Should I become a Farmer's Agency Owner?

Woah! I was contacted via email with an "opportunity" exactly like most of those who posted here. I am always one to say, What's the catch?" So of course I google'd it and am very happy that I found this site.

We are looking for individuals who have the background and would be interested in opening a business of their own. After reviewing your resume online, you appear to portray the qualities we are looking for in our candidates.

Have you ever thought about being in business for yourself, while having the support behind you to be successful? If you have, I encourage you to review our Farmers Agency Ownership Program;

"The Best Small Business Opportunity in America" - Farmers Insurance Group is the Nations 3rd largest Auto, Home and Business insurer, as well as, Life/Financial Services provider.

Farmers will license, train, and put you in your own Multi-Line Agency that offers the ability to:

> Continue your present job while training (Start to grow your business without sacrificing your income)

> Earn full commission while training (Same commission structure as a tenured agent)

> Financial assistance your first 2 years in addition to commission and bonuses (We will invest in you through our Agency Subsidy Program)


> Independence of self-employment (As a Farmers Agent you are an independent contractor in business for yourself but not by yourself)

For additional information on our Agency Ownership Opportunity, please give me a call or send me an Email.

Below are a couple of articles that you may find of interest.

(Links Removed)



Alex Guzman
Agency Development Manager
Farmers Insurance
(817) 283-0002 ext. 101
aguzman@garymillsandassociates.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2009 08:18AM by administrator.

Sadly I learned my lesson the hard way after two years. My DM painted such a pretty picture of how wonderful it is to work for Farmers but in reality it is just the opposite. It is never too late to go independent and I can say I'm much happier now. Currently I'm getting harassing phone calls and texts from my old DM threatening me not to take any clients or that Farmers will take legal action against me because of the non compete clause in the contract. This is coming from a man that did not explain to me in detail what the subsidy was until after I signed the career agent contract (BIG MISTAKE). I question the validity of the non compete clause because Farmers can't force clients to stay at a place they are not happy. My DM told me that people get insured with Farmers because of the personal touch of the agent and not the insurance company. Everything about that company is a contradiction. The training is horrible, the products are limited, and they are more concerned about life insurance than anything else. When Bristol West (Their substandard auto product) offers better service than their premium/preferred carrier you know you are in trouble. Farmers does not help you become a "business owner" because they ultimately control the business. Even though I left with nothing I know I'll be better off without Farmers in the long run. Going independent is the best decision I've made in a long long time!

It looks like everyone across the country is going through the same thing... I am no different. My DM is nothing more than a lying snake... Not only do none of his career agents make it without "making an investment in their business" or buying policies but he can't keep anyone in his office for more than a year. He greates a culture based on lies and deceit. He actually trains his staff, recruiters, trainers, and admin assistants to tell prospective agents that they will receive a salary. When I called them on this after the fact they said that it IS a salary if you meet the minimum requirements. During my first interview with the DM he promised 500 policies from a retired agent.... as you could guess those never came. Just a bunch of excuses. I could go on and on but you can read this thread to get the just. I am sure there are quality people and DM within the company because I have met some, but the overall culture leaves little to be desired. The only people they want you to help is them. Keep lining their pockets and you move up the ladder. Drink the "Kool-aid" and do what you're told. Anyone looking into Adam Libertoski's district in Long Beach, should really think hard. He is a show. You would be better off selling used cars. At least you know what you're getting into.

I thank everyone who posted their comments and their poor experience regarding Farmers Insurance. I had my resume posted online and, not surprisingly, a recruiter contacted me via phone.

Well, I thought, I'll go to the interview and see what they have to offer. It was everything everyone else has gone through on this website. And, I'm sure poor others that hadn't discovered this website initially.

I wrote a short e-mail to the recruiter stating that after careful, and intelligent, research, I decline to further my career as an agent with Farmers Insurance. Well, within a few seconds, that e-mail returned to me as undeliverable.

WHAT A JOKE! I am thankful I found this website!!

