Who's hiring LLQP Licensed Agents?

If you would like to start a career in the financial services, then here is how I did it here in Toronto and why I think you can too.

Have you found it difficult to find a job in the financial services?

Over the past few years the financial services industry has become extremely competitive.

In fact thousands of people are coming into the business every year as insurance agents and financial planners. Have you seen how many people are writing the LLQP every day?

Most of these people are competing for jobs at the banks and large insurance companies. However, many people find it extremely difficult to get hired with the big companies.

Students, new immigrants and people who don't have a financial services background rarely get in the door.

I discovered this first hand when I sent my resume to numerous banks and hit a brick wall when I was first getting into the industry. The traditional high paying salaried jobs just aren't there.

Not discouraged, I looked into the commissioned sales side of the business. And guess what I found?

Surprisingly many firms were anxious to interview me. It seemed that these brokerages actually wanted more sales agents. It was as if they were happy to see fresh faces.

That's when I made an important realization.

"The commissioned based brokers want agents."

Think about it for a moment.... If a company has more agents they can sell more product. What would be better than to have an army of agents promoting there companies products.

Now what I realized next was that there are only a few commisioned based brokerages in Toronto which offer opportunites to new agents.

These companies have a similar models in the sense that they sell financial services, however they all have very different business models and commission structures.

It's up to you to do your research and determine which company is right for you .

If you want to learn more about about how to get a job in the insurance industry go to www.ontarioinsurancecareers.com

Is Becoming a Life Insurance Agent a Good Career?

If you are thinking of becoming a life insurance agent in Ontario you should know exactly what to expect before you make the career move.

Let me start by saying that commissioned sales can be challenging and unpredictable.

According to a 2009 report by LIMRA (a consultant to the global life insurance sector) only 31% of Canadian captive insurance agents stayed in the business for more than 4 years. And the turnover rate in the first year was 16%.

The goal for any agent whether you are captive or independent is to create enough business to make an excellent income.

When I first started in the insurance business as a captive agent I focused on my warm client list of friends and business associates to generate business. This allowed me to build a solid client base which grew over time.

The problem is that many new agents have limited access to potential clients because they don't have the influence or business contacts.

My advice to you is to be absolutely sure that you have the desire and sales skills to close deals quickly. This will help you gain momentum and make money as you are learning the ins and outs of the business.

If you can promote yourself properly and work hard to build solid relationships with your clients you can make a very good income.

Are you considering a career as an insurance agent in Ontario?
To learn how to find a job as an insurance agent go to www.ontarioinsurancecareers.com

How I Passed the LLQP Life License Exam On My Second Try

If you want to know how I passed the LLQP life licensing exam and how you can too, then this may be the most important message you read today.

On my first attempt I got a measly 58%. (The passing mark is 60%) I was actually a little shocked that I failed because I studied like crazy man for 2 months. Not to be defeated, I went back to the drawing board with even more determination, but deep inside I knew there had to be a better strategy than just rereading 600 plus pages of study notes.

So I'm going to reveal the secret that got me a 72% percent score on my second try with only a few extra days of studying. This secret was given to me by my division manager and it worked.

Here what he told me to do....

                                        Practice the online mock exams.

This is the strategy that gave me success. And here's why....

The mock exams are almost exactly the same questions that are on the the actual LLQP qualifying exam. In fact, many of the concepts, question formats and formulas are close to the questions you will find when you write the "real" exam.

Now here's the trick...

My strategy was to answer all the questions on the mock exams and then immediately check for the correct answers. Because the mock exams give you the correct answers at the end you can note the questions you got wrong. So I simply focused on the questions I had trouble with and then memorized the answers.

I know it sounds easy. But be warned, you will still have to study and understand the key concepts to pass the exam. However, I found that completing the mock exams helped tie together the theory from the study notes. As well, I got the correct answers to those questions that I had absolutely no idea of what the answer was. So my advice to you is to first read the study notes so you can understand the key concepts and then complete the mock exams to get a feel for the style of questioning and the exam format. 

Follow this advice and I guarantee you will increase your chances of success and hopefully you will pass on your first try.

Thinking of a career in the life insurance business? If you would like to learn more about how to get a job as an insurance agent go to www.ontarioinsurancecareers.com

What it Takes to be a Successful Life Insurance Agent

If you are thinking of becoming a life insurance agent then it's important to know exactly what you are getting in to. This article will help you understand what is involved in the job and what to expect.

The number # 1 question most new agents ask me is...

"How do I get clients?"

As you know, the main duty of an insurance agent is to advise and sell clients
various insurance products.

But how do you sell products if you don't have any clients?

I have been in the financial services industry for several years and found that the most challenging thing for agents is getting new clients. Many insurance agents come into the business with a warm list of potential clients. This often includes friends, associates and family members. But often this list of people is not enough to sustain a new agent for very long.

