Baby Boomers Give Up, Drop Out of U.S. Labor Force

By Victoria Stilwell | February 11, 2014

  • February 11, 2014 at 12:42 pm
    M. Prankster says:
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    Age discrimination is rampant in the insurance industry.

    If you ar over 50 and and completing an employment application on line and one of the first questions is, what year did you graduate from high school, you know where your application is going – the circular file.

    • February 11, 2014 at 2:03 pm
      wvagt says:
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      After nearly a year of unemployment and three more of underemployment I couldn’t agree more, regardless of what the 20-something HR person says.

    • February 11, 2014 at 3:03 pm
      Ms. Pea says:
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      Asking any questions that relate to age is against the law. So, on my resume I have just listed my last 10 years of employment, and left off any reference to dates. I still got calls for jobs, so obviously it didn’t matter to some companies. I wouldn’t answer questions on applications that asked for dates like high school or college graduation. They didn’t need to know I graduated college in 1976. Just that I graduated is enough information.

      • February 11, 2014 at 3:43 pm
        wvagt says:
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        Asking the questions directly may be against the law, but it’s still done in roundabout ways like asking how long you lived in a city or how long you’ve been in the business. If you decline to answer, your application may not get tossed but it’ll be considered long after all the rest if at all. I had three great phone interviews with an HR person, the marketing manager, and a VP. It looked like the job was mine until I went to meet them. Afterward they said they’d be in touch soon but I never got another call – must have been the gray hair. Prankster is 100% correct. Been there, done that.

        • February 11, 2014 at 3:59 pm
          Libby says:
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          It’s unfortunate, because companies don’t value the experience we grey hairs bring to the table. After all, who’s going to train their Managers and CEO’s?

          • February 11, 2014 at 5:51 pm
            FFA says:
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            There is no substitute for experience. None.

    • February 21, 2014 at 7:25 pm
      DEBRES says:
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      is this article only 4 people in the insurance industry?

  • February 11, 2014 at 12:54 pm
    James says:
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    Not just in hiring, but discrimination for those who have been with their insurance company a long time. Your contributions are no longer valued. Your job is to keep shut and let the young lead, regardless of experience or prior service.

    • February 11, 2014 at 2:00 pm
      FFA says:
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      Not in this house. Best producer I ever hired was 60 at the time. No Insurance Experience at all. Now generates over $60,000 in revenue for the house. He is now 63 and talking about working until he is 67.
      I’ll let him run with it…

      • February 11, 2014 at 2:31 pm
        Agent says:
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        FFA, Experience counts. I have tried the young producer route and those guys expected everything on a silver platter and didn’t think they had to work hard for success. Guess what young people, there isn’t enough business walking in the front door to support a producer. A hungry veteran is the best candidate and has a much better work ethic.

        • February 11, 2014 at 3:18 pm
          Sargeant Major says:
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          I agree, our top three producers are over 50 with one over 60. They bring in the revenue and their retention is great, good market or bad and they specialize. We have had a lot of discussion about what happens if they decide to retire. We have them tied up until then with bonus and profit sharing which is on an earn out basis and if you leave you lose it. But when they do decide to retire we have a problem we are trying to solve.
          I would hire an over 40 or 50 producer in a heartbeat if the business fit our agency strategy.

          • February 11, 2014 at 3:24 pm
            Libby says:
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            Sarge: If you’ve got business already on the books, you might want to consider bringing is an Account Executive type person to begin transitioning accounts. You could probably pay the AE less than you’re paying the producer and hire a pure sales person with the difference. That way your new producer is not tied up servicing a big book of business and the AE’s responsibility is to retain that business. It’s just a thought. That’s how many of the large agencies in Denver did it.

          • February 12, 2014 at 5:34 pm
            Agent says:
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            Me too Sargeant on hiring a 40-50 producer. I have had it with the GenX or GenY crowd who don’t have the work ethic or desire and it is all gimmee, gimmee, gimmee with them. Been there, done that and no more. I have younger partners who I will leave it to them to figure it out when I am gone. Do you have Key Man Life on the producers you have? That can be nice if someone dies on you and suddenly you have to replace income they have produced. All of us have it and we even have it on some of our key CSR’s because finding a good one is very hard as well.