Just don't do it,its that simple. It's a scam and you will go in debt
They will rush you thru the reserve program to get you into the career
program to give you subsidy money that you have to pay 50% back if you
fail to meet your requirements. Most of the subsidy usually goes back
to them for fees such as websites, e&o insurance, and other items they
they will tack on. If you want to become an insurance agent be an
independent. It's hard work and an investment is required but you can
determine your own future. When I was with Farmers I had to deal with more
people and rules than I did when I was with any company I worked for.
Their whole objective is to get you to write policies and when you
don't meet your requirements they will terminate you and give your
book of business to a long time agent. Then you have to pay back your
subsidy and then to really to stick it to you, in the contract there
is a no complete clause and you can not contact these people for 1 year.
You will end up working for nothing and loose money at the samw time.
Oh, by the way, their rates are the worst in the business so its almost
impoosible to sell the product.

One question... Have any of you CA agents considered a class action suit about paying back this subsidy nonsense. In all other industries, this "subsidy" is called a draw... and, to my knowledge, there's no way that the company can come after you for any part of it you don't make the quota and end up getting let go. What is especially egregious is that Farmers ISN"T competitive... So they run as many new agents through as they can... to get the obligatory business from friends and family... then they willfully churn these new agents out the door and tell them they owe money back. This is criminal... It's happening to a family member of mine right now and I'm inclined to fund his legal bills to fight this.

I agree something needs to be done to put a stop to Farmers Insurance way of scamming and exploiting agents by recruiting them and screwing them. I was recruited 3 years ago and wasted all my time, energy and money trying to make this business work. I left broke and owing money.

I as many others was dupped by Farmers.I have been in service related industries all my working life, I pride myself on giving good customer service.I had received a mailing from the local DM.After interviewing with him and him painting a rosey picture,I drank the koolaid and came onboard.What a HUGE mistake.I did as they wanted and signed up anyone I knew that met Farmers stringent guidelines.I was pushed to go from reserve to career agent by my DM.I now realize he had quotas to meet as far as converting reserves to careers.Training consisted of the DM expousing the general concepts of the insurance industry.I was never trained on the nuts and bolts of how to run quotes and then convert those quotes into a policy on those few occasions the prospect met Farmers narrow guidelines.I was expected to go to the offices of current fulltime agents for this training.These guys did take some time to help me but they are running a business and could not be taking the amount of time needed to be helping me.It was the DM's responibilty to do this, but he was either unable or unwilling to do as he should.Since the DM was of no help I figured it out on my own.I opened an office with another newly converted reserve agent.I was never given any training on the best ways to market,so I had to try to figure this out on my own.It was a true struggle to meet the quotas because Farmers rates were so much higher than other big name carriers.I was "trained" to compare the prospects current coverages with Farmers but to up their coverage so it seemed as though they were getting a better rate to dollar ratio.All the prospect had to do was check with their current carrier using these higher coverages and they would find out that it was just "slight of hand selling".This is the only way I could sell Farmers because the rates were so out of line.Well now its been almost 2 years and several thousand dollars invested later.I missed my quota by a couple of policies and they are going to cancel my contract.I tried to talk to the woman(I use that term loosely)who is in charge of the whole state, hoping they would give me some leeway, and was told in not so many words "tough luck".So I figured since I had nothing to lose, I would try talking to her boss(the regional VP).When I contacted the state office to find out how to go about this, the DMM(district marketing manager,what a joke of a guy)told me he had no idea of how to contact him.The DMM wanted to know why I wanted this info, I told him and his tone and demeanor got even more disrespectful than when we began our conversation.Well I figured it out on my own and contacted the VP only to find out the DMM had already talked to him and told the VP that I had threatened to kick his a@#, which was a complete and total lie.Needless to say the VP did not want to hear anything I had to say.
I could go on and on about Farmers and if anyone wants more info feel free to contact me.The best thing anyone could do whether its working for or having Farmers as your insurer is STAY AWAY from this worthless company.You will regret it as I do.I wish I had found this site before I started working for them.It has been the BIGGEST mistake of my life!!!!!!!!

????? You Can Do Better. I have nothing to gain here. I Started a career with Farmers from 1979- 2002 (San Jose Calif). 1986 -2000 Farmers Insurance Assistant District manager, attended District managers back stop school, Achieved Toppers Club, Commercial masters, Roundtable, Life Masters, Blue Vase, LUTCF.
I resigned by choice, was not forced out, But disgusted by direction of company, the incompetent regional & Company management with power to make your life miserable, and what they do and have done to Agents and District Managers. "The contract is worthless" Keep in Mind Farmers has been bought and sold By BATUS and than by Zurich, The Farmers Group I knew is DEAD and gone. Yes complete your due diligence, research the other carriers if you wish to be a direct line writer. Keep in Mind Allstate, Statefarm have ther own horror stories as well. There are many companies to choose from, American National has a good program (no I don't work for them)
Farmers is an image like most companies and the slick marketing campaigns, beneath the vail is a bottom line profit machine. We are all expendable, No Buts!

