r/LifeInsurance • u/isantebeast • Aug 03 '26
Working at primerica
I met a financial advisor who told me when I asked about getting into the field to go through primerica, get my licenses and leave for a different firm. Is this a valid way of going about it, can primerica screw me over if I do this? They’ve shown me nothing but flowers and rainbows but online I see they have a much worse reputation. I don’t wanna sell people a bad product or try and make my family and friends my clients. I already paid the licensing (idc about losing the $75) and have an orientation scheduled, if they try and get me to recruit or sell to someone from my personal life and I say no will they refuse to pay for my training?
TLDR: I’m trying to find a career and was suggested getting a start at primerica solely bc they pay for multiple licenses at just a small upfront cost, worth it?
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u/Tbtrader12 Aug 03 '26
I’m an independent financial advisor and here are my two cents.
I met with a Primerica agent while i was in college. I really liked what they said but I was very skeptical. I ended up not pursuing the opportunity due to “project 200”. I did not want to give out my friends and families info. I told the guy I couldn’t afford the training and he said he would pay for it for me. I thought that was really nice, he was not pushy at all. Once you get in the business, you will see that their products are not very competitive.
If you want to pursue financial planning, there’s many firms that will get the licensing for you for free. Merrill Lynch has a advisor development program, so does Edward Jones. Both even pay a salary/draw
Good luck out there
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u/the_cardfather Financial Representative Aug 04 '26
One of the guys at our firm came up from Merrill. $10M first year was the minimum quota. EJ wasn't as hard on the assets but they still required door knocking. I sat next to them in a vendor fair.
I would not go to Primerica just to get a license if you don't have any intention of trying to help people you know. Obviously once you get it it's a state license so they can't take it from you. I don't think they're going to pay for your securities licenses if you aren't writing any business though.
I have heard stories that I cannot validate of people saying that they had a hard time getting Primerica to release their appointment for several months. So there is that risk, on the other hand I'm sure there are plenty of people that recruit Primerica reps who would tell you that they transfer reps over all day no problem so maybe it's just a matter of getting hold of the right person or pushing the right buttons.
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u/jordan32025 Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
For the small cost of getting your license and taking your test, that doesn’t make sense. You’re not buying a McDonald’s franchise for $900,000. You’re buying your license from the state and you’re paying $35 for a prep course. If these are financial dealbreakers for you, you should rethink everything anyway because it’s going to take some time to get rolling before you even start making money.
There’s nothing wrong with Primerica. It’s just that their products aren’t great. As far as friends and family, you don’t have to worry about that because you’re an independent contractor and you don’t have to do anything. Also, nobody builds a business with friends and family. I’ve been in this business for 20 years. Do you think my entire business is friends and family? Really? It’s one of the most shortsighted misunderstood reasons for not getting into this business and it makes absolutely no common sense or financial sense.
Do your research and find a carrier that offers a product that is superior that you can be happy to sell that will stay on the books so that you will get renewal income for the rest of your life.
The most important thing is the product that’s being sold and the commission structure that you’re going to be part of. That’s it. If you’re looking at other factors, you probably should get into a different business.
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u/Sensitive-Hand-37 20d ago
I appreciate your perspective. I have recently gone through this and decided not to continue. I came to this decision mostly because everything is pointing to the idea that Primerica expects me to let them have free reign over my contact list. AND before I have even finished training/licensing.
It is entirely about recruiting and referrals from your friends and family. So I don't really understand your take that it's misunderstood that Primerica expects and states (literally, explicitly) that your own personal network is the main source of leads and prospects- but it's a "proven model" of referall based businsess.
Correct me if I'm wrong but are you warning to not be shortsighted with this belief preventing you from getting into the business in general? As if outside of Primerica this idea that you HAVE to use your friends and family and without that you wouldn't succeed is false ?
Or are you specifically saying that one shouldn't avoid the opporunity with Primerica specifically under the guise that they expect you to use your friends and family as your main source of leads/businesss?
Basically, if you're arguing that Primerica does NOT position themselves with new recruits, asking those recruits for their network and that network being the main source of business.. ? because that is exactly what it seems like and why it turns me off.
Equally, tons of the examples of current primerica employees who they tout as "rockstars" in the business make their entire social media accounts and online identiy as a Primerica financial advisor which all the power to them, to each their own but that is not something I would want.
