Greenberg generally considered republican has Spitzer down his throat. Buffett generally considered democrat gets a pass from Spitzer even though he is the other side of the EXACT SAME DEAL.
My prediction – Peter Lewis could rob widows and orphans at gunpoint and the phony Spitzer wouldn’t care a whit,
All capitalists are created equal, but some capitalists are more equal than others.
>>>If I were running a company, the last thing I’d want to be classified is “blue state”. Too many elitist and communist connatations. When I hear “blue state” I think of Jane Fonda, Al Franken and Ted Kennedy. No thanks!
When I think of red states I think of Walmart which makes me think of a company that is buying billions of dollars of goods from Communist China thereby enriching our greatest potential enemy. You people need to wake the **** up.
This is not a joke, the web site is real. But it is pretty funny what lengths some of the wackos on the left will go to. Still, I’ve got to thank them – now I know what red businesses to support. I’ll be checking out GEICO’s rates.
This is great. I will certainly use this as a way to identify which republican/conservative leaning organizations to avoid patronizing. Funny how people always this something is ridiculous when it is contrary to their point-of-view.
This is great. Now I can know what companies to avoid doing business with. Evil companies that interfere in the democratic process. I would think democrats would be appalled. You learn something new every day.
This is great. Now I can know what companies to avoid doing business with. Evil companies that interfere in the democratic process. I would think democrats would be appalled. You learn something new every day.
We call this freedom of choice and speech. Mr. Bootlegger, do you not pick your friends because they have something in common with you? There,and now you know the rest of the story.
If I were running a company, the last thing I’d want to be classified is “blue state”. Too many elitist and communist connatations. When I hear “blue state” I think of Jane Fonda, Al Franken and Ted Kennedy. No thanks!
Nobody is complaining about freedom of choice and speech. We all have the choice, whether it’s a right and where the right may come from, to make stupid or informed choices.
Similarly, every we all have the “right” or “freedom” to lampoon those who make certain choices or public speech.
I care! Why would I want to purchase products from companies that have absolutely no ethics regarding human value, environmental value and have the value of “profit at any cost”.
I canceled my Chase credit card because the customer service is based in India. I want to support companies that support the American worker and the “ideals” in which this country came to be. You know the hard working, tax paying, honest American citizen? Not the power hungry, self-serving “Reds”!
So Agent007, you are saying that Red people don’t pay taxes, don’t work hard, or are NOT HONEST… so why exactly are Progressive and Peter Lewis blue and not red?
Hmm first contingent commissions now preference based upon political affliation? You present both and let the insured make the choice. You could always I’m sure include a diclosure that purchasing this coverage clearly supports x color…. OMG….
What? The Blue states lost? I had no idea…Didn’t Lincoln state ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand’. Get over it; you lost; quit crying and try to come up with an actual idea besides ‘we hate Bush’; you tried it; you lost. Boo hoo Blosers.
My hope it that sooner, rather than later, there will be a dark green rating, for those of us who are committed to being better than Democrats – the Greens!
Ecological Wisdom – Grassroots Democracy – Social and Economic Justice – Nonviolence
Peace
(okay, I’m ready for the cutting sarcastic replies from ye of little social spirit)
It is stuff like this website that shows your ignorance and lack of compromise and understanding. You proclaim to be the party of the working people but you are all about taking from some to give to yours. Its funny how most of your blue leaders are elitist rich people who are so out of touch with reality they could not hope to understand how their political ideas put a tax burden on those who actually work for a living. I will not partake in purchasing my insurance from red or blue. Why would anyone support a company that waistes their premium dollars supporting a political party? I will place my trust in my agent and companies that spend money to better my insurance not on companies who spend my premium dollars on the owners or executive’s political motives.
a bigger financial burden than those who have nothing and actually NEED help? I don’t think so. I am a college student paying for everything myself and I am more than happy to help those who are less fortunate, I am by no means rich or comfortable, I qualify for low income housing as a matter of fact, but I know there are people who are none-the-less LESS fortunate than myself, how can I be so greedy to say I want more more more when they have nothing, I see them every day.
The real question is why has this post turned into a political battle, simmer down all, Blue/Red whatever, I think we’ve deviated from the topic, it’s not who is right or wrong, it’s how you choose to support your group.