I am so glad to have found this site before my first meeting tomorrow with a recruiter. Farmers sounds just like another scammish corporate company I almost signed a contract with. The saying, "if it sounds too good to be true" then it is. I am so cancelling my meeting with the recruiter tomorrow.

I have to agree that Farmers is not the best way to go as far as going into business. I too was taken in by the hype. The DM gave me the timeline and information on what you could make and definitely made it seem that within 6 months I would be looking at 4-5 K per month. I took tests and paid the fees to 'join up'. But as I got more in tune with what was going on began to be very apprehensive. In talking to new career agents it became clear that I was not going to make more than 25-30K the first couple of years once I paid my costs and even that was going to take a lot of work. I refused to push my family and friends to buy from me so did not have policies to feel bad about or give to Farmers. I too felt like there was absolutely no training. I worked through the online training very quickly while waiting to get started (due to licensing, holiday, etc). the DM was very surprised that I had done much. I for one wanted to make sure I understood the products and the procedures before signing people up. No one cared?! It was like, "oh just do it, if you make a mistake, it will get fixed" the more I figured out the less comfortable I was. Also, I was given impression there would be some kind of leads besides my "natural market" but the only ones were ones you pay for thru lead services or jsut lists of phone numbers to cold call and try to set up an appointment. the idea was that as a reserve agent you just have to do your time making hundreds of calls to get some people in and sell them.. NOT what I wanted to do.

the only area where I truly felt deceived was when the DM told me that it wasn't sales. I said I was not a salesman and didn't want to do sales. he said that it was just telling people about products and helping them get the right product/coverage.

Anyway, yeah, unless you have a huge network of people already that you can sell too or don't mind doing a ton of cold calling, this is not a good plan to go with.. I also started figuring out the implications of their "subsidy" program. which is that if you don't meet certain quotas you have to pay it back.

So, not good, unless you don't need to make any money for a while...

I had the same "too good to be true" DM contact arrive in my email soon after posting my on-line resume. With my backround in insurance working for their major competitor, they were quick to believe that I would be a good fit (read: I HAVE A NETWORK OF CLIENTS TO MOVE TO FARMERS). I accepted an appointment time to meet with a quick talking DM with the sole purpose of cancelling my appointment just before I was due to meet with him (which I did). From my industry experience, I know a few people that have been swayed into this program and regretted the entire experience, so I never intended on meeting with this snake oil salesman. I baited him like he was baiting me. LOL

IF you are reading this post you SNAKE OIL SALESMAN in Orange County, CA, you might remember me when I remind you that your golf meetings should never interrupt your business opportunities.

Good luck meeting your recruiting quotas while I find work for a reputable, non-stress inducing company.

STAY AWAY FROM FARMERS/ZURICH. FAR AWAY. Even for your personal insurance needs.

I think there needs to be a class action law suit against Farmers for what they do to us agents. If anyone is interested, please let me know. I would like to find more agents who are willing to do this.

thanks,

Thank God I had the sense to do research and find this site. I knew something smelled rotten when I was getting incessant emails from Farmers (computer generated) and ALL the job postings on all these insurance co's (afflac, etc). There is just no way they need this many people. What will everyone sell insurance to each other? You saved me a lot of time and headache. thanks.

WOW! What an eye opener. I am really glad I found this sight while researching Farmers before my second interview tomorrow. Needless to say, I'm not going to bother wasting my time and will cancel first thing in the morning.

Do not work for them ! ! They give you a dream like vision for your agency and no support to go behind it. If you are lucky to get the business in the beginning with the high rates, Crappy billing system and always trying to explain to your customers why Your Company keeps messing up. You can work for them to only find out and Subsidy you make the want back when you no longer want to be a agent for them. The whole system is genuis but you will not be happy. They are theifs to their clients and to their agents! STAY AWAY ! ! ! ! !

