Are we going out of business policyholders are leaving at a alarming rate. New agents are closing up shops. Market leadership needs to be evaluated or unload. The Last two years have been a disgrace.
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Everyone agrees no value
Khgn I agree!! What do they do
I don’t see them adding any value to our market. Its like they see the value in there position and no results. We are getting k–led writing everything our rivalries don’t want.
Agree my old AFE had a lot more credibility. This environment is just a major screw up by someone.
Both VPAs and SLs need to go virtual cut in half and cut rates. Cut the travel award trips and put towards dividends we are getting k–led. They need to look at when this down turn happen and clean house immediately. We are at a crucial stage!! Who is actually running this deal the brakes went on with all new production eligibility in my market in July. I have to lay someone off soon and my SL is saying you need to spend more money on marketing. When he left my office I was like he has no idea what the heck he’s talking about. Good luck to all my friends. This isn’t going in the correct direction.
No need for Sales Leaders ours came by for my team meeting talk about his numbers?? My team ask after he left is he our boss. Don’t need him coming over anymore, Nice guy but I’m an Independent Contractor see ya Dude
We play golf two times a week with my SL, good guy no business acumen.
It’s time to drop the Sakes Leader role mine says he watches tv all day and jumps on conference calls sends a couple of emails out. Trying to look busy he drives his car all over town talking with friends all day looking like he’s visiting agents. My wife told me this I was like WTF. His wife told my wife this????
When nepotism comes into play and they hire all there buddies, family members and people that they like, you run into this issue with any company.
When agents ignore and don’t show up for meetings and calls it’s time for those running the meetings that they mayn’t be leaders. I would recommend looking for alternate opportunities.
When you loose trust in what they tell you it’s time. When you put yourself before the goals who you lead it is really time to push the abort button. It’s A shame we have had some great leaders.
My experience is many of these VPAs/sales leaders were failed agents at one time. Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach. Except these leaders can't do either.
I know that a majority of agents think our vpa is not an inspiring leader, mainly a blamer of agents and deflects any real issues. Arrogant and thinks he is the smartest guy in the room. Pity though. This winning man is under a lot of pressure having to perform in a growth area
Buyout for golfing!
VPAs should have been gone years ago.!Most are trainwrecks at best
Bye bye SL’s better get your resume together the gravy train ride coming to an end. Survey was really
Really bad. Cancel your direct tv.
Why would TC spend $ on a buyout when agents will be leaving in droves?
There WILL be a buyout, be patient grasshopper.
@Fkvl.....Nice try, troll. Before making this kind of post, at least lookup the basics.
There is no Agency “buyout” or “pension” for any contract newer than 23 yrs ago. No 401k unless we set up our own (which means we put in both the employee and employer portions). And deferred compensation only applies if we pass on receiving some pay until retirement.
As an agent I can honestly say it warms my heart to feel the concern everyone has for us. We will be fine, with the buyout, pension, deferred comp, 401k etc we have very little to worry about, maybe trying to decide where to buy that vacation home.
They will be ok. the last buyout was a nice one. Most got a huge severance packageS others got nice agencies.
Time changing quickly for everyone, I feel bad for agents that plan on staying forever and didn’t put anything away. It’s going to get interesting soon, I hope everyone has their house in order.
AFOs were a much bigger joke, talk about overhead, AFE, $250k/yr plus bennies, AFC close $150k plus, add a couple AFS positions plus support staff for each AFE office, and it had to be a first class office space, times how many nationwide? Talk about stupid money witH no added value. I came to SF from another top 5 carrier and was blown away at the amount of overhead they carried.
Colossal mistake when they went from AFOs to SL structure. SL’s hire anyone if they have a little $$$ in the bank, when it runs out a casualty of war. To many in that role that honestly don’t belong there. Over 150 going back to Agency next year. It’s a matter of time. Can’t burn cash on someone who sits home and watches ESPN all day and drops a couple of emails.
With the results we are experiencing in the field they need to pay back there entire Salaries the last two years. What in the hell do they do!
Who will send me 30 emails per week about nothing!!
Field leadership changes coming
There are an awful lot of “Agency experts” on here who have no agency experience, no sales experience, and no customer contact function.
Anyone who says the SL positions will be eliminated work in operations and don’t have a clue. There are 500+ SLs and with any position some are great and some need to be let go. Those who do their jobs are worth every penny. Just remember we all have jobs because our agents sell the products and are supported by their field leadership.
Those positions are just waiting to get jettison, over half have gone back or leaving next year. Most just hanging on by a thread. Once Gieco passes us, that position will be gone. Probably have same results.
A good sales leader works 60+ hours a week. Many go back to production because they aren’t leaders and won’t be able to push financial service production. They have huge goals and metrics hanging over their heads to get their agent to meet production. They are worth every penny if they are doing their jobs. As with any position there are good and bad. VPA’s some are batshit crazy and others are genuine leaders. Are they with the cost? Depends on the VPA. Some are worth more.
VPAs and Sales Leaders make too much money.
VPA GONE TOO?
What a restructure on Sales Leaders? The survey was a train wreck for them. I would hate to be them.
Most are heading back to production next year.
What's the word on sales leader restructure?
Sales leaders getting the Plank, Heard today mine is going back to agency he said major changes coming to there role. I feel bad for him he had to move his family a couple of years ago. That role is just full of stress.
Of the hundreds of millions of annual ad spend by the company, how much is withheld from your AGTCOMP? How much was the fee for you to start your agency? How much do you pay for your workstations? How much do you pay for ECRM? How much do you pay for CISCO Unity? How much can you get for free under the new AVS/SIP phone system? Agents blow hard about what they pay, but are either clueless or dishonest about what they don’t. Training wheels, arm floaties, bumpers, spoon fed, whatever you’d like. Name one other business opportunity that’s close? I’ll wait.
KnowsPlenty don’t know Sht. Things have changed significantly and not for the better since you investigated, applied for and did not make the cut for agency 20 years ago.
Dude you have no clue on AA05, they don’t provide anything other than start up. I have been fortunate to have a great specialist, but some of my fellow agents get basically no support.. Most are turning keys in because it just doesn’t work if SF doesn’t want to grow in a market. Training wheels what planet are you on, there is no training. WTF
That was once the case, I did the math when I started and SF paid close to $500k of my expenses from hire to 12 month training to A97 contract 24 months later. That was obviously too generous. The Current A05 contract is nothing like that, short of an approx $18k start up funds the agents now are very much on their own, you may want to review the current contract. If that is your idea of training wheels you are nuts.
What other business opportunity gifts a person the amount of money the company invests in new agents? No franchise fee. No mandatory marketing coop payment. They pay for buildouts. They share local marketing costs. The agents benefit from the company's massive ad spend but share 0 of the cost. Training wheels, water wings, whatever you choose to call it. Because some fail doesn't mean the opportunity wasn't good. How many of these agents who've gone into bankruptcy would have succeeded as Subway owners? Flower shop owners? Probably very few. They likely wouldn't have the capital to get started in either of those. The company has a lot of issues, but the amount it spends to make new agents successful is unparalleled in the business world.
Yep they have metrics just like everyone else. Sure is a lot of whining going on. Do the job or roll.