Personally I’m a Democrat and I think this whole concept is interesting for those who actually care, but I personally don’t care enough to support one company over another because of political reasons.
Sounds like your uneducated and ignorant yourself. You claim to know who people are based on their posts, when for all you know could be well-educated, maybe even more so than yourself. I would get a reality check before you judge people like that.
Nice post. Unfortunately, during the presidential election when I checked out Green websites, I got the sense that the Green idea of social justice is nationalization of all corporations. At some point Green could change their name to the Eco-Marxist party…
Wish it was as simple as red and blue. Unfortunately it’s religion and politics, and as your parents and grandparents told you, avoid those 2 subjects with friends or relatives. So, until the pendulum swings, if the term theocracy bothers you, just hang on, cause when they’re done burning the witches, their moment will be over.
Hey Reds … you are really going to boycott Sharper Image, Gateway, Costco, Google, Footlocker, Bed,Bath & Beyond, Barnes & Noble, Fredricks of Hollywood, Hilton Corp, VF corp (makes Nike,Lee,Britania and others, as well as Levi? Exactly just like I am not going to boycott Safeway, Victoria’s Secret,or Hershey’s. We are going to sell the best insurance for the insured. Regardless of political affliation. If your Chairman/Owner of the company you can do what you damn well feel like doing. So quit crying a river, build your bridge and just get over it.
I agree with Smurfette, and why are people making such a big deal out of this? I think some people are blowing this a little out of proportion. Why bring religion into this? It seems quite irrelevant. Does your religion determine which political party you belong to? That’s just an illogical way to look at this.
If you call an end to corporate personhood a nationalization of corporations, then I guess your post makes sense. Otherwise, I suggest you reread the Green Platform with your (non-union made) Gucci Sunglasses taken off.
Peace, Love, Solidarity
Pete
(have to run now, there is a rally for the legalization of industrial hemp this afternoon :) )
That is what it is. Somehow, I think if we look real close, Progressive wears both “colors” as in Progressive Direct and Drive.
Unfortunately, the “red” capitalist feel they have to justify their capitalism and the “blue” capitalist feel they have to apologize for it. However, they both keep their spoils.
It is all crap. Just like hiding behind a “cutsie” name on what should be an open exchange of ideas between insurance professionals.
Let’s be honest, both red & blue politicos will screw-up the insurance protection we provide our clients. What we are left with is trying to figure out how to do what we do in the midst of the onslaught of political positioning.
Whether or not a San Francisco nonprofit recommends buying insurance from a particular company matter not at all. “The rodent’s rump is safe”
I am more concerned when politics replaces sound underwriter and actuarial science.
Unfortunately, there seems to be the tendency of our friends on the left to make decisions on emotion rather than fact. I’m sure they can relate to their Prog and their spiritual leader with the large corporate art collection, the French Connection and the large lefty political donations. What would they think if they knew this company asks prospective empolyees if they are OK with working 60 hours and getting paid for 40? Gasp!
When are Americans going to wake up. Both sides like to excite the masses, while they rob us blind. Most of these corporations support politicans for what they can get out of thier votes. When we fight over Blue vs Red States, both sides collect donations from dummies. When we fight over Iraiq, both sides fill thier banks with Billions of dollars. And our insurance CEO’s are no different; AIG is in trouble but not for replacing American workers with Indians. GEICO is a dirrect writer, do you think they care about agents or thier clients? In California a large part of our workers comp problem can be traced to our commissioner and several large w/c carriers. Just look up which carriers had the largest growth and profit in the past 2 years. My feeling are; there are good people all over America, Red people, blue people, Christians, Fundamentalist, Jews and the list goes on and on. My Dad said in every group, profession, police force,church and government there are 10 to 20% evil people, he was right. So do what’s right, take care of the people who put bread on our tables, our clients.
And don’t forget about all the CFP’s, L, A&H agents who start out struggling, starving between sparse commissions – no salary, AND no group health benefits who are now being told they must disclose to prospects what commission they will get paid IF and ONLY IF they get the sale! “Blue” my ***!! And for such a prestigious position requiring expensive licenses, costly education AND continuing education, not to mention the 4 year college degree most insurance companies require job candidates to have in order just to be considered for being sponsored to get producer licenses in the first place.
