Combined Insurance Lies Lies and more Lies. Warning: Do not work for or Buy from this company Ripoff Dallas Texas

I happen to be affiliated with Combined Insurance. I must say they are a very ethical company, compared to the majority of insurance companies out there today. Sorry that they said this was a salary plus position, if those words were used, but i have never heard of this before.

The company has helped many people over the almost 90 years of existence. I have seen claims paid to folks wo were injured during active military duty to the tune of $200k.I know of no other insurance company who will pay an accidental claim during active military duty. In fact even though most all other insurance companies did not pay claims to the 2000 plus families who lost family memebers in the 9-11 -01 attacks. COMBINED paid. Other companies said it was an act of war or terror, so they did not have to pay.

Trust me when i say this , this is the Best company i have ever worked for, it truly has changed my and my families life for the better! I have policies with Combined, and would not give them up for the world. Please do not judge the company based on a few Rotten apples. God Bless.

The only people I know who would say that about Combined are DM's and higher! You're obviously affiliated with Combined. Please "condescend" from you high horse and read the posts that have been written. They all sound alike! Unless all these people are just wash outs and you are the A-1 Yola then something needs to change with Combined. I don't know many people who want to spend 80 hours a week chasing down farmers and toothless 80 yr old people, or be out of town every other week!

I'm sorry... Combined is a ripoff!! Bunch of Rotten apples, not just a few!

Hi there. I've been with combined about a year now, I'm in sales management, and frankly I have no complaints what so ever. The company pays you for one thing. Work. If you don't work, you don't get paid. The first weeks in any kind of commission job are difficult. There's a reason you didn't make it though, and this is a guess, but the "combined school of brainwashing" as you call it, or as the rest of us refer to it, The System. Is based around one very simple premise. Attitude. This, I'm just going out on a limb to say, is the crux of your problem. Selling insurance, or anything for that matter is based on getting people to like the product, to do that they have to listen, to do that they have to LIKE you. Your report, I'm afraid, is bollicks. If people were calling you to complain about their policies, then it means someone screwed up the paperwork... hmmm... How DID they get your phone number anyway?

As an added note, I should mention, with all due respect to the MGT here. Federal insurance guidelines prohibit libel against an company from anyone with a current insurance license; particularly one who is currently employed by another insurance company.

One of the reasons why we have to be extremelybleedingcareful even mentioning other insurance policies.

Look, I get it, you couldn't do the job. You're not alone. This isn't something everyone can do, that's why the training is so extensive. That "brainwashing" is what lets you look someone in the eye who clearly wants you gone and say, "Hey, thanks anyway, see you in six months!" with a cheery smile, then go and make a few hundred bucks off the next person you see. Attitude and activities, keep positive and work.

Policies I've personally sold have paid out in the tens of thousands for friends, family and random strangers. It's not the company dude, it's you.

Still though, good luck with the new job.

Just to emphasize what a few employees from combined have already stated, but Combined Insurance is an excellent company to work for. I started with Combined a little over a year ago and have been very happy with my employement and the way the company has treated me.

If you look at every one of the complaints a former employee has had about Combined Insurance, it is always those who have come to work for us and quit with in the very first weeks they were in the business. Right, there, that should tell you a little bit about the commitment and drive these people have.

I have researched many insurance companies. I have interviewed at other insurance companies. I have come to the conclusion that no insurance company spends the time and effort Combined Insurance does on its new agents. If you want a great oppurtonity to better your life, Combined Insurance is offering it. Take it or leave it.

I'm not going to be one of these testimonials that says "If I can do this anybody can," because the truth of it is those who are looking for an easy ride to success can keep playing the lottery. But if you have a desire to make success happen for you, then "Do it now!"

I have to laugh at the positive comments for Combined Insurance. When I read the rip off reports about Combined it's like re-living a bad dream. These stories all ring true and I have seen it all myself. In response to Jarad, I was with Combined for over 4 years. I know the company well. I have heard all the same stories from policy holders and agents alike that are written here.

The only good thing I can say about Combined Insurance is that they did get me into the insurance business, but, I don't think that's really a compliment. Selling the 12$ ADP made $30 for the agent and 1$ a month residual after 12 months. In comparison if a policy is sold from any other company the premium is generally multiplied by 12 and the agent will make $144 if the commission is advanced, if not then $12 for 12 months. That's a big difference.

