I was told to come to an interview in Springfield, IL and dress professionally and all that as well. When I called to cancel my interview I did reach a voicemail, but not an actual person, which I found odd. This company is definitely fishy...I'm glad I researched it before I drove all the way there to interview for a scam.
Do Not Go To An Interview FOR THIS COMPANY!
Lauren
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Well, I received a generic e-mail from AIL today, I knew right away it was specific to my skill set I have on my resume. It was from the CEO (which rarely EVER happens) and had a link that said "Click Here If Interested" both HUGE hints. I am a Business Marketing degree and I know enough that an entry level position will not make $60, 000-$90, 000 per year. It unfortunately just, doesn't happen.
I did post my resume on Monster.com, like many of you here, and I'm so thank-ful for all of your feedbacks, and kind words. It's great we're looking out for each other because it's a scary world and I really didn't want to waste my time and energy.
Thanks again, all the best!
Let me just say a few simple uncomplicated things to help this person. The bottom line is that AIL is aggressively recruiting and growing. There is nothing immoral or unethical about the company, its founders, its current executives, or its agency force. What really bothers me more than anything, is that the vast majority of people on this site never even came down for the interview, therefore have no real information about the company whatsoever. Don't conduct an investigation into the comany based on the comments of people who have either failed here or never made the attempt. Read between the lines and don't fail before you begin. This website does not contain the best of the best only the worst of the worst, don't follow the crowd, lead it. This company is not for everybody, we do our best to find individuals who we feel will succeed, which is why the funnel is humongous on top, yet tiny at the spout. All I ask is to not base your decision on sites such as this, there are plenty of real, viable, intelligent sources available at your fingertips to find accurate information about any company's validity.
Bottom line: Those who can do. Those who can't come over to these website to air their sour grapes.
If any of you need to investigate this company, these are the places where an investigation should be conducted.
Great ratings by the following:
AM Best
Better Business Bureau
Your State Insurance Dept.
NYSE (ticker symbol TMK)
HotJobs/Yahoo
Fortune
Forbes
Warren Buffet
Edward Jones (ESOP broker)
YouTube-"Spirit of AIL"
Let me just say a few simple uncomplicated things to help this person. The bottom line is that AIL is aggressively recruiting and growing. There is nothing immoral or unethical about the company, its founders, its current executives, or its agency force. What really bothers me more than anything, is that the vast majority of people on this site never even came down for the interview, therefore have no real information about the company whatsoever. Don't conduct an investigation into the company based on the comments of people who have either failed here or never made the attempt. Read between the lines and don't fail before you begin. This website does not contain the best of the best only the worst of the worst, don't follow the crowd, lead it. This company is not for everybody, we do our best to find individuals who we feel will succeed, which is why the funnel is humongous on top, yet tiny at the spout. All I ask is to not base your decision on sites such as this, there are plenty of real, viable, intelligent sources available at your fingertips to find accurate information about any company's validity.
Bottom line: Those who can do. Those who can't come over to these websites to air their sour grapes.
I am a regional Manager named Anthony Osborne. I am here to admit my guilt in the scam. I deliberately and willfully scam hundreds of people here is my email if you wish to discuss further details about this pitiful company
Who are you? Why are you writing these things?
To the above:
Seriously? You want us to reasearch Warren Buffet, Edward Jones, TMK, Fortune...etc? Why? As an "HR" for AIL you should know better. Warren Buffet is an investor who at one time owned Torchmark (TMK) stock. This is AIL's parent company and has nothing to do with whether or not someone should work for AIL. Edward Jones is just the broker for AIL's joke of a retirement plan. Fortune is the company that is most famous for their "Fortune 500" companies which, despite AIL's many claims, has NEVER made that list. Hot Jobs/Yahoo just rate companies on the number of postings for jobs. Again this has nothing to do with AIL being a good place to work for as their constant need to fill empty job positions is the only reason they are even on that list.
So, there you go, just did your "research" for you. Thank you for wasting our time with information that has absolutely nothing to do with the questions posed on these forums.
I was called for an interview. Glad I looked it up first. The phone call was weird and I am not a salesperson and have never worked in insurance. There are plenty of complaints about this company...enough that I will not be going to this interview. Thanks for posting the info.
I was scammed by AIL - please visit my blog http://americanincome.typepad.com/
Well i have to say i am with American income life insurance company just got all my paper work in the mail do to messing up on my family of five they had two life policy for my hubby out why? my question is when I need this money for what ever the reason is, will I have it or will the time come in the end over the years to tell me diffrent my hubby has thought about closing the 5 accounts we have open with them an going with a company his father has !