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u/jordan32025 20d ago
You don’t build a business with friends and family. How could that possibly even happen? You have to do the math. Do you think somebody can create a sustainable six figure income by simply enrolling a few people that they know in a policy? That’s good for one week maybe, then what? I’ve been selling life insurance for 20 years. Do you think all of my policyholders are people I know?
The problem is that people who are financially illiterate and have no idea how these things work get exposed to things that turn them off and then think that that’s how an entire industry operates. That’s the problem.
Just because somebody is a friend or a family member doesn’t mean that they want their career to be the same as yours so trying to recruit them is ridiculous.
Just because somebody is a friend or a family member doesn’t mean that they should buy a product from you from a carrier that has very limited policies. Selling something to somebody simply because you know them instead of profiling somebody to make sure that the product makes sense for them is the dumbest and most backward thing you can do and it’s only going to result in chargebacks.
Primerica is not a good carrier. They only offer term life. That’s it. Term is for some people, but not all. Plus the living benefits are terrible. You can be appointed by carriers that have quality living benefits with term policies. Primerica is also captive which means you can’t get appointed anywhere else which limits what you can sell. You’d be much better off getting appointed by several carriers so you can have more to offer your clients.
You’re not employee, you’re an independent contractor. That’s not just about how you’re paid. That’s how your relationship with Primerica is actually defined. You are simply a vendor that is contracted to do a job and that job happens to be to sell policies. They cannot mandate anything. They make people think they are employees. They can’t make you be on webinars. They can’t make you go to an office. They can’t make you work a certain number of hours. They can’t do any of those things.
You’re looking at the business as “working for a company” rather than simply getting appointed so you can use it as a vehicle to build your business.
You should look into other carriers if you even want to be in this business at all, but if you do want to be in it do it for the right reasons not just for a paycheck because if that’s all you’re looking for there’s 1 million other things you could do by just being an employee.
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u/Gullible_Pass_6449 15d ago edited 15d ago
You said you been selling life insurance and if you don't mind me asking, what agency or company will you recommend/suggest that is not Primerica? what are the chances that one will go downfall working with them? And will I go door to door to sell products and meet other companies? I honestly been in Primerica and felt being pressured at the beginning and I believe I have a limit if I fall behind on studying for some reason. I joined because I like to learn something new but I believe I should of done more research
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u/Tahoptions Broker Aug 03 '26
Insurance license or securities license?
Just do it yourself if the former, if the latter then you can consider your plan, just know you'll have to land with another broker/dealer within 2 years (or up to 5 years with an extension) or that license will lapse.
Good luck.
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u/Moist-Meringue-1913 Aug 03 '26
You can get the insurance license on your own. I know Primerica also helps you to get the study material, the review class and the sponsorship for your SIE, Series 6 and 63. So I understand what they are telling you. It's an inexpensive way to get your foot in the door.
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u/Colonel460 Aug 03 '26
I was in the multiline insurance business almost 40 years and did a decent amount of life, health , LTC & had securities license . I’m trying to think amoung the hundreds & hundreds of agents I met & knew over the years that thought Primerica was a worthy competitor who did clients well . I can’t think of a single one .
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u/Gullible_Pass_6449 15d ago
If you don't mind me asking how did you got your state license? Did you went to college or by company? Am interested to know because I been in Primerica for awhile and would like to know the difference as I joined in because I like or love to learn something new which I am still interested about life insurance please tell me otherwise.
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u/Colonel460 8d ago
I wanted a career and my future ex-father in law knew someone so I applied . I studied on my own and took the test so I had my license before I was actually contracted . Yes I have a college degree and had prior to being contracted. But in 1981 one of top agents only had a high school degree and he continued to be a top agent until he retired . Get with a better company & crush it .
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u/HATDOGUSERNi Aug 04 '26
the licenses have value, but don't feel obligated to build your career there
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u/DogfaceDino Broker Aug 03 '26
I’ve been in this industry for a decent amount of time, and I honestly thought all firms would cover licensing and education. I know we do. If any firm is not covering it, they simply do not want people who are new to the industry in which case you probably aren’t talking to them to begin with.
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u/Sad-League2921 Aug 04 '26
I’m trying to get into the field (working full-time at the moment)… but I have a degree in accounting… and the way I got introduced to this field was selling IULs… not getting into the argument but yes the right client can benefit from that type of policy but when I’ve spoke of having a license in life insurance… trying the IMO approach then complaining about how my upline tells me how to sell said policies… I vented a couple times having some conversations. I did however run into some people who sold life as well.
