How to be a SUCCESS with AFLAC

Brandy H in Austin, Texas said: CONGRADULATIONS. I know I was a nervous wreck when I took my test 3 hours long..so draining. I failed it the 1st time and passed it the 2nd time.

Brandy,

Did you ever start w/ Aflac? Jason Maroney is the Regional sales cordinator in South Austin. He is awesome. I just started with his team in Jan and Im closing accounts now. It does take a few weeks to get things rolling, but it is truly up to you. They have had many people start and close accounts in the first two weeks. It took me about 4 weeks, but I have been focused on talking to 50 businesses and seting 5 appointments per week. This is the proven success formula that will have you closing accounts every week, if you continue to always have new appointments for the next week. Just like any business only the top 10% actually do the activity needed to have a steady weekly flow of businesses enrolling and your income. Everyone has many excuses, but the facts are they work on one business enrollment and dont cold call to have appointments for the following week. That is why so many fail to make a huge business with Aflac. Good luck and I hope you decide to work with Aflac Central Texas because it has some of the best leadership in the business.

Aflac Centx in Round Rock, Texas said: Brandy,

Did you ever start w/ Aflac? Jason Maroney is the Regional sales cordinator in South Austin. He is awesome. I just started with his team in Jan and Im closing accounts now. It does take a few weeks to get things rolling, but it is truly up to you. They have had many people start and close accounts in the first two weeks. It took me about 4 weeks, but I have been focused on talking to 50 businesses and seting 5 appointments per week. This is the proven success formula that will have you closing accounts every week, if you continue to always have new appointments for the next week. Just like any business only the top 10% actually do the activity needed to have a steady weekly flow of businesses enrolling and your income. Everyone has many excuses, but the facts are they work on one business enrollment and dont cold call to have appointments for the following week. That is why so many fail to make a huge business with Aflac. Good luck and I hope you decide to work with Aflac Central Texas because it has some of the best leadership in the business.

I'm having my interview in Puerto rico next week. My question to you is, can you work different market once you have a license? I do travel between Puerto Rico and the States few times p/year.

Vicky in Bancroft, Idaho said: I'm having my interview in Puerto rico next week. My question to you is, can you work different market once you have a license? I do travel between Puerto Rico and the States few times p/year.

Yes, but you will have to get your Puerto Rico license or non resident license to write business in other states. I am going to get a non resident Ca License next yr, because I am from Ca and have lot of connections out there.

Good luck,

Rich

I recieved a call today for an interview in Conway but they told me the position was in little rock working with benefits. Is this office or call center? Also is anyone familiar with what the job would entail?

Hey all, just a member of the public here...

We've gotten about a dozen Aflac cold calls from about a dozen different people in roughly the space of two years. Plus one Aflac sales person came through our office building.

Near as I can tell, the callers are all using Aflac's internal leads database. Maybe some use InfoUSA numbers - not sure. Anyway, I asked one caller to place us on Aflac's do-not-call list so as not to waste the time of future Aflac callers. He was nice enough, but said he had no mechanism to honor my request. I usually ask the callers, "What happened to [name of last Aflac caller]?" They never heard of him/her.

3 questions...

1 - Wouldn't Aflac's cold calls have a higher rate of success if the numbers that have already been tried numerous times a year were filtered out?

2 - In the absence of filtering, wouldn't the callers at least find it useful to see some indication that the person they're talking to has already been contacted numerous times?

3 - And would Aflac's cold calls have a higher rate of success if the numbers were filtered by the national do-not-call list?

I understand your frusration but all the 20 thousand plus agents are all independent agents their is no call center that sets these appointments for us unless we hire them.

NewHorizon in Falls Church, Virginia said: Hey all, just a member of the public here...

We've gotten about a dozen Aflac cold calls from about a dozen different people in roughly the space of two years. Plus one Aflac sales person came through our office building.