I haven't sold a policy for $12 for over 8 years, but I remember it well. I now own an insurance brokerage selling all lines of insurance. The residual income I accumulated with Combined was not vested as most companies are so I lost that when I left. It took 1 month to replace it selling normal insurance, such as group health, life, annuities, long term care, Medicare supplements, liability, workers comp, disability, dental, vision, cancer, business, and so on. I'm sure the positive comments are from people who have a good work ethic or you still wouldn't be where you are.

That being said I would suggest putting that work ethic to better use. The effort that goes into selling a $12 or $18 policy is the same as a $9000 policy. The difference is the larger policy is actually wanted and needed by the client or required by law, such as a liability policy or a group health plan. The commission is a great deal more as well.

For instance: group health commission is usually 5% of the premium per month. One business may pay 20,000 per month, that's $1000 commission per month every month. With just one example you can see why your selling skill can be put to better use. Individual health pays 15% of the premium per month. Medicare supplements are 23.5% per month. forever as long as the policy is in force. The commissions are vested as well, meaning even when I retire, quit, or die those commission checks will keep coming as long as the premiums are paid. There are tons of money to be made in the insurance business with reputable companies "none of which are listed on this site and for a reason".

When I think of Combined and the things I saw and the business activities I feel like I need a shower. Meeting in fast food places, food courts, motels, is not professional. I can honestly say I have never had a meeting with AIG, Mutual of Omaha, Prudential, ING, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Coventry, New York Life, Genworth, Progressive, West Coast Life, United Health Care, Wells Fargo, Guardian, Aetna, or any of the other companies I represent in Burger King.

There is a whole other side to the insurance industry, a good side. I love what I do, I look forward to going to work and I don't have to worry about "selling" anyone. With my residual income there is no pressure to sell so closing becomes very easy and fun. I can't say the same about my time with Combined. In closing, I wish everyone success and it is achieved by those who try and keep trying with a positive mental attitude.

First off, I should let you all know that I am a current employee with Combined, but I am with the Life/Health division, not accident.

Secondly, I must agree with Roger. I will be starting up my own firm, and I agree that the world outside of Combined Insurance is far better than within. If you are in a great branch, and your managers above you are willing to put forth the effort, then you "CAN" do well. But to disagree with Roger, I must say that I only work 3 days. I mean, to me, this is a part time job, with a mediocre income. I don't work more because it's just frustrating knowing how much money the company gets vs. how much I, the sales agent, get.....

I must say that Combined has excellent training, and being a sales manager, the training for JET IV and such is really terrific. If you can apply the same techniques to your own endeavour, I'm sure you'd be fine.

But, on the other hand, Combined is so damn cheap. They don't pay for anything, which pisses me off to no end. When I was in JET IV, Allistar Cumming stated that "the company is making piles of money", and I thought, "Wow, you arrogant prick. You have the nerve to tell us that when we're barely making ends meet because we're getting paid shiet. That's just great."

And because of this, I will be moving on and starting out on my own. I can't stand how the chargebacks and commission denials are affecting the outcome. This is unacceptable.

So, all in all, to me, Combined would be good for those who are unambitious, and if Combined would be willing to pay much more than a 35% commission. That's just so damn low that it's too hard to make it.

If you are going to interview with Combined, ask to speak to someone who's been there at least 6 months, as they have been there 'a long time'. haha. So sad.... but if you speak to a person that has been there that long, ask them as many questions as possible so you can feel certain about your decision.

Good luck....

I have worked for Combined in 4 different decades, I know that the lies being told are as a result of personal failures, and not as we have been lead to believe as a result of any deeprooted conspiracy to cheat anyone.
1. On the applicatoin for employment, the exact wording is "The nature of a sales person's job with combined is such that it can require long hours,a lot of Physical activity, and long periods of driving, are you able to perform these activities with or without an accommodation?"
This is printed clearly on the front page of the application!
How could you read this and say driving and long hours were not expected?

2. I know from experience that commission sales is not for everyone, that does not however give you the right to blame others for your inability to face your own shortcomings as it pertains to selling.

3. Never is a salary implied or promised, you are promised $400.00 - $500.00 your first week as you watch your sales manager show you that what you learned in school(at Combined expense) actually works in front of real people.
After your first week you are slowly weened from your Sales Manager so you can taste sucess on your own, the only draw back is that if you have little or no inner drive and self confidence then you will fail, Combined does hire failures,they do not spend on ave. $3000.00 per sales person, and expect them to fail, on the contrary,they expect you to reach your goalsand in doing so they reach theirs.
I'm sorry you failed but look at yourself before you point fingers at a company that has been sucessful for over 90 years.