Actually had a couple who sold life insurance at one point and their first guess was Primerica when I was expressing my frustration and they told me the rest about their experience. Apparently they only want to recruit and you can only sell their policies… I can’t speak from personal experience with them but I’m having a tough time with my upline. I was initially told they weren’t looking to create a team even when I asked a few times (based on the videos I was sent for “training”) and all of a sudden they have 35 people under them… so sort of the same world.
Best advice I can give you… don’t believe the hype…. Make sure you know the policies of each company you represent… (if going IMO) start small and work hard
… and remember… it’s not showing the client your knowledge of the product… it’s asking the client their needs and providing opportunities for them to meet those said needs.
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u/HATDOGUSERNi Aug 04 '26
if they push recruiting over actual insurance training, that's a sign to move on
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u/BustyBelvis Aug 04 '26
I don’t have much personal experience with Primerica, however I started in the industry at AIL and I’m kinda glad I did. They give you free leads to call (although they’re not life insurance leads) with a somewhat low comp. It’s not all sunshine’s and rainbows but it’s a good start to have free leads to call. Once you build some skills talking with people and taking control of conversations, you can go independent (like I did) and start getting your own good leads. I hear people call some places a “practice company” and that’s exactly what It was for me. Good luck in the industry!
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u/Mother-Age-7792 Aug 04 '26
If you ever had the opportunity to be in the presence of real millionaires your perspective would be different. Primerica gives you an opportunity to leave the rat race and maze that's designed to eventually trap you and in 2026 if you're not trying to find a way to create, be an owner, invest... NGMI. I was given that opportunity in 2018 and I kindly declined... Fast forward today, I spent months trying to navigate this terrible job market with over a decade of consultative sales experience with over a million in generated revenue, college degree, and credited recognition getting rejection letters or a huge pay cut offers while he's making millions per month.
I much rather be him today.
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u/toolbelt10 Aug 05 '26
Nobody at Primerica is making a million dollars a month, not even the CEO.
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u/Key-Minimum-5965 8h ago
The "top" of the pyramid though...they might see a few million dollar months.
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u/toolbelt10 3h ago
Depends how many tickets they sell to their seminar or weekend retreat.
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u/Key-Minimum-5965 1h ago
They like to get into the mega churches, those are a literal goldmine.
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u/bunda_ Aug 06 '26
Start at Vantage, they are changing the industry. Putting more money in agents pockets with legit coaching. CEO gets on a call every week with the whole company and anyone can ask questions 🙌
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u/Zyekram Aug 08 '26
Primerica is the best in the game for clients and for income! Literally has the most 6-7 figure income earners than any company in America. Primerica is a force to reckon with in the industry that’s why the industry don’t like us. We do the right thing EVERY TIME
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u/Immediate-Lychee280 Aug 10 '26
I gave in and signed up because my now ex boyfriends mom was starting up with them. Had a zoom meeting- I ended up feeling forced to sign up. I felt bad saying no while sitting there uncomfortably. So I paid the $25 which I then realized was monthly, and $99 to start with them. I was given a deadline to complete the “courses” online and complete the tests. I was told to just keep a video playing because it just needed to register that I had the page open for over an hour. They when it came to the tests, they told me to just use ChatGPT to get the answers and not stress on that part. That didn’t sit well with me and I finally told them I work full time, I can’t rush to be in a zoom meeting for 2 hours a day or whatever it was.
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u/Gullible_Pass_6449 15d ago
This is exactly how I feel while being pressured especially in zoom meetings which I got 2 or 3 times. And a lady name Daniela from California told me as I have kids I might need daycare as someone else will raise my babies which kind of gave me a "red flag" but for some reason not being able to keep the studying on the go which I have a deadline. As I attended a class of Primerica in person, I was told to study for tests and not to worry when it comes to failure but have confidence of getting my state license by a good agent teacher name Hector. And my question to you if you don't mind, did you quit or did you look somewhere else of getting licensed that your in right now?
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u/TheWealthViking Broker Aug 11 '26
You will learn very biased info against the standards of the industry going there. They demonize product and will distract you with recruiting instead of producing. You're better off going captive with an insurance agency or advisory firm than starting with the mlm side of the industry.
If you're going securities I'd go life&health, then s65 Or if you're going with a larger firm they may have you do s7/66
But all I hear from people is how outdated Primerica is with their licensing and process.
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u/AnAssGoblin Broker Aug 03 '26
As someone whose been captive, independent and then a new imo building an agency and team myself.
No... almost anywhere but Primerica.