u/deme727

Hey everyone, looking for some real, unvarnished advice from people actually in the industry. I’m 59, just got my Florida 2-14 (Life/Annuities) and 2-40 (Health) licenses, and I’ve already stepped face-first into a massive IMO/MLM trap. I need a serious reality check on finding a legitimate path forward.

To give you a quick background: I am a pure closer. I did mortgages as a loan originator up until the 2008 crash, then transitioned into hardcore, high-ticket kitchen table sales (residential water treatment systems) until 2020. I was a consistent $95k+ earner specializing in the one-call close. When COVID hit, I had to walk away from sales to become a full-time, 24/7 caregiver for my 90-year-old mother who had advanced Alzheimer's. I stayed by her side until she passed away.

Now I'm getting back on my feet and decided insurance was the best place to deploy my skills. Because of my age and some lifestyle changes, I really don't want to be chained to an office permanently anymore. A couple of days a week for hybrid/training is fine, but I’m looking for a remote or hybrid setup.

Here is my dilemma: I signed up with an agency and after three one-on-one coachings, the red flags are screaming.

I just discovered the “free lead system" (the reason I signed up) requires me to have 5 active contracts in place. Or I could just buy packs of 20 leads for $700 a pop. Oddly they are training me to sell complex IULs and told me to come back with a list of 20 friends and family members. They want a 20-year-old "upline trainer" to get on Zoom with me, call my personal network for "practice pitches," and take a 50/50 split of any commission.

Look, I could outsell this kid in my sleep if I just know the logistics of the process. I am absolutely not burning my personal network or begging my family for business just to feed an upline.

I am not a prospector, and I don't have a local network to exploit. But if you put a warm lead or an inbound live-transfer in front of me, I will close it.

Where do guys like me actually belong in today's market? Are there legitimate corporate W-2 or high-support 1099 roles that actually provide a solid lead flow (like Medicare live-transfers or captive carriers) rather than making you buy leads or recruit your friends? I have my licenses and E&O insurance ready to go. I just need a real direction.

Appreciate any insight you guys can give me.

Hey everyone, looking for some real, unvarnished advice from people actually in the industry. I’m 59, just got my Florida 2-14 (Life/Annuities) and 2-40 (Health) licenses, and I’ve already stepped face-first into a massive IMO/MLM trap. I need a serious reality check on finding a legitimate path forward.

To give you a quick background: I am a pure closer. I did mortgages as a loan originator up until the 2008 crash, then transitioned into hardcore, high-ticket kitchen table sales (residential water treatment systems) until 2020. I was a consistent $95k+ earner specializing in the one-call close. When COVID hit, I had to walk away from sales to become a full-time, 24/7 caregiver for my 90-year-old mother who had advanced Alzheimer's. I stayed by her side until she passed away.

Now I'm getting back on my feet and decided insurance was the best place to deploy my skills. Because of my age and some lifestyle changes, I really don't want to be chained to an office permanently anymore. A couple of days a week for hybrid/training is fine, but I’m looking for a remote or hybrid setup.

Here is my dilemma: I signed up with an agency and after three one-on-one coachings, the red flags are screaming.

I just discovered the “free lead system" (the reason I signed up) requires me to have 5 active contracts in place. Or I could just buy packs of 20 leads for $700 a pop. Oddly they are training me to sell complex IULs and told me to come back with a list of 20 friends and family members. They want a 20-year-old "upline trainer" to get on Zoom with me, call my personal network for "practice pitches," and take a 50/50 split of any commission.

Look, I could outsell this kid in my sleep if I just know the logistics of the process. I am absolutely not burning my personal network or begging my family for business just to feed an upline.

I am not a prospector, and I don't have a local network to exploit. But if you put a warm lead or an inbound live-transfer in front of me, I will close it.

Where do guys like me actually belong in today's market? Are there legitimate corporate W-2 or high-support 1099 roles that actually provide a solid lead flow (like Medicare live-transfers or captive carriers) rather than making you buy leads or recruit your friends? I have my licenses and E&O insurance ready to go. I just need a real direction.

Appreciate any insight you guys can give me.