    • February 17, 2014 at 5:50 pm
      Agent says:
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      Which is why I am glad I am not a company employee who gets cut on a whim of management to increase the bottom line. AIG is cutting now and I am sure a number of those people thought they had a job until they retire, but they are just cut off at the knees and can’t get another position.

  • February 11, 2014 at 2:26 pm
    jack says:
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    “labor force participation rate at lowest level since 1978”

    Damn that George Bush!

    • February 11, 2014 at 2:32 pm
      Agent says:
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      You can also damn that Ronald Reagan. According to the left, Ronny was who started the ball rolling to doom.

      • February 11, 2014 at 2:35 pm
        jack says:
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        Now everyone who’s not working will have time with their family…it’s all good.

        • February 11, 2014 at 3:27 pm
          Libby says:
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          Did you both miss the part about “Baby Boomers” retiring and that being the biggest share of the labor force decrease?

          It has nothing to do with Obama, Bush, or Reagan. I know I’m getting to that age and I’m ready as soon as I am able. Agencies are not doing a good job grooming and training for the mass exodus of the grey hairs that’s coming up. It’s going to mean a huge loss of intellectual capital to the industry.

          • February 11, 2014 at 3:45 pm
            jack says:
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            Did you read the title? Baby boomers GIVE UP-DROP OUT!

          • February 11, 2014 at 3:55 pm
            Agent says:
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            Libby, who are we going to groom? Should we just continue to try young snot nosed guys that think they should be handed a book of business? They don’t have the empathy or ability to work with veteran insureds. It is a very difficult problem. Hiring ex company people is not the answer either. I have heard from a number of them and they say they used to be in the agency business and usually there is a good reason. They failed at the agency business and wanted a salary and benefits.

          • February 11, 2014 at 4:06 pm
            Libby says:
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            You need to find an eager, bright, and hard working person. They are few, but they are out there.

            I have also tried working with young people that think they are prepared to take over my job after 6 months because they don’t know what they don’t know. And I have worked with many “jungle fighter” producers, who’s only job was to bring in leads and leave all the technical stuff up to everyone else. None of them were successful.

            If you are good at selling, there will become a point where you can no longer service your book and continue selling. That’s when you hire an AE to take over the producer’s non-sales related duties for an existing book. Let the people that can sell get out and sell and leave the service to people that can service and retain business. It’s a win-win. I know it works because most of the large houses in Denver did it this way.

        • February 14, 2014 at 2:40 pm
          FFA says:
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          That is just going to increase the divorce rate.

  • February 11, 2014 at 4:08 pm
    cassandra says:
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    The point is, that even Boomers that want to continue o work can’t get jobs easily, if at all. Given the 401k and SS, sometimes it just makes sense to retire. This “new fangled” “apply on line” is a clever ruse to allow HR or hiring personnel total anonymity…and lack of courtesy to even respond to a resume submitted.

    This is unfortunate since many of the new generation simply don’t know the basics of underwriting; relying on the computer to underwrite has caused a generation of underwriters who have no history or any concept of classing, pricing, or monitoring a risk for performance. Not good practice. Not only the underwriters, but the agents are also clueless, for the most part.

    Does not bode well for the industry…or the older, experienced employee.

    • February 11, 2014 at 4:31 pm
      Libby says:
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      Exactly!

    • February 13, 2014 at 10:05 am
      ExciteBiker says:
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      Re: new generation, you might find there are still a few top tier training programs around, though they are limited in number.

      Re: apply online– I have never heard of someone getting a job from an online job board.