My own experience went from on top to how do i get out of this thing.. after 17 years and being in many management positions and writing grand diamond after grand diamond, i can only say it took me years to get this "system" out of my mind.
I do believe if i had Kool Aid laced with poison, that i would have given it to my entire district even as Jim Jones did with his Jonestown massacre. There is no count on the number of meetings that i went too and got that master cult leader "RICHARD RAVIN" to throw his poison into our minds. Sure, on the beginning, i thought i helped people and gave them a product to put food on the table, pay bills, even fill the gap with major medical. But what i did to employees in the humiliation process to get them to produce is really sad. It took me over 4 years of riding cross country on a motorcycle to clear my mind of most of the cult training. In the beginning with Mr. Stone, i am sure many people progressed and made money and followed a true ideal, but later as the CULT developed, only SATAN himself could be humored with some of the results. Maybe in time, even as POW's are detoxed, this mental state of mind can be erased.

The best way to describe Combined Insurance Company from an employee perspective is that it's like looking at yourself in a mirror: you find out (really fast) who you really are... and you also find out that regardless of circumstance --- there are no others to place the burden of failure or success.

And for some, that might be a hard pill to swallow.

My heart sincerely feels remorse and sympathy for the individual from DeSoto, Texas with no water to drink.

Perhaps this person would be better suited for an unlimited career opportunity of greeting customers at Walmart...

Combined is a good company to work for, It is a shame that some former employees, could not hack it in this company, they do exactly what they say the do. You have to work in order to get paid. What a concept!!! People now a days think they can not work and get paid lots of money to do nothing. They have done exactly what they said they would do, you work hard you reap the rewards.

Well any of you that work for Combined Insurance Company of America that say that it is a great, reputable company.... a few choice words for you? You can't handle the truth!!!

You are so mind F***ed right now, you don't know whether to scratch your watch or wind your a**!!!

To all of you that worked for Combined Insurance Company and saw the light!! Congrats! I did do...Here is my twisted story and I hope someone steps up and takes that company to court!!

One of the posts on here concerning the DUI screwup!! Ya! Went through that to!! Got told time and time again that I was hired, no problems, no concerns. I had asked repeatedly before even putting my two weeks in, "Is everything okay, I need the job I have, I do not want to quit it if I won't get to sales school" I was reassured time and time again. I quit my job, found out, couldn't go to sales school. Great, had to take up two part time jobs that was no where near where I wanted to be in life.

After a year,

Went to sales school. Wow, you should see the people that they bring in to the clan. The brainwashing begins at the great Richard Ravin speech. "I make this much money", "I don't have to work 50 hours a week.", "I was able to send my children to the college of their choice" Blah blah, boom, there goes your mind! You are like, oh this is awesome!! Your calling your friends, your calling your family and you are giving them this whole run down detail about how this has changed your life already and you are going to make your mark.

Sales school? The only thing good about it is it is great meeting all of the people that you get to meet. Just to put out there though, there were 20 people in my class. Ya, I was the only one that stuck with it after 4 weeks of beginning selling. They say yes to study a lot, okay, made sense. They want you to succeed, nothing wrong with that. You were not allowed to leave the premises though. You felt like you were a robot when you got out of there.

Then you go on your PAL week. Great! Ride around in beater cars with no air conditioning in little abandoned towns for hours. Thats where they sell. Little down and out towns with truck drivers here and there that you can hardly catch at home!! Funny thing about that to is, they say to stay in your town but sales managers and branch managers would stop and cold call in their own employees town and take the money.

You are out until 10 , 11 o'clock at night, exhausted. You are up at 6 am to go to 8 am morning meetings to sing songs and chant absolutely ridiculous sayings!! You feel like an idiot. You have to sell like $4-6,000.00 after 4-5 weeks to even make $500.00 a week to pay just for your gas from driving everywhere!

Don't get me wrong, I fell into the trap, I loved it when I was there because I didn't know that I was getting A** raped and working for a bunch of screwy people. OH yeah, they came from every walk of life. I worked with drunks, stoners, cocaine heads, older ladies that screwed anything under the sun. If they gave drug test, whew, a few "BIG" ones wouldn't pass.

Lets talk about the away trips. OH yeah, dont worry you only leave once every 4-6 weeks, that's what they alllllllllllll say. You leave all of the time. The hotels, sure you don't pay for them out of your pocket at that time BUT you pay for them out of your bi-weekly account. So the "extra" money that they tell you that you get after 6-8 weeks, Nahhhh, you don't.