I was a Farmers agent for five years. I was very successful, not because of training or support from the company, i had prior sales experience. Although i was very successful, i did not make alot of money, becasue farmers sets it up that way, they charge you for everything. My Dm was an idiot who got an online degree and had the balls to brag about it. the management this company has is by far the worst in the industry, as I later found out. They work on threats and intimidation, and yes, if you have a pulse they will paint you a rosy picture and con you into opening an agency, it will not cost them any money, only you. I made allthe top clubs every year i was there, and even though i was writing way over priced policies with horrible coverage and worse customer service,I was not making alot of money, i was getting more and more indebt, i could not leave because i woyuld owe them a lot of money and did not want to pay these idiots. So i stayed until i was told I did not owe subsidy back, then I recieved notice that i did owe subsidy and was given commissions "not due" to me, i still dont know what this means, i thought i was getting over 35k in contract value and instead got a bill. yes everything that is said about the billing, service and management is true, and i can say this because i have worked for other insurance companies, very different. I left to open a State Farm Agency, when management found this out, they tried thier best to black ball me, even sending letters and saying horrible things about me to my new comapny. Well i have been with state farm for three years, and boy, talk about day and night, we have great policies, very competitive, great reputation, management is here to help you, not throw you under the bus to make them selves look good. they paid for six months of awesome training. i work with some of the best underwriters, and guess what, the bills are always consistent and easy to read. i love my new company, I made over 220k my first year and will make more this year. I just wish i did not waste my time and embarras my self by working for the devil that is farmers. oh, and after I opened my new state farm agency, the local agents and managers told my former clients taht i had been terminated and that i was a horrible person, taht lasted about a month because i got a hold of the insurance commissioner and that ended real quick, i guess i have a lawsuit, but ia m so happy where i am now, that i dont want to bother with those losers, btw, i write about 50 new business is former farmers clients, life is great now, i no longer hate coming to work!!

This has been so helpful I just had the interciew with the DM and I was about to do the application online which coast 63.00 but now I will not be waisting my time.

i have noticed the post stop in 08. does this mean farmers improved as a company in 09 10 and 11. please help. im concerned because i am about to career and wondering if i should inquire about being independent.

I too started the interviewing process to become an agent and was presented with numbers ($) that seemed far too good to be true. Mind you, I was contacted by THEM. I did not actively seek this "opportunity". After finding this site leading up to my 2nd interview, this time with the DM, I sent the RDM my email declining. Here was his response and clearly another example of their high pressure tactics and surely a preview of things to come.


I am curious to see what research you have found?? I am interested in hearing about it. We have 28 Agents in our district, with half of them making well into 6 digits,,, I guess I was under the impression that you were wanting that out of life as well. Let me know your thoughts.

Farmers Insurance is a nightmare. The system is desiged so that the company invests nothing and therefore loses nothing if agents don't succeed. If an agent is successful though, the DM and the company profits like crazy. My customers LEAVE quicker than I can write new polices due to rates and billing. You will be taught that clients will seek you out and remain with you out of shear loyalty...BULLSHIT, my own father and sister can't even rationlize paying these rates yet I am suppose to sell to the general public?

As for my DM, he and his LIFE guy offer nothing as support, I am struggling and neither cares...they would rather spend more time focusing on their money makers (and there are only 1 or 2). The only person in his office that was knowledgable, cared and ever offered assistance he FIRED.

This company is a scam...RUN!

WOW.....WOW!!!! I have a meeting with a DM tomorrow morning about becoming a Farmers Agent. Thought I'd do a little research first... I don't like what I found.

I'll be cancelling that meeting! Anyone have a suggestion for how best to get into the insurance industry? I'm interested in being a broker at some point.

Thanks

haha. wow.. i just applied for this job and then felt uneasy and desided to do some research.. now i will be seding them a big FUCK OFF when they email me back asking for my soul.

I was an indpendent before I became an agent for farmers. . . I was pushed into becoming a reserve agent before i even was licenced to sell Life & health. I thought to myself, wouldnt my DM want me to get both licenses before I started in order to career faster. Not him, so, for the 6months I was selling P&C and hitting all my number and didnt realize I had to sell life and health in order to career. Then once I passed the test after being pushed into doin it, I was didnt sell as many P&C maily because their "old school" system kept asking us to input information over and over and I spent more time learning the system than I had to actually sel. . . Then I was told I would be given a $5000 bonus if I found someone else to career. . . Well that was a joke. . . Not until after my referrell careered, I was told they needed to be with us another 6 months before I was actually able to recieve the bonus. Then, out of no where that person resigned. . . Hmmmm. Altogether. . GO INDEPENDENT. . I should have listened to my heart.. .