  • February 11, 2014 at 5:16 pm
    Cassandra says:
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    Hey, Libby

    Want to hire me as an AE? Just got RIF’d by my company…35 years inn the industry, 29 in commercial multiline undw…

    • February 12, 2014 at 9:31 am
      Libby says:
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      If you know how to sell, I’d consider it. Unfortunately, underwriters have a difficult time making the transition to agency life…

      • February 12, 2014 at 11:29 am
        Agent says:
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        Libby, most Underwriters have no clue how to sell. We have to deal with them all the time. They may be good technicians and know how to put an account together, but when you have to get the name on the dotted line and a check in hand, they are worthless since they can’t close a sale. Agency life as a Producer is not for them. By the way, the best sales people come from the Claims Department. They are used to dealing with people, overcoming objections and reaching agreement with the customer. They generally do well when they convert to sales.

        • February 12, 2014 at 12:25 pm
          Libby says:
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          I started out in claims. On the agency side, though. Never worked for a company. I always joked that I worked too hard to be with a company. LOL!

      • February 14, 2014 at 4:22 pm
        cassandra says:
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        Libby
        In reply…that’s because most underwriters don’t known that they ARE selling…EVERYDAY and with EVERYTHING they do…they have to sell the “No” as well as the “yes,” the pricing instead of the low ball, the service to the agent needs to be the best of all their companies, and they need to sell their company over all the many others that could be chosen..

        I always considered my underwriting job as “technical sales.”

        However, I started out as a captive agent, then owned my own agency and carried an all lines license for 28 years or so…

        Yeah, Libby…I know how to sell.

        • February 14, 2014 at 4:59 pm
          Libby says:
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          Well, then. You’re hired! When can you start?

        • February 17, 2014 at 5:57 pm
          Agent says:
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          Why did you quit being an agent Cassandra and start being an underwriter? I can understand if you were either an Allstate or Farmer’s agent since they treat their agents badly. Most would now rather be an Independent than Captive.

  • February 11, 2014 at 5:31 pm
    30 year old says:
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    I am a relatively new producer and there is no question that all the knowledge i am gaining is purely because of the talent i surround myself with. The owner mentors me and all the AEs are patient with my questions. I couldnt ask for a better scenario.
    We need the 50+ y.o. Agents to teach us the ropes. I am convinced that you will not become successful without a mentor… but you also need to understand that success wont happen over night. It takes years and years (10,000 hours anyone).
    My suggestion is not to hire the smartest, best guy out there, but the one that believes in what you do and will still show up regardless of the paycheck.
    …Anyhow, gotta get back to work bc i’m funding the babyboomers SS and supplementing their healthcare costs too.
    How about them apples?

    • February 12, 2014 at 11:51 am
      Agent says:
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      Hey 30, I agree with some of what you are saying. A young person starting out in this business does need a lot of mentoring and training to make a go of it. They don’t have to be the smartest, but they have to have a very strong work ethic, not be afraid of making cold calls, have to know how to get accurate information for the CSR’s to market and probably the key ingredient is to find the potential customer’s hot button. You won’t sell anything without that. They may let you quote, but they won’t move and are often just keeping their agent honest. I had plenty of practice at that as a young producer and learned the hard way about customer motivation. I don’t like working on accounts that are shopping all over town for a price. They will leave as fast as they come in. Building relationships is what it is all about and getting referrals is the best business since it is more than half sold when you see them. By the way, I as an agent have tried to bring in young producers, mentor them, train them, encourage them and they just didn’t have the work ethic to beat the bushes to bring in business. If you are aggressive and work hard and learn your trade, you will do fine.

  • February 12, 2014 at 9:55 am
    KY jw says:
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    I’m just going to throw this out there.

    When I’m eligible to retire, I will. I love my job – I am very good at it. However, I do have a life outside of work and I really want to spend more time doing other things.

    I don’t understand why this labor force data is expecting everyone to continue working even if they don’t have to. Am I misunderstanding what the article is saying? That labor participation is based on all adults who are able to work?