Then you do well, you get to go and train someone. You are supposed to get bonuses , blah blah, nope. I know someone that is STILL owed $1750.00. Never got it!

Lets talk about the Lies, Lies and more Lies to. I would be told to write up a policy on someone from a "higher up", take a friend back later with me to sign them up and them my co worker would say, umm , do you know that you cannot write them. They are on this med and this med and had this surgery...Come to find out the "higher" up looked this info up and was frauding it to sell it. Almost fell for it. I walked out of that house in shock.

Than the "higher" ups that would sit there and say they were this big person blah blah from Combined, they weren't. Consumers would ask okay if I bought the biggest policy right now and then I could'nt afford it, could I drop down a notch? The "higher" up would say yes. No you couldn't. You could go up, you can't go down though. Lies! I am sitting there thinking "OH my god, this is my boss and they are lying to these poor people". It was awful. You felt horrible going home and knowing what you just witnessed. People with children, one income and your screwing them over!

In summary, DO NOT WORK FOR THIS COMPANY!!

Also, do not buy from this company because you get screwed that way as well!!

Please, this is a heartfelt message...If you want to be sane, if you want to keep your morals and values, do not work here!

I've worked for Combined for almost a year, and for the most part, thoroughly enjoy it. However, since I am from SC, I work with the new test model. From everything I've read, most of you guys are put off with the long hours, numerous calls, being out of town, etc. *IF* that is what I was forced to do, I would be upset as well. But the new test model (now available in Iowa, and will go nationwide fairly soon), is totally different.

With the new model, no longer do you go to interviews with 15+ people. It is a one-on-one interview. Ardmores (or being more than 10-20 miles away from home) are not part of the new model. There are weekly meetings within each district, and a monthly meeting at the main office. We make 5 appts. a day, and sell disability, life, cancer, critical care and accident with a sickness rider - which is very competitive in the market. When I'm working 4-5 days a week, I average (after the 13 week supplement income) around $500, take home. On great weeks - I've taken home around $1100 a week. We also don't "collect" anymore. They either pay by bank draft, or annually.

When an appt. falls through, I stop by businesses and set up appts for later in the week or the next week. If I have an appt. at night, I sit in my car under a shade tree, get a drink, and make phone calls to continue scheduling the week . . . or even the next week. I'm usually on the phone 7:30-8:30 in the evenings, and between 9:30-11:00 on Saturdays (if I need more appts.). In the beginning, it was a matter of getting a routine set out. Now that I'm organized, it goes like clock work.

As far as lying . . . there will always be unethical agents or managers out there. However, as a licensed agent - YOU don't have to be one of them. No one is holding a gun to your head to do the wrong thing. I am upfront with all my policyholders regarding pre-existing conditions and such, and answer their questions honestly. First, because it's the ethical thing to do; second, because I enjoy sleeping at night; and third . . . because one dissatisfied policyholder, can kill my business. I stress to my policyholder that when their policy arrives (yes, they now get very professional policies from the home office), to read over it carefully, and if they have any questions, to contact me. I've had clients cancel their policies. But when I call them, it is due to either financial difficulties, or they changed jobs and finally have benefits. I have not had one person say, "You told me it would cover this or that, and you lied." In fact, when I do call my cancellations, they are usually apologetic and give me a lead or two. I strive to build a good reputation, so when something does happen, I am there for my policyholder.

For those who have a bad experience with unethical people - contact Combined directly. For those who don't want to work "out of town", check with Combined to see if the new model is now available in your State.

I've worked for other insurance companies as well. Each company has their pros and cons. That is in any industry. But I'm still with Combined, making more in my first 3 months, than I did for an entire year at my old job.

Anne
Spartanburg, South Carolina

My name's Ryan and I've been working for about 5 months in a Canadian territory for Combined. I've never heard of commission plus salary, but perhaps it's different in the states. The traveling is typical with our current set up. We have clients that live all over and we need to travel to visit them and review there coverage. What other insurance company is there that puts forth the effort to personally visits their clients to review their plan, discuss the weaker area's of the plan, and answer any questions they may have? Not many! Sure, price of gas hurts the pocket, but if you stick with the company long enough, your residuals build up and pay for you gas.