Most people don’t understand how it is to work for commissions-only, and struggle to repay college loans and support themselves – or a family, on that, in an environment where everybody looks at commissions-only paid salespeople as crooks who don’t deserve to get paid a commission – hence a paycheck provided they close the sale – for their time, knowledge and responsibilities. Maybe insurance executives ought to begin demanding “rights” – such as a base salary, company-paid E&O, car allowance, expense accounts, or better yet, an hourly wage subject to overtime pay rate for every hour of time put in above the standard 40.
Jacqueline, Welcome to the world of Agents & Brokers. It can be a very rewarding or terrible carreer. After spending 36 years in the business, as an adjuster, captive agent, broker and now an owner.
1. Take everything a company representative tells you with a grain of salt. Thier first interest is in themselves and thier company. Insurance Exec are part of the problem not the solution. The less you make the more they make.
2. The real money is with renewals that are in the P&C business. Make sure you own your clients renewals.
3. Try to find an old timer to mentor you, they are out there. You may even be able to buy thier business when they decide to retire. Don’t expect this to happen if he/she has relatives working in the agency.
4. Do whats best for your clients and a high per centage will renew and follow you.
5. If all this does not work, marry a rich guy with a large book of business. ONLY KIDDING FORGET NUMBER 5
6. Laugh a lot, life is to short, life in a job you don’t like is a living hell.
I want to thank this group from CA that made it easy for me to avoid all the companies that want me to vote for the elitist left.
I will now do business as much as I can with the “red” companies now that I know who they are. In the alternative, I will now avoid all “blue” companies to send my message loud and clear.
Typical leftist response – whine and complain about the way things are but offer no solutions. Come up with a better way and the masses will follow.
Don’t know where you are from Joe, just keep on voting with your dollars to Enron, Halaburton, Tyson, the bunch of oil crooks in Texas. Sooner or later they will make your job will be mimium wage. Well at least you can pray at your good old boy church for food. Got a better idea Joe, why not join the Army, I understand they are paying big bonsuses to high schol kids to sign up. I for one am proud to be a Califorian, a moderate and one who not only prays and talks about freedom, I served. Arguing over this crap is assine when you consider young Americans, blue & red are dying for you.
Hi CA Joe: The point I was trying to make was the sheer utter hypocrisy of ANY insurer touting itself as “blue” in promoting workers’ rights, etc when no matter WHOM you are selling for, you do NOT get the benefit of any of FDR’s New Deal programs that protect workers such as a minimum wage or overtime pay which virutally every other worker gets in this country – even if they have little to no education or do not have to get costly licenses in order to qualify for their careers. My point is that the so-called “blue” companies ought to set the example by putting their money where their big fat mouths are – by paying agents and brokers a base pay for their time, responsibilities and knowledge, and we all put in far more than 40 hours a week working to sell their products. As to the advice regarding getting into P&C as opposed to starving in the L,A&H end – I am doing that now – but I had to sneak in under the radar as an independent agent & broker starting out with one direct appointment from a sub-standard auto & home insurance carrier and the other P&C stuff as a sub-broker (where I own the book of business but get shafted on the compensation), because hardly anyone wanted to be the first to give me a chance and appoint me as a newbie, so I am in the “paying my dues” phase right now. When I got my P&C license (passed on first try) back in January, captive agent opportunities in my region with ANY company were being denied to anyone who wasn’t a rich or upper middle-class young, white male. Administrative Assistant/secretary positions in established agencies were also not forthcoming for me because agents prefer to hire pretty, thin young Barbie Dolls over plump middle-aged women so that opportunity was also not available to me. State Farm, Liberty Mutual, Allstate and Nationwide are the captive insurance firms in my region and they all deny agent opportunities to those who are not well-to-do, young, white males which is why I despise the total hypocrisy of the whole “red/blue” categorization of insurers because even the “bluest” of the so-called “blue” companies discriminate against hiring/appointing middle-aged women as agents and anyone else who isn’t well-off but who has the ambition, drive and brains to succeed – if only given a chance to do so. Thus, I offer the insurance I have access to markets for, and of those, I select what company’s product will be a good fit for the insured based on their needs – not whether the carrier is a “red” or “blue” company.
One of the companies listed as a “red” company, hence implying it is not as socially responsible or socially conscious as a “blue” one just so happens to be one of the home improvement stores -who was the first to initiate corporate policy in proactively hiring economically disadvantaged jobseekers aged 55 and over who normally get discriminated against for jobs due to age by everyplace else – which is how many become poor and 100% reliant on social security in the first place.