Hey guys, I'm not sure if anyone looks at these post anymore but I recently got interviewed with Farmers Agency over the phone and they had called me back the same day wanting me to come in a do an interview with them in person because they had liked me and were impressed. Should I go for it? I stumbled across this site by accident, but now from reading many negative posts about becoming agents with them it's making me think twice. I'm only 19 and a college student. I don't want this job to ruin me!!! Help, any advice?????

I may have the newest post on here, but I must share my story. My experience was pretty much the same as everyone else that came in contact with this company. They fuel your self esteem with high hopes by admiring your attributes and telling you about the great income you "WILL" make your first couple years. They inform you of all the training they have available, subsidiary pay, and an opportunity of establishing your own agency within a year. It sound too good to be true so I decided to some research and luckily came upon this informative site. Thank you!

Wow - not that I wanted to be an agent but reading everyone's comments about this so-called opportunity is really deceiving.

Anyways - here's 1 of 3 emails that I received within the past 24 hours.

Hi Sharon,
My name is John Miller, and I am a National Recruiter currently recruiting for Farmers Insurance Group in Southern California. The Southern California area is currently experiencing tremendous growth and I am in search of a Professional Sales Agency Manager as part of the Agency Ownership Program. I'm looking for a successful, business-minded individual with a strong desire for personal growth, career fulfillment, and financial success. Please read through the information below, if you are interested and qualified, respond back to us by following the instructions below.

Income Potential
Currently, Farmers Insurance is one of the fastest growing insurance companies in the country. Each full-time agent owns his or her own business, sets their own schedule and makes daily decisions that help their business grow and succeed. Top team member in the area earn over $325,000 and the average income per full-time agent is over $11,000 a month. You control your own financial destiny with Farmers Insurance. Your earning potential is unlimited!

Getting Started
The flexible training program allows you to begin your career on a part time or full time basis. Through the first two years, Farmers provides an excellent subsidy program with a guaranteed base of at least $84,000 for hitting the minimum requirements. This program is in addition to your commissions.

Requirements

Entrepreneurial spirit, drive and ambition
Successful track record in previous/current field of employment
Responsible driving record
Good credit history
No felony convictions
No chapter 7 bankruptcies within the past 3 years
No chapter 11 or chapter 13 bankruptcies within 12 months
No accounts in collections or tax liens totaling over $1000
Previous insurance experience is preferred but not required
College degree is desirable but not required

If you're interested in learning more details about this position, please email your most recent resume to socal@farmerscareer.net or reply back to this email with a copy of your resume.

A Farmers Agency Development Manager will be in contact with you shortly.

Best Regards,

John Miller
National Recruiter

I am currently a reserve agent, very close to being a career agent. All I am seeing is discounts being taken away, premiums screwed up and billings sent out for policies that have been paid. Is this normal course of business for Farmers? I have worked for other large companies, but this is beyond anything I have ever experienced in the past. I thought the training so far has ben a waste of my time, but my DM promises that it will get better after I become a career agent. Is this the truth or just a big smoke screen? I also sell some other insurance products besides Farmers, how crazy are they going to be when they find this out? Let me know your thoughts.

Let me tell you how crazy that they will be, they will threaten to take your lic away from them, then charge you for the monies that they have invested in you. Your problem is indicative of Farmers. It is a pyramid scam in my opinion. You write your family, friends, etc.. then they turn you lose as your just not making it and then they charge for you floor support. This company is so eay to see thru, its almost funny. If your DM does get onto you about other business your selling, ask him if he has any other businesses. Most have properties and rentals. Farmers will usually allow you to sell other insurance if they dont provide a market for a particular product, but that is rare. I also heard of a meeting once where Marketing told the agents that if they cant sell in the primary Famers market, that they should push them to Bristol West or 21st Century. They dont get commisions for doing this, but hey, you might get to sell life or something to them. You get to service BW or 21 also, but dont get paid for it. I thought that they were going to riot in the meeting. It was just stupid.

Farmer's is a ripoff pure and simple. Their training methods are manipulative and unethical. DO NOT BELIEVE POSTS BY FARMER'S REPRESENTATIVES HERE.