I received a call from a "recruiter" this morning, advising that she found my resume' on Monster, and wanted to discuss a job opportunity in the Sacramento, CA office. When I asked her specifically if this was an insurance sales job, which I was not interested in. She didn't answer the questions, but only responded, "There are many opportunities with my company, including management." She further explained that I can come in for an interview, and I will be told more extensively about the position. I reluctantly made an appointment for tomorrow, but I felt weird about the conversation. She also asked me if I was employed, which I thought was an odd question. I decided to Google the company. I was shocked and horrified when I saw the reviews about this company. I called this woman back, and left her a message, indicating that I was cancelling the interview. The voice mail was odd, it did not have a company name, nor did a person answer the phone! It felt like a scam from the start, especially since my called ID identified the call as being from "ADT Direct." I'm so glad I researched this company, before wasting my time!
The company hires aggressively with little regard for suitability for the job.
Despite their claims, all positions offered with AIL will start you off in sales at the very least.
In my local agency, there were a few 'secretaries' and 'HR' persons, but their jobs consisted mainly of running interference on disgruntled employees and customers alike.
The primary issue with the company is the old "Over sell, Under Deliver" policy they seem to stand by:
They promise quality leads - 25 a week - FALSE
The leads can be several years old, or be incorrect information, or be people fed up with being harassed by AIL.
While there may be some diamonds in the rough, their model of only using union 'leads' limits a given salesman to luck of the draw.
Also, if your sales are beneath 2, 000$ a week. You are denied leads period, and forced to work off the very old leads consisting of bad phone numbers, bad addresses, and dead people (No joke) The whole situation seems to be a deliberate snowball effect on the sales force to drive them to resign.
They promise a minimal income of 500$ + 200$ for fuel courtesy of the company.(weekly) - FALSE
In NS, the agency SGA promises that regardless of your commissions in a given week, AIL will insure that you make 500$ minimal per week, and not only that but supply 200$ for a fuel and cell expense, so long as you provide slips and receipts proving you were in the field seeing clients/leads. The best you get is a little bonus of 167$, which you only get if you SELL 1500$ a week.
Seeing as the SGA used the word "salary" frequently for the 500$, it is clear their hirers have little regards for truth.
It's commission only, and while that isnt bad per say, it's not for everyone. AIL uses the word "salary" a lot to describe compensation. In fact, their job bank ads typically say "Salary: 40, 000-60, 000 annual" When really "renumeration based on commission" is the most accurate statement. Most people make < 26, 000$ their first year as an interesting tidbit.
Strong Business Ethics and a Company trusted by the Community - False -
There is next to no regulation in AIL. 'Managers' or SAs and GAs have no leashes or regulatory obligations in controlling their staff.
Many push Replacing policies which is generally a big NONO as it can lead to long term issues, not the least of which being commission denials. Ive been trained in the field with this company and I saw:
1- straight up Rebating, (Bribing clients into buying policies)
2- churning/twisting (replacing policies at the detriment of the company/customer or both which is illegal)
3 - Forging signatures.
4- Tax fraud - 'managers' put their sales under the names of lower employees, force the employee to pay the manager back the commission of those sales in cash to fly under the radar ((My manager put over 7000$ in my name without permission from me in just over a month))
Beyond that, as far as trust goes - AIL makes it nearly impossible to cancel policies. Theyre one of the few companies that require a written letter be sent in, and often they would ignore the letters. It got to the point that I began recommending stop payments to allow the policies to lapse. However, if the client has a whole life policy, it can take months, and even years before the policy lapses and the loss is the entire cash value - (obviously, AIL does this on purpose so that they can avoid paying back the cash surrender value of the policy) ====>Certainly not a reputable company
To end my horror story. I quit about a year ago, but I still check out the company and report them to the FTC and other regulatory agencies just to be a thorn in their side. Just recently though, my old "manager" (GA) delivered a pizza to me.
Normally, with well reputed companies who screen their employees, managers stick for sometime.
While he wouldnt say why he 'resigned' from AIL. I figured that all the fraud, replacing, and...other things... caught up to him.
But put it in perspective: while I worked their, He was referred to as a 'Super Stud Sales Star'
So clearly, even the rock star people who sell, dont stick.
Look, just dont waste your time here. I still sell insurance, but for a different company which does these things called "audits" and compliance courses, and holds all of the sales crew to a "Standard" I make decent money and I stand by what I sell.
AIL was a detour for me personally, I made no money long term there (even though I made sales weekly and usually hit quota)
I burned a crap tonne in gas, and while I didnt have to work 85 hours (like some people apparently have) I did not enjoy one part of the company . Not worth the time, an overall unpleasant experience.