Note: Trying to reduce senior citizen poverty, hence welfare dependency in society by utilizing experienced workers aged 55 and over was NOT started by one of those “blue” companies – it was started by a “red” company, Home Depot.
When the new Wal-Mart supercenter opened in Erie’s poor east side last year, they made every effort to hire from within the immediate neighborhood as a measure of being a good business neighbor. The neighborhood in question has a poverty/jobless rate of about 68% and the average home value is under $50K. Those Wal-Mart jobs pay on average, $8/hr to start plus full health benefits. In Erie, anyone making $20K or more a year is able to live a middle-class life, so those hired at the new Wal-Mart are getting the chance to pull themselves and their families out of poverty. Many of these new hires are black, others are white middle-aged downsized workers who had a difficult time getting hired anywhere despite experience, education and skill levels due to age discrimination. Now they are no longer poor and in the food pantry lines. Many are now for the first time, able to afford a decent used car – and became my auto insurance customers. Wal-Mart is considered a “red” company.
Meanwhile, in the local plants like GE which is unionized, as well as the skilled trades unions that offer high wages and great benefits, which are predominantly Democrat, and hence “blue”, the number of minorities hired as apprentices are slim to none – and as for women, forget it. Poor women wanting to learn and work in a skilled trade and have the chance to earn a decent living in order to be able to live decently without having to rely on welfare are told by the fine liberals running those places to go on welfare because a high-paying union job isn’t for them – it’s for white males under 40 only. They do not come right out and say this, rather they insinuate and act accordingly by “losing” or refusing to accept applications from women and blacks. Actions speak louder than words.
As for wishing to support companies that are fair to workers, good business citizens, that is all fine and well. Support those who have proven by their actions within your community by their hiring practices as well as their customer care policies in your own back yard within your community instead of paying lip-service into color-coded hype and propoganda. Do not get sold on all the “blue” and “red” hype, because you will find that it all boils down to brown – the color of bovine feces.
this red and blue stuff reminds me of government; gridlock that is; you got the reds hatin’ the blues, and the blues hatin’ the reds; dat’s why nuttin’ gets done in Washington; it’s like the big fish and the little fish; the big fish wants to eat, and the little fish wants to eat, but the big fish wants to eat the little fish, and the little fish doesn’t want to be eat. See, that’s like government.
Sniff Sniff…..You smell that? Smells like fear of corporate red companies, especially the insurance industry, bleeding profit. Already switched to Progressive from Fake Charm Insurance. Also switching to Prudential Life Insurance who is also Progressive.
I used to live in Colorado Springs, where there was an evangelical business directory, looking much like the yellow pages, printed and distributed to churches and businesses all over town. People would buy from businesses with the “fish” logo and avopid businessess that were not run by Christian evangelicals (or at least Christians who were willing to be labeled such with the fish). If that’s OK, so is this. People who care about politics, care about who gives massive amounts of money to bad politicians. If we feel that Tom DeLay or George W Bush are bad for the country, we do not want to enrich their financial backers. It makes perfect sense and it is not prejudice – the companies that donate massive funds to keeping these fellows in Washington should reap the consequences of their anti-American-people actions. If you don’t think it’s anti-American-people, you have not been paying attention. Wake up.
WOW! I JUST READ THROUGH ALL OF THESE E-MAILS. NOW I CAN’T DECIDE IF I AM BUE IN THE FACE, OR JUST FLABERGASTED RED FACED!?!?!?
Greenberg generally considered republican has Spitzer down his throat. Buffett generally considered democrat gets a pass from Spitzer even though he is the other side of the EXACT SAME DEAL.
My prediction – Peter Lewis could rob widows and orphans at gunpoint and the phony Spitzer wouldn’t care a whit,
All capitalists are created equal, but some capitalists are more equal than others.
>>>If I were running a company, the last thing I’d want to be classified is “blue state”. Too many elitist and communist connatations. When I hear “blue state” I think of Jane Fonda, Al Franken and Ted Kennedy. No thanks!
When I think of red states I think of Walmart which makes me think of a company that is buying billions of dollars of goods from Communist China thereby enriching our greatest potential enemy. You people need to wake the **** up.
This IS a joke, right?