    • February 12, 2014 at 5:25 pm
      Agent says:
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      KY, you do understand that the country needs a viable workforce to support it and pay taxes that keep the government running, don’t you? We have massive problems with debt and Congress keeps raising the debt limit and won’t cut back on entitlements. Bankruptcy is on the near horizen. Increase the labor participation rate and more people are paying taxes and perhaps a balanced budget can be reached at some point. Having 47% of workers not paying taxes is criminal in a Constitutional Republic. A flat tax may be an answer instead of continual tax hikes to the better off that create jobs. Progressive taxes are evil and we need to get rid of loopholes for the extremely wealthy, but we also don’t need to hike them on entrepreneurs or they will just stop hiring altogether. That is not a good thing.

      • February 13, 2014 at 8:01 am
        Ron says:
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        Agent,

        It is down to 43% who do not pay federal income taxes. Please try to keep up.

        In addition, only 14% of households pay no federal income or payroll taxes and 2/3 of them are elderly. That means less than 5% of househlods, not including the elderly, are not paying any federal taxes.

        http://www.businessinsider.com/43-of-americans-dont-pay-federal-income-tax-2013-9

        I have asked this question multiple times without any answer:
        Would you rather have the 43% spend their money in the private sector or give it to the government? If we go to a flat tax, how are the people who are living paycheck to paycheck going to replace the money they will now be paying in taxes? Are you going to force employers to increase wages to make up the difference so the 43% will continue to put money into the economy?

        • February 13, 2014 at 12:52 pm
          Agent says:
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          Way to go Ron. Post another of those dufus websites with bad info. Whether it is 47% or 43% not paying income tax is immaterial. By the way, Social Security recipients do pay taxes and it is withdrawn on every check received. Clinton/Gore made sure of that back in their day. Are you one of those people like Pelosi & Obama who think more unemployment actually stimulates the economy since those people go out and spend their unemployment checks? How about the record Disability crowd who used up their 99 weeks and trotted down to the Social Security Administration to sign up since they can’t work now? The simple answer to your question is that the country needs to go back to work, not sit back and collect benefits. A working person will contribute more in taxes to help the economy and pay for government. The whole economy could be righted if government cuts back on spending and we get several million more in the workforce. What has this administration done to encourage employers to hire? Have there been any incentives passed to do that? How about some tax cuts to the entrepreneurs who create jobs? Anything????????

          • February 13, 2014 at 1:44 pm
            Ron says:
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            Agent,

            is this a better website for you? I hope Fox News is not too leftist.

            http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/09/10/infamous-47-percent-not-paying-federal-taxes-now-43-percent/

            You did not answer my question, as usual.

            I want to know if you would rather people give more money to the government or keep it in the private sector? Simple question.

            Myself and probably 90%+ of the people agree with you that we need to get more people back to work. However, I did not think that the government creates jobs.

            You asked, “What has this administration done to encourage employers to hire?” This is a summary of President Obama’s American Jobs Act from 2011 that was never even considered by the House. Note that it is from the GOP’s own website. Of course it is not perfect, but there are plenty of incentives for employers to hire veterans and the long-term unemployed. Isn’t that what you wanted?

            http://www.gop.gov/policy-news/11/09/13/summary-of-the-presidents

            You asked, “Have there been any incentives passed to do that? How about some tax cuts to the entrepreneurs who create jobs? Anything????????” The administration cannot do anything on these fronts. You need to bring that up with Congress.

            Notice how I answered all of your questions. Try providing the same courtesy sometime.

          • February 13, 2014 at 3:24 pm
            Ron says:
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            Agent,

            How come you only discredit the source instead of disproving the data/information?

          • February 18, 2014 at 2:05 pm
            Trust me I am not a liberal says:
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            C’mon, now, Agent!!! Don’t you know that with them being unemployed, it’ll give them more time to be with their families!! It’s all good, man!!!

          • February 18, 2014 at 2:29 pm
            Libby says:
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            Is that you in disguise, Jack?

      • February 13, 2014 at 8:36 am
        KY jw says:
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        But, if you have enough money to retire, aren’t you still paying taxes?

        My next question is about unemployment. Don’t we need people to retire so the next group of job seekers can find jobs?

        I am having trouble understanding this. The concept of working until you die is going to really hurt the people who do financial planning. I mean if you don’t ever retire, why save money and invest for retirement? I cannot wrap my head around this concept. I thought we all were looking forward to retiring. Isn’t that the goal of working?