Near as I can tell, the callers are all using Aflac's internal leads database. Maybe some use InfoUSA numbers - not sure. Anyway, I asked one caller to place us on Aflac's do-not-call list so as not to waste the time of future Aflac callers. He was nice enough, but said he had no mechanism to honor my request. I usually ask the callers, "What happened to [name of last Aflac caller]?" They never heard of him/her.

3 questions...

1 - Wouldn't Aflac's cold calls have a higher rate of success if the numbers that have already been tried numerous times a year were filtered out?

2 - In the absence of filtering, wouldn't the callers at least find it useful to see some indication that the person they're talking to has already been contacted numerous times?

3 - And would Aflac's cold calls have a higher rate of success if the numbers were filtered by the national do-not-call list?

I understand "independent agents". I didn't follow about call centers "setting appointments". (Forgive, I'm not in the telemarketing biz.) But I understand the agents are almost all sourcing from Aflac's leads database (can somebody tell me the name of it?) which, if I understand, gives the 20,000+ agents no clue about whether or not the prospect was contacted last week or last year ( but it COULD if somebody with enough authority wanted to change the database).

Surely, all would agree that there's room for improvement there.

I would kindly submit that revealing the history of the contacts would be a principled thing to do for those 20,000+ agents trying to bring home a paycheck. And permit me the audacity to even go so far as to suggest that it was no random accident that this information is not tracked (I gather), much less provided to those 20,000+ hard-working people.

What I meant about call centers Aflac offers us no support as far as leads that are given to us from some sort of call center or Telemarketer data base these are no part of Aflac.We are all independent agent that is why their is no complex tracking system to each person who says no to us for the 100 time.I get your frustration wish their was something like that too! As far as a name of the data company and getting of some list your business is listed in a data base when you got your business licence or set up your business. This is just public record and millions of company's sell these list for certain criteria you tell them what you are looking for they find it. Our you look it up your self,or you just start by knocking on door like yours you must fit the right criteria for us to due business with your company. I hope this helps.

OK, I get that. But Aflac isn't the only organization using public records for sales leads. They - or rather the agents - ARE, however, the only ones I've ever run in to who do not honor a do-not-call request.

But we digress...

Let's focus on those 20,000+ agents who are trying to pay their bills. Do they realize how well picked-over the leads are?

Yes they do, NewHorizonm, yes they do. It is painfully obvious to any Aflac associate that they are competing with all the other Aflac associates.

Some facts though: there are 45,000 registered sales associates in the U.S. And sales associates are 100% commission-only...no base, no benefits. Sales reps have absolutely NO say in how the company structures its marketing force, and therefore NO say in the fact that businesses may be targeted by multiple agents in the same year, month, week, day.

You had only 1 agent walk through your building? Surprised by that; many places have had 10 or more agents in a relatively short time span.

My opinion of this system? Positive and negative. The negative is obvious; sales reps falling over one another, and an unflattering impression to many potential clients. The positive? A business or person can work with whomoever they please, without being constrained by 'territories.'

Aflac is a wonderful company with exceptional products. That being said, I think the marketing model (every man/woman for him/herself in the most cutthroat sales environs possible) needs somse overhauling to reflect the ever-expanding sales force.

A final note: There IS a "No Contact List." A quick call to the local Aflac State Sales Office will confirm this, and give guidelines for being placed on it. Individual sales reps cannot place you on this list merely because you asked them to. Every sales associate agrees NOT to call on any company on this list...in fact, reps are required to agree to this on a recurring basis when they log onto the corporate website. Penalties are supposed to be appropriate, but I've never heard of any being doled out. (Doesn't mean anything though; it's certainly possible).

The Do Not Contact list contains companies who are 1) already working with an agent and 2) are seriously pissed off at being called on repeatedly.
Hopefully Corporate is addresing the latter.

Excellent post, Janis. Thanks you very much!

[QUOTE]
It is painfully obvious to any Aflac associate that they are competing with all the other Aflac associates.

When is it "painfully obvious" to them? After they begin their job, or do they know this going in?