This is not a joke, the web site is real. But it is pretty funny what lengths some of the wackos on the left will go to. Still, I’ve got to thank them – now I know what red businesses to support. I’ll be checking out GEICO’s rates.
If you were willing to use their ratings to inform your purchase decisions, then it isn’t so “wacko” after all, is it?
You missed the sarcasm. But even if I do use the list, I’m not the wacko who spent all the time and money to create the list.
Locke didn’t miss the sarcasm – you missed the irony.
This is great. I will certainly use this as a way to identify which republican/conservative leaning organizations to avoid patronizing. Funny how people always this something is ridiculous when it is contrary to their point-of-view.
Funny how people who are so angry about being out of power don’t realize how ridiculous they’re being.
This is great. Now I can know what companies to avoid doing business with. Evil companies that interfere in the democratic process. I would think democrats would be appalled. You learn something new every day.
This is great. Now I can know what companies to avoid doing business with. Evil companies that interfere in the democratic process. I would think democrats would be appalled. You learn something new every day.
Go ahead and support GEICO. Warren Buffett has been lambasting Bush and CO for their misguided financial policies.
Wacko here! Proud of it!
We call this freedom of choice and speech. Mr. Bootlegger, do you not pick your friends because they have something in common with you? There,and now you know the rest of the story.
If I were running a company, the last thing I’d want to be classified is “blue state”. Too many elitist and communist connatations. When I hear “blue state” I think of Jane Fonda, Al Franken and Ted Kennedy. No thanks!
Nobody is complaining about freedom of choice and speech. We all have the choice, whether it’s a right and where the right may come from, to make stupid or informed choices.
Similarly, every we all have the “right” or “freedom” to lampoon those who make certain choices or public speech.
Who cares what any company does or says?
Do you buy anything according to your political beliefs?
Thanks for making my shopping easier. Next you’ll be color coding us to be certain blues don’t procreate with reds.
Get a life!
Not sure why Mr. Simpson did not count Metlife, Mass Mutual, AllState and USAA in the red list among the list of “ranked” carriers.
I do try to purchase from entities whose polital beliefs mirror mine and am glad to see my insurance carriers among those on the red list
I care! Why would I want to purchase products from companies that have absolutely no ethics regarding human value, environmental value and have the value of “profit at any cost”.
I canceled my Chase credit card because the customer service is based in India. I want to support companies that support the American worker and the “ideals” in which this country came to be. You know the hard working, tax paying, honest American citizen? Not the power hungry, self-serving “Reds”!
So Agent007, you are saying that Red people don’t pay taxes, don’t work hard, or are NOT HONEST… so why exactly are Progressive and Peter Lewis blue and not red?
Hmm first contingent commissions now preference based upon political affliation? You present both and let the insured make the choice. You could always I’m sure include a diclosure that purchasing this coverage clearly supports x color…. OMG….
Does this mean we all have to wear armbands?
yea like Survivor, hand me my blue buff please!
What color should I wear if I create a new political party?
Blue for Democrat
Red for Republican
Purple for Republicrat
We’re gonna live in such a colorful world, with pretty pretty rainbows.
I use to have a show on TV called In Search Of.
I’m proposing a new show. In Search of ‘Blue’…
it’s only logical
What? The Blue states lost? I had no idea…Didn’t Lincoln state ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand’. Get over it; you lost; quit crying and try to come up with an actual idea besides ‘we hate Bush’; you tried it; you lost. Boo hoo Blosers.
My hope it that sooner, rather than later, there will be a dark green rating, for those of us who are committed to being better than Democrats – the Greens!
Ecological Wisdom – Grassroots Democracy – Social and Economic Justice – Nonviolence
Peace
(okay, I’m ready for the cutting sarcastic replies from ye of little social spirit)
great post Pete, I’m with you there
It is stuff like this website that shows your ignorance and lack of compromise and understanding. You proclaim to be the party of the working people but you are all about taking from some to give to yours. Its funny how most of your blue leaders are elitist rich people who are so out of touch with reality they could not hope to understand how their political ideas put a tax burden on those who actually work for a living. I will not partake in purchasing my insurance from red or blue. Why would anyone support a company that waistes their premium dollars supporting a political party? I will place my trust in my agent and companies that spend money to better my insurance not on companies who spend my premium dollars on the owners or executive’s political motives.
a bigger financial burden than those who have nothing and actually NEED help? I don’t think so. I am a college student paying for everything myself and I am more than happy to help those who are less fortunate, I am by no means rich or comfortable, I qualify for low income housing as a matter of fact, but I know there are people who are none-the-less LESS fortunate than myself, how can I be so greedy to say I want more more more when they have nothing, I see them every day.
