Deceptive practices all around, from the top down; mainly lack of transparency and disclosure regarding accounting practices that would normally be shared up front with new hires, by other professionals firms.
Real management here is non-existent. What is practiced has been excruciatingly concocted over decades of refinement by career robots that micromanage and think inside the box. Internally, those profiting have structured an elaborate shell game that they play with new agents - join us and prosper by replacing old clients that cancel with new clients, all while the agents scramble to cover their chargebacks. Combined pockets the rest. The burden of this entire structure always rests upon the agents, never the so-called management.
Chronologically, here's an example of what to expect - Agents that are sent to sales school are subsequently thrust out into the field with inadequate product knowledge. This hurts one's ability to sell. Scripted selling is the most important part of what is taught at Combined.
Upper management will treat you like an object and a sales target in order to push you to sell. Every agent is valuable only in that they are a means to their manager's profitable end. All managers employ well practiced scripted selling, hypnotic statements, slogans, and chants - mostly to elicit a Pavlovian response and to get you, the agent, to perform.
Next, these inept "managers" care little about your future success; they simply want to bonus off of your initial performance and then move on to the next agent being on-boarded. Once an agent is on their own, (your manager has abandoned you for new talent), most agents usually drown in "fake it till you make it" and also angry existing client complaints. Client complaints are usually focused on lack of claims paid and other unprofessional Combined practices that they have been exposed to.
The sheer volume of agent turnover at this firm remains unaddressed. Combined is intentionally apathetic about their agent turnover rate because they profit from it by no longer having to pay residuals promised to agents that leave the company. Clients that do remain on the books and continue to pay their monthly premiums are pocketed by the firm and rightfully so since the company is taking the risk and must pay out claims. Agents that do leave the company still have to pay for chargebacks that occur even after they have moved on to more realistic jobs. But let's face it. If the practice of agent turnover is intentional, someone at the state supervisors office should look into it. The company is looking forward to your departure and that's why intense recruiting efforts are focused upon. You're expected to fail.
Finally, a subtle misguidance is practiced here, almost intentionally, at least on the East Coast. Most things are answered only if they are asked. There is no full disclosure here. Benefits are horrible, and only a few elite managers make money on the influx of new agents. If you join this company, be prepared to make money in downward spiral and chase your own tale staying out of debt to them. No one ever leaves on good terms. This place is a joke. To the few agents that do thrive, the 1%, please share your experience.