Right now, money is TIGHT for me! I'm only 19 and I wanna go out and party with my friends, but right now...I don't have that kind of money! But I know, if I work my butt off, and show enough people our great plans, while following Stones philosophies, I'll be able to relax a little.

When looking for the right company to work for, you want to know they're a leader in the field. I've made many calls to other companies and compared the plans...currently I'm waiting for information packages from two other companies and, so far, I can honestly say I haven't found anything that tops our plans. I've found ones that come close, but looking at our prices and our VERY few exclusions, among other huge advantages we have over other companies in the same field, I can't say any match what Combined offers. I would imagine there are some, but I haven't yet discovered them. We offer a wonderful and exciting product. And it's about to get better (for some it already has.) When we can start selling life, critical care, and cancer policies, it'll really open things up. It's never been better for new agents, an excellent job.

"W C Stone's psychobabble?" "The Combined School of Brain-Washing?" You obviously have no faith in the system that's been proven for many years! Don't blame your low-income-weeks on the company; blame them on you for not taking advantage of the Success System That NEVER Fails.

And about the poor training and management...there will be the bad apples in every company. I'm sorry you were in a bad situation, but don't use them as an excuse. You determine your work ethic and morals. Other's can only influence you if YOU let them. Imitate qualities you agree with. Ignore the others. Personally, I had some great training. But I didn't agree with some of what I saw, and I didn't utilize that part. For example, my district manager uses some higher pressure techniques (I still would classify them as your average "high pressure" because it is fairly subtle) every now and then, and I thought it put unfair pressure on the potential client. My sales manager asked what I had observed from that manager and I mentioned the situation. He then asked how I would use what I'd learned. And I told him that I could be more aggressive. "Could?" he asked. And I told him straight up, I didn't care if it meant more money to me, I'm not the high pressure type, nor do I intend to ever be. I want quality sales; to sell to people who actually WANT the great product I offer. You decide how you want to sell, not others.

Something sounds a little funny about your pay experience because the money I earned is deposited directly to my bank account..but who knows, maybe we're on a different system and things are done differently there. Perhaps that's legitimately how you get paid. If that's the case, I'm sorry to hear that happened.

The customers calling you and saying Combined's taking more than you said sounds a little far fetched to me. If it is true, I'd imagine it's due to your error, maybe signing them up for a different plan than you had discussed or misrepresenting the price.

If your training and management experience is all true, I could somewhat understand you being angry with the company and not recommending the job to others...but to go as far as actually telling other's not to purchase the product, that's just either rude or ignorant on your behalf because you SHOULD know, as well as I know, that we have incomparable products that many could benefit from. I've personally dealt with claims larger than $15000. I've seen people get paid for what they were promised in there policy. I've seen people get paid for things they shouldn't have. The only people I've ran into that were angry with there claims were people that did not understand their coverage. We come by and personally review peoples coverage to show them what they're covered for...and what they are NOT covered for. And we usually try to sell them the section that they aren't covered for. If they don't purchase it and aren't covered, they shouldn't be angry when something happens and they aren't covered (although they often blame us anyways!) I'm working for one of the best insurance companies I've ever ran into, I couldn't ask for it much better, although it is still getting better (can't wait for the new model.)

To those who may be in need of additional protection, please don't be discouraged by what a few have said. Instead, do what over 5 million of our happy clients did at one point in time: be open minded, listen to what we offer, and prepare to be impressed! Feel free to compare our plans to others, you'll probably be quite surprise to find nothing that even comes close! After all, it's better to have insurance and not need it, than to need insurance and not have it

Ryan S.,
Combined agent
I'm healthy, I'm happy, I'm terrific!

"Have fun at walmart"
does EVERY Combined person talk the EXACT SAME?
They NEVER paid for ANY of my hotel. "It's up to you" they said. HAHAHA.
"You are up at 6 am to go to 8 am morning meetings to sing songs and chant absolutely ridiculous sayings!! "
EXACTLY! It's a cult. And NOBODY is happy. NOBODY. And the drunks there are many.
It's a multi-level marketer, with kind of a cult-like environment. Everyone speaks the same, and everyone who defends the company here speaks the same too. "PMA! Blah blah! You can't handle it can you? its all your fault. blah blah. Have fun at walmart you get what you put in. Mr. Stone says this! Mr. Stone says that! Read self help books! Pep talks! Blah blah. its not a job its a career. People who dont like it / leave are ppl who are lazy who dont like to work. this company has been successful for blah blah"
it's ALWAYS the SAME RESPONSE. PMA. PMA. PMA. HA
What does that mean when everyone even uses the same rehearsed words? It means it's BRAINWASHING.
Combined Insurance DID NOT invent PMA. nor did mr. stone. in fact, positive thinking has been something people have been discussing for centuries and centuries.
Do you REALLY want to get older and older, reach your fifties and STILL have your ENTIRE career about that stupid joke, Combined shuffle and "I BELIEVE THIS WILL INTEREST YOU ALSO" and "HOW IS YOUR PMA?"
It's really haunting and quite frankly, scary how cult-like this is.
It's all a sham.
People who have been working there for 10 years all drive beat up cars and can't afford lunch...and they pretend the residuals pay lots of money?
NO. They use lies to get people in the door. They have UNETHICAL selling practices.
and everyone is brainwashed. and once u start? they wont let u leave. you see, it's like a pyramid, because managers have lots of pressure to keep you working under them.

