Pros
Training, Training, Training. They invest a hell of a lot of time and money in training a new agent to understand and sell financial products. Management, and your peers always want to help a new agent succeed, whether it's spending time in the field, or some quick tips to make life easier - NYL does a great job of making sure you don't have to reinvent the wheel. They also do a great job of helping to build referral business - a crucial part of a new agent's success.
Cons
For an agent - it's a sales job (think commission only!), so you'll only earn money if you sell. The pay plans are good, better then many of their competitors - but you need to sell, sell and keep selling to make a living. It's a tough job, often with long hours, a lot of rejection involved - so be prepared. Usually managers will send you out to do "surveys" before they offer to take you on as an agent in training. Don't cheat and give this to your best friends and family. Try to do these with complete strangers or "friends of a friend of a friend" to see how comfortable you are discussing a person's finances with them