The real question is why has this post turned into a political battle, simmer down all, Blue/Red whatever, I think we’ve deviated from the topic, it’s not who is right or wrong, it’s how you choose to support your group.
Personally I’m a Democrat and I think this whole concept is interesting for those who actually care, but I personally don’t care enough to support one company over another because of political reasons.
Hey DW!
Sounds like your uneducated and ignorant yourself. You claim to know who people are based on their posts, when for all you know could be well-educated, maybe even more so than yourself. I would get a reality check before you judge people like that.
It’s a sad world after all
It’s a sad world after all
It’s a sad world after all
It’s a sad sad world after all
Now blue and red people go get some prozac
Pete,
Nice post. Unfortunately, during the presidential election when I checked out Green websites, I got the sense that the Green idea of social justice is nationalization of all corporations. At some point Green could change their name to the Eco-Marxist party…
Alright Pete ! I concur.
Wish it was as simple as red and blue. Unfortunately it’s religion and politics, and as your parents and grandparents told you, avoid those 2 subjects with friends or relatives. So, until the pendulum swings, if the term theocracy bothers you, just hang on, cause when they’re done burning the witches, their moment will be over.
Hey Reds … you are really going to boycott Sharper Image, Gateway, Costco, Google, Footlocker, Bed,Bath & Beyond, Barnes & Noble, Fredricks of Hollywood, Hilton Corp, VF corp (makes Nike,Lee,Britania and others, as well as Levi? Exactly just like I am not going to boycott Safeway, Victoria’s Secret,or Hershey’s. We are going to sell the best insurance for the insured. Regardless of political affliation. If your Chairman/Owner of the company you can do what you damn well feel like doing. So quit crying a river, build your bridge and just get over it.
I agree with Smurfette, and why are people making such a big deal out of this? I think some people are blowing this a little out of proportion. Why bring religion into this? It seems quite irrelevant. Does your religion determine which political party you belong to? That’s just an illogical way to look at this.
Comrade Red Nose,
If you call an end to corporate personhood a nationalization of corporations, then I guess your post makes sense. Otherwise, I suggest you reread the Green Platform with your (non-union made) Gucci Sunglasses taken off.
Peace, Love, Solidarity
Pete
(have to run now, there is a rally for the legalization of industrial hemp this afternoon :) )
That is what it is. Somehow, I think if we look real close, Progressive wears both “colors” as in Progressive Direct and Drive.
Unfortunately, the “red” capitalist feel they have to justify their capitalism and the “blue” capitalist feel they have to apologize for it. However, they both keep their spoils.
It is all crap. Just like hiding behind a “cutsie” name on what should be an open exchange of ideas between insurance professionals.
Let’s be honest, both red & blue politicos will screw-up the insurance protection we provide our clients. What we are left with is trying to figure out how to do what we do in the midst of the onslaught of political positioning.
Whether or not a San Francisco nonprofit recommends buying insurance from a particular company matter not at all. “The rodent’s rump is safe”
I am more concerned when politics replaces sound underwriter and actuarial science.
Unfortunately, there seems to be the tendency of our friends on the left to make decisions on emotion rather than fact. I’m sure they can relate to their Prog and their spiritual leader with the large corporate art collection, the French Connection and the large lefty political donations. What would they think if they knew this company asks prospective empolyees if they are OK with working 60 hours and getting paid for 40? Gasp!
Corporate Personhood? Can you translate that for those of us who don’t speak Marxist?
thanks for the correction… it was only the nationalization of Fortune 500 Corporations.
When are Americans going to wake up. Both sides like to excite the masses, while they rob us blind. Most of these corporations support politicans for what they can get out of thier votes. When we fight over Blue vs Red States, both sides collect donations from dummies. When we fight over Iraiq, both sides fill thier banks with Billions of dollars. And our insurance CEO’s are no different; AIG is in trouble but not for replacing American workers with Indians. GEICO is a dirrect writer, do you think they care about agents or thier clients? In California a large part of our workers comp problem can be traced to our commissioner and several large w/c carriers. Just look up which carriers had the largest growth and profit in the past 2 years. My feeling are; there are good people all over America, Red people, blue people, Christians, Fundamentalist, Jews and the list goes on and on. My Dad said in every group, profession, police force,church and government there are 10 to 20% evil people, he was right. So do what’s right, take care of the people who put bread on our tables, our clients.