"this compnay has been successful ninety years"
"Work the system"
"PMA PMA PMA!!!"
"Have fun at walmart"
"I'm happy! I'm healthy! I'm terrific!"
does EVERY Combined person talk the EXACT SAME?
They NEVER paid for ANY of my hotel. "It's up to you" they said. HAHAHA.
"You are up at 6 am to go to 8 am morning meetings to sing songs and chant absolutely ridiculous sayings!! "
EXACTLY! It's a cult. And NOBODY is happy. NOBODY. And the drunks there are many.
It's a multi-level marketer, with kind of a cult-like environment. Everyone speaks the same, and everyone who defends the company here speaks the same too. "PMA! Blah blah! You can't handle it can you? its all your fault. blah blah. Have fun at walmart you get what you put in. Mr. Stone says this! Mr. Stone says that! Read self help books! Pep talks! Blah blah. its not a job its a career. People who dont like it / leave are ppl who are lazy who dont like to work. this company has been successful for blah blah"
it's ALWAYS the SAME RESPONSE. PMA. PMA. PMA. HA
Combined Insurance DID NOT invent PMA. nor did mr. stone. in fact, positive thinking has been something people have been discussing for centuries and centuries.
Do you REALLY want to get older and older, reach your fifties and STILL have your ENTIRE career about that stupid joke, Combined shuffle and "I BELIEVE THIS WILL INTEREST YOU ALSO" and "HOW IS YOUR PMA?"
It's really haunting and quite frankly, scary how cult-like this is.
It's all a sham.
People who have been working there for 10 years all drive beat up cars and can't afford lunch...and they pretend the residuals pay lots of money?
NO. They use lies to get people in the door. They have UNETHICAL selling practices.
and everyone is brainwashed. and once u start? they wont let u leave. you see, it's like a pyramid, because managers have lots of pressure to keep you working under them.

Ive been with Combined for 26 years and have noticed one thing about people who did'nt make it with us or feel they have not been treated properly, look in the mirror! Did someone put a gun to your head and forced you to take the job? Right off the bat, if you didn't want to stay at the hotel, it sounds like you have a problem with authority or a boss telling you this is the way it is, I have a 17 year old daughter that has challenges in this area! You could have left right there and saved all of us the grief!
Why take the time to bad -mouth something that you obviously we'rent able to comply with?
I can't speak for certain individuals own lives and the way they hire, but I subscribe, as a district manager for 19 years, to a high ethical code. I tell the people right off, they are at a hotel, expense paid, have a roomate, will be trained on the PMA philosophy(the right mental attitude in any situation, being a "good-finder") and how to present our policies in a controlled manner , and over-come objections in a logical respectfull way!
We tell them its full time, some evenings, and you get paid for what you produce, with a base of established accounts where they will be able to make a minimum of $2-300 per week just by collecting premiums, not including new sales! Its funny in 19 years I haven't had one person file a complaint of what this job consists of!!!
The founder of this company, who is no longer with us, W.Clement Stone, was a man of high intregity, authored several self-help books (just google his name), and has given millions of $$$ to Boys Clubs,Interlochen Music Camp, eye donor clinics, nominated for a Nobel peace prize, and I was priviledged to meet him on a few momentous occasions.
The policies we sell are some of the finest on the market, of which I myself have collected over $6000, this year on a Cancer assistance policy, of which I am still in treatment for, and will collect more to help with deductables and co-pays and loss of time! Over my 26 years I have personally helped hundreds on claims, and my policy holders can call me anytime. Maybe thats one of the reasons we had a 95% retention of business cycle after cycle.
Its easy to BLAME OTHERS when one's attitude could be just a wee bit of the problem!