So many new agents look for alternative methods of prospecting. These include marketing methods such as seminars, email and Internet marketing and even cold calling. These methods can be effective but one of the best methods I have found to generate new business is referral marketing.

Simply put, referral marketing is when you ask your existing clients to introduce you to other people that may need your services. This is an effective way to build your network of clients by leveraging your existing relationships. The challenge is to create a system that works for you and your personality. Whatever your prospecting methods, if you are creative and have a good work ethic you can build a client base and make a good income as a Life insurance agent.

To learn more about How to be an Insurance Agent in Ontario visit the following link and you can download my FREE report that will show you how to get a job as a life insurance agent. Visit this site now at www.ontarioinsurancecareers.com

Why are so many Canadian job seekers becoming Insurance Agents?

In today's economy many people are looking for flexible jobs that have the potential for a good income. It's no wonder that many job seekers are seriously considering careers in the insurance business.

Twenty-five years ago, most insurance agents were contracted directly by the insurance companies whose policies they sold. Agents were in-house representatives of firms such as Manulife or Sun Life and employers were responsible for keeping tabs on their sales forces. Recently a new business model has sprung up.

Managing general agents (MGA's) have dominated the industry. And in the span of a decade, these agencies have quietly grown into one of the most powerful forces in Canada’s life insurance industry.

The MGA model helps deal with a large roster of independent agents, while helping agents obtain access to various policies sold by insurers, in exchange for a cut of the action.
According to Investor Economics, a financial industry consultancy, the MGA channel is now responsible for at least 44 per cent of the new life insurance policies sold to individuals across the country.

What does this mean to you?

Today, most agents are independent, and can sell policies from multiple insurers. So, more than likely you may find yourself working for an MGA as an independent agent. In fact, the number of independent agents selling life insurance has soared to 76,300. A large but unknown number of those are now working through MGAs.

That means, the role of career agents has dwindled to the point that they represent less than one-third of the industry’s sales. The bulk of sales come from independent agents.
Only a handful of life insurers, including London Life Insurance Co. and Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc., are still recruiting and using career agents.

Sun Life has the biggest stable, with more than 3,500 people across Canada. Manulife Financial, the largest Canadian-based life insurer, conducts more business through MGAs than any other underwriter. But be careful. The life of an insurance agent is not always a path to riches. Especially
if you are a commissioned sales person.

Simply put, if you don't sell...you don't make a commission.

But in most cases if you can market yourself and get clients you stand
a good chance of making a decent income whether you work for an MGA
or choose to be a career agent.

To learn more about how to be an Insurance Agent in Ontario
visit the following link and you can download my FREE report that will show you how to
get a job as a life insurance agent. Visit this site now at www.ontarioinsurancecareers.com

How to be an Insurance Agent - 4 Steps to a Lucrative Career

If the promise of a good income and excellent career growth is what you are looking for then you may want to seriously consider life insurance sales as your career.

I've been in the financial services for several years and now more than ever there
is a demand for licensed life insurance agents. But there are a few things you need to know before you get started.

Here are the 4 steps to becoming an insurance agent in Ontario:

1. First register for the LLQP qualifying course with a certified provider
2. Study and pass the course
3. Write and pass the Provincial licensing exam
4. Apply for licensing through a sponsoring company

It sounds easy, but be warned that the process can be challenging.
You will need to study hard to pass the tests and put effort into finding the right
company to work for. But if you have what it takes to persevere and get licensed
you can enjoy a great career.

To learn more about How to be an Insurance Agent in Ontario
visit the following link and you can download my FREE report that will show you how to
get a job as a life insurance agent. Visit this site now at www.ontarioinsurancecareers.com

How to Be an Insurance Agent In Ontario

Are you thinking of becoming an insurance agent in Ontario?

If you are, then there are a few things you need to know so you can get started on the right track. When I first thought of becoming an insurance agent I didn't have a clue what to do first. In fact, it wasn't until I spoke to a friend in the industry and did some research that I really got an idea of the steps I needed to take.

Did you know that you can't sell or recommend any insurance product until you are licensed
by the province?

Licensed life insurance agents can sell products such as life insurance, accident and sickness insurance and segregated funds. As well, they can offer annuities, disability insurance and critical illness insurance.

However, in order to obtain a license to sell these products you must:

-be sponsored by a licensed insurer for your first two years as an agent
-pay the required fees
-be at least 18 years old
-complete a course and pass the examination for the Life License Qualification Program (LLQP)

These are the basic requirements to becoming a life insurance agent in Ontario.But be aware that the most challenging part is passing the licensing exams.Many potential agents find this the to be the biggest hurdle to getting into the insurance industry.

But if you put some time and effort into studying and can meet the provincial regulators requirements, you will have a great opportunity to start a lucrative career.

To learn more about how to be an Insurance Agent in Ontario
visit the following link and you can download my FREE report that will show you how to
get a job as a life insurance agent. Visit this site now at www.ontarioinsurancecareers.com