[QUOTE]
There IS a "No Contact List." A quick call to the local Aflac State Sales Office will confirm this,

I may be wrong - this was a few years ago. But I vaguely recall doing that already, but being told that it might not be 100% effective. I seem to recall (again, I may be wrong) that it depends on which database is being used - Aflac's internal leads database, or the one from InfoUSA (the agents refer to it as something like "SalesUSA" or "LeadsUSA" or something sorta/kinda like that).

If I can confirm that I'm in that "No Contact List" and an agent then calls me, what should I do?

Meanwhile, regardless of how effective the "No Contact List" is, placing our one phone number on it doesn't really improve things for all those agents who find themselves, as you said, falling all over themselves for the millions of phone numbers NOT on that list. Seems to me that that "overhaul" you speak of isn't needed just for business reasons, but should also be implemented simply out of decency and respect for the flesh-and-blood people trying to provide for their families.

...in my oh-so humble opinion. :)

Hello. Do any of you Aflac veterans know of any reputable Regional Sales Coordinators in Dallas, TX? Thank you for your help.

Hi,

You dont know me but I am thinking about starting a career with Aflac. I went to a meeting today and Just wondering if its worth it. Any advise you can get would really be appreciated or you can email me at japonte22@gmail.com thanks.

Joel in Manasquan, New Jersey said: Hi,

You dont know me either, however I think you should consider all of the comments that this forum has to offer. It may be confusing, but you will have to use your own discernment as to what information is helpful to you. I honestly think that your success will be based on who trains you and what support you will have along the way. Consider what area you will be working in and how much effort you will commit yourself to for becoming a great agent.
I believe that whatever you think of yourself, and what you can do or accomplish, can be achieved if you're willing to do your part. AFLAC is an awesome company with wonderful people to help and support you, with the products and tools to get you to where you want to be.

I am looking into selling Aflac. Recently had a relative dealing with cancer (without Aflac) and have seen the financial problems it caused. I never knew so many people WITH HEALTH INSURANCE went into bankruptcy as a result of being diagnosed with cancer (or other serious illness). I would like to know how your experience has been going and what response you have been having. I have no sales experience but understand the training is good. I am a little nervous about the cold calling & how hard it is to keep that up day after day. I am in the San Antonio area. Appreciate any info!

Can anybody tell me what to expect in this business, I will be having an interview next week and I am a little skeptical about sales.I have the drive and I know i can put my best, i have been out of work for a long time and would do anything to feed my family as long as its legit.By the way i am in Greensboro North Carolina

Tony in Pfafftown, North Carolina said: Can anybody tell me what to expect in this business, I will be having an interview next week and I am a little skeptical about sales.I have the drive and I know i can put my best, i have been out of work for a long time and would do anything to feed my family as long as its legit.By the way i am in Greensboro North Carolina

Tony I don't understand why you would be Skepitcal about Aflac they are a Fortune 500 company #1 in the Industry. But I myself did 6months of research/soul searching before I made the jump To Aflac and yes well worth it. I had no sales experiance at all none. I have been with them a yr this coming Feb 2012. I will tell you this its not easy but its a simple business you just need to find your own pace and a routine and stick at it dont give up. The Money will come let me tell you Im closing a 620 man group this month right before Christmas Cha Ching!!!

DonnyE in West Jordan, Utah said: I'm scheduled for an interview and was wondering if it is something that can be done part time to start with? I have a job from 2-10. The one plus side is that I do have a license already, the call center that I work at made us get one. I really don't know a whole lot about the insurance business. AFlAC is a reputable com. and I saw an ad so I decided to apply.

AFLAC is a great company. Unfortunately, the compensation plan is the worse. The Regional Manager makes all the money and the agents are the work bees. You cannot grow with the company. You have to process, your own claims.

PSCC in San Antonio, Texas said: I am looking into selling Aflac. Recently had a relative dealing with cancer (without Aflac) and have seen the financial problems it caused. I never knew so many people WITH HEALTH INSURANCE went into bankruptcy as a result of being diagnosed with cancer (or other serious illness). I would like to know how your experience has been going and what response you have been having. I have no sales experience but understand the training is good. I am a little nervous about the cold calling & how hard it is to keep that up day after day. I am in the San Antonio area. Appreciate any info!