My story,
I started with Combined 26 years ago, here in Michigan. I was told I would have 3 weeks of training, which was commutable from my house, but I was to stay at the hotel, because of intense study, and having a roommate. Ya know, I didn't question that authority, I figured they knew best,( i wish my 17 yr. old daughter understood this....ha,ha). It was high intensity training with a fantastic positve trainer named John Hardy! He was a national DSMA winner in sales, and knew the founder W. Clement Stone(who lived to be 100,wrote several self-help books mainly around the theme of PMA and turning disadvatage into advantage in sales and in life!). It was a tremendous experience. My D.M. was upfront with me on travel, ardmores, and meetings, so you Know what...I went with it! I could have walked out when I saw some individuals not act or sell properly, or if a Manager seemed to be UNCARING, but I realized they were individuals that needed to grow and mature, and I decided to be and example to them, and hopefully INFLUENCE THEIR LIVES FOR SOME GOOD. Not that I myself am good or so moral or ethical, but as a Christian my determination was and is to do RIGHT in evey situation according to the highest standards of human behavior. I followed the system, I maintained a positive attitude, by not blaming others for my set-backs or failures but, continued to learn and grow and persevere! I started selling right off with no prior experience, by following good training, got promoted once, then again, to a District Mgr. In 1989, of which I have remained.
My mission, is to give others THE CHANCE to be succesfull by training and attitude. I've never had anyone who left me or the company, where deep-down, they knew it was themselves that gave up. I've never had anyone complain to a site like this when they left.
As far as the company, the policies we offer are the BEST, price and coverage! I myself have collected over $6000 from a Cancer policy this year, and I will tell you I could and should be on "leave of abscence", going thru chemo treatments, but I have a VERY UNDERSTANDING INVIDUAL as a Regional mgr, he just says to me"Tom, just do what you can do", don't worry about not being able to do everything that is required.
We have a great group in my district, we all give, and try to help each other. This is the Combined I know! If it wasn't, it would'nt take me long to leave, because , obviously, nobody put a gun to my head to take this job, or stick around if things were so "unacceptable". But, I just don't like to play THE BLAME GAME, when I realize, there might be other avenues to get things changed, and maybe the change might be a little of MYSELF!
Tom Harmon
greatful for the oppurtunity to share

You might go to an interview and hear something that's too good to be true. You might not. You might be sent out of town for training. You might be sent out of town all of the time. You might possibly pay more in gas then you are earning. You might possibly be using credit cards. You might possibly be sent out of town a lot for training. You might possibly make 500 dollars a week, subtract gas.

Adam blamed Eve, Eve blame the snake, and the snake did'nt have a leg to stand on.
What does this person really want to accomplish by tearing down things that they themselves failed to understand, or research, or even connect, when they passed a Stated license exam?
Let me see, I started with Combined 26 years ago, was a sales agent for 3 1/2 years, sales manager for 3 1/2 years, and a District manager for the remainder. I've never had anyone that I personally hired come back on me about what the job entails, because we give them a field demo, have them read and sign an app, and and income garantee.
I am totally amazed at the gaul some people have, if they themselves cannot cut it. Who holds a gun to their head to continue one minute further? With over 4000 employees, we sure must have a lot of miserable people bamboozled! This career has gotten me more income than I could of imagined, as I 've been in 6 figures the last few years, I have made tremendous friends with employees, and countless policyholders of whom I've helped many over the years with claims.
I leave my personal cell # with each policyholder, and have my people leave it! I believe in the golden rule ( see Luke 6:31), try to practise it in my life, business and personal. And I try to instill it, or allude to it often in principal to my employees. In Michigan, I believe that it is the overwhelming majority of D.M.'s philosophy also!

Ryan,

I used to work for Combined. I agree with most of those things you said. The other person was just being negative. I am glad that you are being as positive and upbeat as you possibly can. I just think you can go much further than you can ever get with Combined. your perspective is limited only due to the fact that Combined is your only viewpoint, but once you get out there, I'm sure you'll see that if you can apply the same 'system of systems' to whatever insurance you are selling, you will be just fine.

Oh, and on a positive note, just FYI, when I was at Combined, I'd make between $1000-$1800/wk, whereas now I'm tripling the income I made and working less. Far less.

Again, though, not saying Combined was bad. It did provide a wonderful foundation with which to start from, but once you learn the 'system', you can flourish and do very well.