And don’t forget about all the CFP’s, L, A&H agents who start out struggling, starving between sparse commissions – no salary, AND no group health benefits who are now being told they must disclose to prospects what commission they will get paid IF and ONLY IF they get the sale! “Blue” my ***!! And for such a prestigious position requiring expensive licenses, costly education AND continuing education, not to mention the 4 year college degree most insurance companies require job candidates to have in order just to be considered for being sponsored to get producer licenses in the first place.
Most people don’t understand how it is to work for commissions-only, and struggle to repay college loans and support themselves – or a family, on that, in an environment where everybody looks at commissions-only paid salespeople as crooks who don’t deserve to get paid a commission – hence a paycheck provided they close the sale – for their time, knowledge and responsibilities. Maybe insurance executives ought to begin demanding “rights” – such as a base salary, company-paid E&O, car allowance, expense accounts, or better yet, an hourly wage subject to overtime pay rate for every hour of time put in above the standard 40.
Jacqueline, Welcome to the world of Agents & Brokers. It can be a very rewarding or terrible carreer. After spending 36 years in the business, as an adjuster, captive agent, broker and now an owner.
1. Take everything a company representative tells you with a grain of salt. Thier first interest is in themselves and thier company. Insurance Exec are part of the problem not the solution. The less you make the more they make.
2. The real money is with renewals that are in the P&C business. Make sure you own your clients renewals.
3. Try to find an old timer to mentor you, they are out there. You may even be able to buy thier business when they decide to retire. Don’t expect this to happen if he/she has relatives working in the agency.
4. Do whats best for your clients and a high per centage will renew and follow you.
5. If all this does not work, marry a rich guy with a large book of business. ONLY KIDDING FORGET NUMBER 5
6. Laugh a lot, life is to short, life in a job you don’t like is a living hell.
I want to thank this group from CA that made it easy for me to avoid all the companies that want me to vote for the elitist left.
I will now do business as much as I can with the “red” companies now that I know who they are. In the alternative, I will now avoid all “blue” companies to send my message loud and clear.
Typical leftist response – whine and complain about the way things are but offer no solutions. Come up with a better way and the masses will follow.
Don’t know where you are from Joe, just keep on voting with your dollars to Enron, Halaburton, Tyson, the bunch of oil crooks in Texas. Sooner or later they will make your job will be mimium wage. Well at least you can pray at your good old boy church for food. Got a better idea Joe, why not join the Army, I understand they are paying big bonsuses to high schol kids to sign up. I for one am proud to be a Califorian, a moderate and one who not only prays and talks about freedom, I served. Arguing over this crap is assine when you consider young Americans, blue & red are dying for you.
Hi CA Joe: The point I was trying to make was the sheer utter hypocrisy of ANY insurer touting itself as “blue” in promoting workers’ rights, etc when no matter WHOM you are selling for, you do NOT get the benefit of any of FDR’s New Deal programs that protect workers such as a minimum wage or overtime pay which virutally every other worker gets in this country – even if they have little to no education or do not have to get costly licenses in order to qualify for their careers. My point is that the so-called “blue” companies ought to set the example by putting their money where their big fat mouths are – by paying agents and brokers a base pay for their time, responsibilities and knowledge, and we all put in far more than 40 hours a week working to sell their products. As to the advice regarding getting into P&C as opposed to starving in the L,A&H end – I am doing that now – but I had to sneak in under the radar as an independent agent & broker starting out with one direct appointment from a sub-standard auto & home insurance carrier and the other P&C stuff as a sub-broker (where I own the book of business but get shafted on the compensation), because hardly anyone wanted to be the first to give me a chance and appoint me as a newbie, so I am in the “paying my dues” phase right now. When I got my P&C license (passed on first try) back in January, captive agent opportunities in my region with ANY company were being denied to anyone who wasn’t a rich or upper middle-class young, white male. Administrative Assistant/secretary positions in established agencies were also not forthcoming for me because agents prefer to hire pretty, thin young Barbie Dolls over plump middle-aged women so that opportunity was also not available to me. State Farm, Liberty Mutual, Allstate and Nationwide are the captive insurance firms in my region and they all deny agent opportunities to those who are not well-to-do, young, white males which is why I despise the total hypocrisy of the whole “red/blue” categorization of insurers because even the “bluest” of the so-called “blue” companies discriminate against hiring/appointing middle-aged women as agents and anyone else who isn’t well-off but who has the ambition, drive and brains to succeed – if only given a chance to do so. Thus, I offer the insurance I have access to markets for, and of those, I select what company’s product will be a good fit for the insured based on their needs – not whether the carrier is a “red” or “blue” company.