        • February 13, 2014 at 1:03 pm
          Agent says:
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          KYjw, The way the economy is supposed to work is that people can work hard, save for retirement, have a 401K or IRA and supplement it with Social Security or private retirement plan. Unfortunately, the out of control government has seen to it that people have to keep working to keep a roof over their head. How many public retirement/pension plans have you seen in recent years with cities, counties and state governments that are so underfunded because of sweetheart deals negotiated by the public unions? Sargeant can tell you about the bankrupt pension plan of Detroit.

          Regarding unemployment, people were looking forward to retirement to make room for younger people. Obamacare and the enormous costs associated with it and the numerous taxes in it have belayed a lot of plans. It is the biggest job killer ever created. Tell me who is going to hire new employees in this economy with the specter of Obamacare hanging over their heads whether it is this year or the newest delay of another year. Not many! Welcome to the Brave New World of Obama.

          • February 13, 2014 at 1:57 pm
            Ron says:
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            Agent,

            You did not answer KY jw’s questions.

            KY jw,

            You may or may not be paying taxes inretirement. There are several factors based on how your retirement is funded. Here are the IRS guidelines to see if your Social Security benefits are taxable:
            http://www.irs.gov/uac/Are-Your-Social-Security-Benefits-Taxable%3F

            Here is another good source of information:
            http://moneyover55.about.com/od/taxtips/a/Retirement-Taxable-Income.htm

            Yes, we do need people to retire to open positions for younger people. The CBO report on the PPACA indicated that many of the jobs that will be lost are due to the fact that people who are only working in order to obtain health care will no longer need to work. Therefore they will be leaving voluntarily, opening more positions for the unemployed.

            That is how you answer somebody’s questions without going on some irrelevant political rant, Agent.

        • February 14, 2014 at 1:31 pm
          FFA says:
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          JW, its forced retirement. My Brother at 53 is in a position to have to start drawing on his retirement because no one will hire him at his Journeyman Wage. He dont feel he should make less money per hour so he wont take a pay cut. thats the Democrat in him thinking he is worth more then the market pays. I will say that he most likely will not vote Dem again. Two years out of work.

          • February 14, 2014 at 2:43 pm
            Libby says:
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            FFA – that’s not the Democrat in him. That’s the stubborn MAN in him. I, too, was laid off making a very high salary. I didn’t want to take anything less than what I had been making, either. But, guess what? Reality set in and I ended up taking a job making 2/3 what I made before because it was still a helluva lot more than the $550 a week I was making on unemployment. I could have ridden that out, but I didn’t and I’m a Democrat. I don’t appreciate being labelled as a lazy leach on society just because of my politics. That’s not fair.

          • February 14, 2014 at 4:38 pm
            FFA says:
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            His entire working life, his union pounded Vote Democrat in him. thats what he did- what the Hall Said was the best for him. I did not say anything abut you and your values. I was pointing my comment right at him and his situation.

            You are dead on about the stubborness in him. Even my other Union Bother has taken a pay cut. Not him.

            Out of the 6 of us, 2 are union and currently both unemployed – voted Dem all these years. 1 is a low life thief. The other three are non union and employed.

            As far as my oldest bro goes, there really is no word in any dictionary that describes how stubborn he is. Easier making sense to a rock.

            Enjoy your VDay…

        • February 17, 2014 at 6:03 pm
          Agent says:
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          Ron, Apparently you haven’t been staying up with the news recently. You say that Congress has to pass legislation to provide tax cuts to entrepreneurs and the Administration cannot do that. Hello, if a President has the pen and the phone and thinks he can do whatever he wants and goes around Congress, I think he could do an Executive Order passing tax cuts to business to incentivize for job growth. Why doesn’t he just do that? He could be a hero in the American peoples eyes. Why do I think that is the last thing on his mind?

          • February 18, 2014 at 8:10 am
            Ron says:
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            Agent,

            Please cite where in the Constitution the President has this authority. Yopu complain about the number of EOs he has signed, now you want him to sign more. Make up your mind.

