there today who desparately are looking for an 'easy' way to make money) This program will likely cost you money up front to take the classes for and be licensed. I would investigate who they see as the target audience. And are these solutions realistic to the average person in today's economy. And how many people in your area are part of this program - you dont want to get into something where the competition is tight or people have already worked your immediate area. Research on your own to validate the figures they put in front of you, we all know statistics can be manipulated to tell the story we want them to tell. Finally, do they offer any benefits like health insurance, 401k, disability insurance? What kind of training will you get in the product, sales techniques, business development? Hope this helps, happy to talk thru anything thru IM, phone or email..... Good luck!! ~Tiffany

I love you so much, thank you for your insight! I will definately be taking advantage of your knowledge next time I see you online!

Jaci, I would stay very far away from all pyramid schemes. If you want an insurance sales job, just go be an agent. My grandfather sold insurance for over 30 years before he retired and his son (my uncle) has been an agent for over 30 years too. You can make a very good living at it. I would just do it direct, get the benefit from your actual sales and not depend on your recruits, recruiting recruits and so on and so on and so on..... AND I WOULD NEVER EVER, take a job that required me to pay something up front. That is a HUGE red flag. If the sompany is so great, why do people have to pay to get in???? Um, because they are not that great and the buy in helps the bottom line. There are tons of legitimate sales jobs out there. About 10 years ago I was a sales rep, I called on major retail accounts (Home Depot, JCP, Sears, Wards, Mervins, Home Base - some of those stores are out of business now - but I regress...). It was a fun job. I traveled the whole state of AZ, had a company car, expense account and got to talk to people all day long. Since I have never met you in person, I can only guess that your personality would lend its self to sales. I loved being out and talking to people. I was never a hard ass sales person though. I like to sell through building relationships. Good luck in whatever you decide. Love, jen

Thanks alot Jen!!

Jaci, Be careful............ I fully ditto Tiff , Jen and Alex on this one............. There are tons of jobs out there that you can throw yourself into and get out what you put in ...not so sure this is one of them Tori

Thanks for your insight, Tori!

I def agree with some others...beware of pyramid SCHEMES. Schemes generally aren't a good thing whatsoever. They promise you this, this, and that and they just make everything sound so good. If it was so good, then why do they focus so much on recruiting?? Wouldn't people just call in themselves?? Now, do you have to pay money to become part of this business?? If so...PASS!! April