COLD Calling. More COLD calling. every day. You have to worry about the companies, on the "NO CALL LIST" What if you had a qualified lead, in front of you, from a customer who requesed for you to call them? That is our business. Much simpler.

AlmostADuck in Dallas, Texas said: Hello. Do any of you Aflac veterans know of any reputable Regional Sales Coordinators in Dallas, TX? Thank you for your help.

There several RSC, in Dallas. Call the AFLAC State office, in dallas and they can tell you. They are all reputable.

NewHorizon in Falls Church, Virginia said: Hey all, just a member of the public here...

We've gotten about a dozen Aflac cold calls from about a dozen different people in roughly the space of two years. Plus one Aflac sales person came through our office building.

Near as I can tell, the callers are all using Aflac's internal leads database. Maybe some use InfoUSA numbers - not sure. Anyway, I asked one caller to place us on Aflac's do-not-call list so as not to waste the time of future Aflac callers. He was nice enough, but said he had no mechanism to honor my request. I usually ask the callers, "What happened to [name of last Aflac caller]?" They never heard of him/her.

3 questions...

1 - Wouldn't Aflac's cold calls have a higher rate of success if the numbers that have already been tried numerous times a year were filtered out?

2 - In the absence of filtering, wouldn't the callers at least find it useful to see some indication that the person they're talking to has already been contacted numerous times?

3 - And would Aflac's cold calls have a higher rate of success if the numbers were filtered by the national do-not-call list?

Your suggestions are impossible to implement. Its a "survival of the fittest" New agents and old agents make business calls from the same old database, "SalesUSA." That is their, so call, "leads program". There is no tracking system, as to which company has been called or not. They only have a "no call" list of companies. Its to satisfy the legal authorities. You will see, one agent after another come to your company. Because, of this terrible system, or lack there of, the smart agents come and go. The old agents who stay with the company, are afraid of losing their residuals. Its a weird system. Somehow,the company manages to generate alot of income.

westwood412 in Houston, Texas said: Tony I don't understand why you would be Skepitcal about Aflac they are a Fortune 500 company #1 in the Industry. But I myself did 6months of research/soul searching before I made the jump To Aflac and yes well worth it. I had no sales experiance at all none. I have been with them a yr this coming Feb 2012. I will tell you this its not easy but its a simple business you just need to find your own pace and a routine and stick at it dont give up. The Money will come let me tell you Im closing a 620 man group this month right before Christmas Cha Ching!!!

I am thinking about going to work for Aflac. I was wondering just how flexible it really is. I was a stay at home mom for 11 years. I went back to work after my youngest started school, however, I quickly found out that the whole 8-5 thing wasn't for me. I had to rush every morning just to get the kids and myself ready. Then in the evenings, I didn't get home until 5:30 and was so exhausted all I wanted to do was go to sleep. Anyway, I'm really hoping that Aflac is as flexible as they say they are because that would be great :).

nikkih78 in Conehatta, Mississippi said: I am thinking about going to work for Aflac. I was wondering just how flexible it really is. I was a stay at home mom for 11 years. I went back to work after my youngest started school, however, I quickly found out that the whole 8-5 thing wasn't for me. I had to rush every morning just to get the kids and myself ready. Then in the evenings, I didn't get home until 5:30 and was so exhausted all I wanted to do was go to sleep. Anyway, I'm really hoping that Aflac is as flexible as they say they are because that would be great :).

I will say this it is as flexible as they get you make your own hours set your own appointments you are your own boss. That being said there is no pay without any results so make sure you know this is a commission only position. You are a independent agent on your own with no leads given to you.

Aflac is a great company to work for but you do need to get after it to make money. You have to figure out a system that works for you. If you have a warm market this will help but when that runs out then what is next? Ask yourself questions like this? How will I get leads? Do I have a warm market? Will my warm market help me? What system will work best for me to produce a good living? Do I like cold calling businesses? How long can I survive without a paycheck?

