Pros
The good things. I personally believe that the training they give their new agents is pretty good. I don’t have another insurance company to compare them too, but I’m willing to say that they do pretty good job considering the vast amount of information and data you have to absorb in the course of a week. Compared to other places I’ve worked in, they are ranked close to the top for their training. Your trainers are pretty much down to earth people, easy to get along with, and willing to help you. I’d say the same for your managing partner as well. The culture is a very sales-y culture. Prizes, lunches, games etc. to keep you motivated in the company and keep you selling.
Cons
Let me begin with, New York LIfe is not a company for everyone. I mean that seriously, not just because of a personality/ambition/work ethic thing we all know of but also because of life circumstances. The reviews you read on here about one having to work hard, persistent, and all around hours are true. What almost (at least no one told me) no one tells you is one thing: This career change requires a BIG, I mean VERY BIG safety net; Whether that is that you have enough money saved up to last you 6 months stress free, have a spouse or partner willing to support you financially through the time you spend here, or live rent free with your parents/family cause you just got out of college/military/other. Without this safety net, if you do not sell within your first month, life will become very hard for you without an income for you to live off of. That’s not even including the expenses you have to account for in this career like for gas (for you to drive and prospect around the city), food (because you’re going to go hungry in the middle of the day). The part of investing in gas, meals, etc. into this career is spoken about too late in the game because it’s briefly discussed while you are already training. Why is this important because ***all of your income is commission based.*** Another thing - Expect that your manager (managing partner) to push you to sell to your friends and family. Nothing wrong with that, I’m a believer in Life Insurance and think everybody should have it. Just know that not everyone will be ready or willing to listen to you, and that you should learn how to deal with the awkwardness of talking to your friends and family about their money/death. You will be pushed to sell to them because actually getting a stranger, who does not know you, to sit down with you to talk about their own personal finances/death is even more difficult to accomplish. Personal recommendation: If you have money to pursue this career change and are comfortable to ask your friends/families to speak to them about their money/death, look at your network of relationships. If you truly have a big network, example: large number of acquaintances, previous co-workers, or that barista/banker/cashier you make small talk with to pass the time then, then*, you may have a shot at this career. If you do not have a large and extensive network you have natural rapport with, keep in mind that you have a limited number of family and friends. They’re not an in-exhaustive source of prospecting.