One of the companies listed as a “red” company, hence implying it is not as socially responsible or socially conscious as a “blue” one just so happens to be one of the home improvement stores -who was the first to initiate corporate policy in proactively hiring economically disadvantaged jobseekers aged 55 and over who normally get discriminated against for jobs due to age by everyplace else – which is how many become poor and 100% reliant on social security in the first place.
Note: Trying to reduce senior citizen poverty, hence welfare dependency in society by utilizing experienced workers aged 55 and over was NOT started by one of those “blue” companies – it was started by a “red” company, Home Depot.
When the new Wal-Mart supercenter opened in Erie’s poor east side last year, they made every effort to hire from within the immediate neighborhood as a measure of being a good business neighbor. The neighborhood in question has a poverty/jobless rate of about 68% and the average home value is under $50K. Those Wal-Mart jobs pay on average, $8/hr to start plus full health benefits. In Erie, anyone making $20K or more a year is able to live a middle-class life, so those hired at the new Wal-Mart are getting the chance to pull themselves and their families out of poverty. Many of these new hires are black, others are white middle-aged downsized workers who had a difficult time getting hired anywhere despite experience, education and skill levels due to age discrimination. Now they are no longer poor and in the food pantry lines. Many are now for the first time, able to afford a decent used car – and became my auto insurance customers. Wal-Mart is considered a “red” company.
Meanwhile, in the local plants like GE which is unionized, as well as the skilled trades unions that offer high wages and great benefits, which are predominantly Democrat, and hence “blue”, the number of minorities hired as apprentices are slim to none – and as for women, forget it. Poor women wanting to learn and work in a skilled trade and have the chance to earn a decent living in order to be able to live decently without having to rely on welfare are told by the fine liberals running those places to go on welfare because a high-paying union job isn’t for them – it’s for white males under 40 only. They do not come right out and say this, rather they insinuate and act accordingly by “losing” or refusing to accept applications from women and blacks. Actions speak louder than words.
As for wishing to support companies that are fair to workers, good business citizens, that is all fine and well. Support those who have proven by their actions within your community by their hiring practices as well as their customer care policies in your own back yard within your community instead of paying lip-service into color-coded hype and propoganda. Do not get sold on all the “blue” and “red” hype, because you will find that it all boils down to brown – the color of bovine feces.
this red and blue stuff reminds me of government; gridlock that is; you got the reds hatin’ the blues, and the blues hatin’ the reds; dat’s why nuttin’ gets done in Washington; it’s like the big fish and the little fish; the big fish wants to eat, and the little fish wants to eat, but the big fish wants to eat the little fish, and the little fish doesn’t want to be eat. See, that’s like government.
Sniff Sniff…..You smell that? Smells like fear of corporate red companies, especially the insurance industry, bleeding profit. Already switched to Progressive from Fake Charm Insurance. Also switching to Prudential Life Insurance who is also Progressive.
keep creating… Kris
I used to live in Colorado Springs, where there was an evangelical business directory, looking much like the yellow pages, printed and distributed to churches and businesses all over town. People would buy from businesses with the “fish” logo and avopid businessess that were not run by Christian evangelicals (or at least Christians who were willing to be labeled such with the fish). If that’s OK, so is this. People who care about politics, care about who gives massive amounts of money to bad politicians. If we feel that Tom DeLay or George W Bush are bad for the country, we do not want to enrich their financial backers. It makes perfect sense and it is not prejudice – the companies that donate massive funds to keeping these fellows in Washington should reap the consequences of their anti-American-people actions. If you don’t think it’s anti-American-people, you have not been paying attention. Wake up.