I am looking to help someone out who bought an Aflac SNG unit 6 months to 1 year ago and has left the business. I will take over the payment for you and get you out from your lease with Aflac. If your unit has credits on it, and I can write a bunch of business on it over the next couple of years, I make out on the deal. Six months to 2 years is the sweet spot for this. It gets you out of the payment.....send me a note. I am no longer in TXD.

JesseNevarez in Grand Prairie, Texas said: Your suggestions are impossible to implement. Its a "survival of the fittest" New agents and old agents make business calls from the same old database, "SalesUSA." That is their, so call, "leads program". There is no tracking system, as to which company has been called or not. They only have a "no call" list of companies. Its to satisfy the legal authorities. You will see, one agent after another come to your company. Because, of this terrible system, or lack there of, the smart agents come and go. The old agents who stay with the company, are afraid of losing their residuals. Its a weird system. Somehow,the company manages to generate alot of income.

Its not just salesusa.. there are other websites out there and we have no control over who is on the do not call list. Companies who want to be put on that list do it them selves. Aflac is a highly respected company and honestly when i first saw it i was like.. man.. another insurance company. Its not medical insurance! That's what people think it is. Its "supplement" or a Safety net. Aflac pays you the insurer... medical insurance pays doctors. Too be successful at this you have to put a lot of effort into it. People fail because they don't do cold calls or drops. Just because you made 40 calls in 1 day.. doesn't mean your guaranteed to get anywhere. Keep making calls or do your drops! Everyone can be successful if you just try!

comment above was mine. The keyboard for some reason didnt recognize the keys i typed for my name!!

I am on my second interview with the RBM in the local Aflac division. I am trying to research the company in order to be as prepared for this interview as possible. I have a few questions if anyone is willing to answer?

What type of licensing will I need to acquire?
What other out-of-pocket expenses will be required of me before I am "on board"?
I have learned that Aflac offers Accident, Cancer/Speified disease, dental, hospital, confinement indemnity, life, and several other types of life/accident/health insurances. Do they offer anything else?
What main categories can Aflac's coverages be lumped into?
Though they offer supplemental insurance do they also help pay your medical bills/etc. or do they just put money in your the clients' pocket?
Is Aflac more focused on individuals, business, or brokerages?
Do you have any suggestions for me?

Had interview in Conyers, Ga. office and was offered the opportunity, but when he told me to be prepared to go fo 4-6 wks without making any money, it kinda threw me. Am getting all of the paperwork together J.I.C., but am having trepidations about making the leap. I have a carpetcleaning bus. that I've been doing for the last decade, but along with the economy, has gotten slow - not to mention the amount of competition I have to face- and want to try & keep it going on the weekends to help supplement.
Question is - how valid are my concerns, and how feasible is it to try & have another business going on the side?

Also, is it true that agents have to process the claims?

steven G you will go a few weeks without income this is a commission only business you have to get business to make money. There is a strong possibility your DSC can take you with him to write business in an enrollment or to see a direct signup. You could make a couple hundred bucks and learn. You will be able to work your weekend business and it will help you get by. You are at an advantage because doing your second business opens up your sphere of influence in others words you already can come into a lot of people with your second job start letting people know you work for Aflac spark up conversations find out what they do and if there company has aflac then write that info down and work those contacts monday through friday you can make a ton of money you just have to believe in the product and in yourself. I'm only 7 weeks in and it took three weeks to make money but i just made my fast start award and next week making my super fast start stick with it i promise it will pay off good luck!

Steven G. in Stockbridge, Georgia said: Also, is it true that agents have to process the claims ?

It is best to process your clients claims when they are a new acct it shows you care and you can make sure they get all they are due however they can do their own claims online but claims is too futuristic for you right now thats way down the line you have to get a group to get a claim just focus on the getting the appt and getting a group to get paid your DSC will help you with admin stuff like claims its the small potatoes of the business for you right now.