I wish you the best. Don't let anyone take control of your attitude. Ever.

"We have clients that live all over and we need to travel to
visit them and review there coverage. What other insurance company is there
that puts forth the effort to personally visit their clients to review their
plan, discuss the weaker areas of the plan, and answer any questions they may
have? Not many!" Let me laugh! The company just wants you to milk your
clients to the last drop. I have personally worked for Combined in Australia
and let me tell you I'm pretty sure you won't drive 100km to meet a client that
has full coverage or that isn't upgradable due to age or pre-existing
conditions!



The company makes a smart move in stating in your contract that you are a
self-employed sub-contractor! This way they don't have to pay you any kind of
work retirement or sick days that they would otherwise be obliged by the
government to pay you if you were an employee. Naturally you don't mind of
having no kind of safety net because they ALL tell you they make more money in
a day than what you make in a week... so it doesn't mater you only have to have
a good day to have a good week... haha!



In this company, the customer doesn't seem to be important... for example, at
an award meeting, when the PRESIDENT of the Australian division of the company,
Des Bosnic, was asked if the increase in price of the policy he just announced
would mean any kind of increase in what the plans cover, he answered:
"Nothing is changed, but you will have greater commission potential"
He seemed surprised that he was asked this kind of question by one of the
salesperson.



Also the statement that you get sent in many remote locations is totally true. I
personally drove 1200km to a small town in the outback and worked there for a
week paying for my accommodation and saw every client I could see and ended up
making only 2 sales... later, my territory representative confessed to me that
this was the only town she went to where nobody bought any kind of cover... and
still sent me there even though she knew I barely had the money to pay for the
fuel...



You might say I didn't put in the effort and to look at myself in the mirror...
I did. What I saw, is that I wasted my time and potential with this company. I
honestly worked more than 50h a week and stayed in the company for 5 months,
even though I was making barely enough to make the ends meet, I thought that if
I stayed long enough it would unblock and that the money would start coming
in... I was at the time "Highly motivated, totally dedicated"... and
even finished the business course with the highest scores. I said I wasted my
potential because I know what I have achieved in the past and that I'm an
experienced salesperson who month after month figured in the top 10 sales
performances of the company I worked for (a multinational, not a small business).



But yes, I agree that the company offers good products, but I wouldn't buy from
them knowing I'd be harassed to increase my cover every 6 months or whatever
amount of time you have agreed to be contacted to see if "your coverage
still meets your needs".



Their problem:

-Their vision of what an employee is! For them you are disposable and will
always be replaced by another guy who couldn't find a decent job and who would
fall in the trap they set up. Be your own boss, earn big bucks.

- You are self-employed but have to report to two different persons each and
every day and have to do what they tell you to do

-Even the managers are self-employed, so it's certain they'll do what
advantages them first... keep the good leads that are close to home and that have
potential and give you the ones far away and the leftovers and too olds

-Their vision of what a customer is

-The fact that they try to motivate you with money throughout the business
course and promise you you'll make that amount of money, only to find out that
the people who were doing the teaching and making these promises didn't even
made that amount of money and actually were employees who were quitting and
were offered a training position...

-They have a bad reputation and employees tend to lie to overcome that



Their forces:

-The training is great, their program is very well structured but badly
applied...

-The products are good but not the service



The company will try to get every cent the can get off you. For example, when I
left, there was supposed to be 200$ left in my agency account... instead, they
are claiming 200$ from me. They say I have to pay for training and licensing
200$... I don't mind, and then I owe you nothing... But no, you still have to
pay 200$ because a client cancelled his contract the day your contract was
terminated (what a coincidence! even though this client had past the 14 day
cooling off period) Guess what, they delayed the termination date of my
contract to include that cost. I sent them a letter and had no answer since
then even though they still send me the summary of my agency account with that
negative total.



I can understand that many people leave during the business course, it's tough
but also a great way to see who has the motivation it takes to do the job. But
I can understand even more the people who leave after a month in the field, I
wish I hadn’t been so determinated to make it work and realised too that this
company is full of shit! After a month, I learned that out of 20, we were only
3 left, I totally understand why!



Ah and by the way have a look at your trainer's car... the chances are he
drives an old Hyundai... and he makes so much money! The truth is you might
have big pay checks but you will also have big expenses!





Hope this helps anyone in not making the same errors I made... Honestly I
didn't even write I worked for that company on my resume because I don't want
to be associated with them!



John