            He already presented a comprehensive jobs bill that included tax cuts to businesses who expand and hire, escpecially veterans and the long-term unemployed. Unfortunately, he also believbe that it should be paid for and not increase the debt and deficit even further. How dare he care about fiscal responsibility. I find it ironic that the part of the bill that the Republicans were against is what they have been complaining about since he was elected.

    • February 14, 2014 at 8:01 pm
      FurriePrincess says:
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      KY, I am an example. I started on the agency side for a small corporate owned agency. I was there through good and bad and when they were acquired by a very big company. I made it up the ladder to middle management and I had a good life for 25 years. The agency operation was sold, the employees were not assets so we were gone. Not long after, the very big company went into bankruptcy. Job gone, Pension gone… big chunk of 401K gone as stock was worthless. I am past retirement age now, and still working, at 50% of what I used to make and no benefits. Haven’t had a vacation in 10 years. What else do I do? I did take the step down to being a csr from a manager, but a paycheck is a paycheck. I’d rather that than unemployment.

      • February 17, 2014 at 6:10 pm
        Agent says:
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        I feel for you Princess. Unfortunately, large agencies gobble up small agencies all the time and sometimes employees lose out when that happens. They can’t hold onto their renewals and business goes down. Then, they wish they had those employees they let go. I have been approached by giant agencies wanting to merge with us and they talk a good game at increasing market availability, more ability to place difficult accounts, giving our ownership more time to sell without the headaches of managing the business. It is all a crock of s – – -. A few years back, I saw a story on one of those mega agencies that went belly up and all the agents who had associated with them got caught up in that and lost out. That must have been quite a mess.

        • February 18, 2014 at 8:55 am
          Libby says:
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          If you’re talking about Brooke, they were an insurance franchise scam. They not only went belly up, but were indicted for fraud and investigated by the SEC. They were a terrible organization.

      • February 18, 2014 at 9:02 am
        KY jw says:
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        FurriePrincess, that just sucks. No two ways about it.

        I’m thinking more of people who have the money to retire and want to retire. I read the article to mean that this is bad. Retiring on purpose is bad for the economy because it reduces the taxable income. Perhaps I’m misunderstanding?

        • February 18, 2014 at 12:34 pm
          Agent says:
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          Unfortunately KYjw, you are right that the more people on the sidelines who take retirement over working does reduce the taxable income. Workers with real jobs pay the freight and retirees have much less income to tax even though Social Security is taxed in most cases. Employers with fewer employees also pay less taxes on payroll. This is a vicious cycle and government refuses to get their act together to reduce their size, so the deficit keeps rising. Entitlements and Obamacare are what is bankrupting the country and there is not enough money in the till to fund them.

          • February 18, 2014 at 1:44 pm
            Libby says:
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            Corporate greed is what is bankrupting this country. Sending jobs overseas, making their workers carry the burden when they make massive lay-offs, and paying less than a fair wage because the job market allows it. All the while they are making record profits and the stock market is exploding. As an end result, this causes a higher deficit because there are less taxes being collected. It’s sickening.

          • February 18, 2014 at 2:12 pm
            Trust me I am not a liberal says:
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            No, Libby. The UNIONS are what are bankrupting this country.

          • February 18, 2014 at 2:33 pm
            Libby says:
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            I’m not a big fan of unions. I think they have outlived their usefulness, but I don’t think they are bankrupting the country. Their numbers are dwindling, not increasing.

          • February 18, 2014 at 2:49 pm
            KY jw says:
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            Not a liberal – Union membership is decreasing.

            From Fox Business News:

            Last year, unions represented 11.3% of U.S. workers, flat with 2012 but down from about 20% in 1983. The private-sector membership rate was just 6.7%, compared with 35.3% in the public sector.

          • February 18, 2014 at 3:00 pm
            Trust me I am not a liberal says:
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            My point is, the unions have done their damage almost to the point of no return. Look at Detroit, Stockton and San Bernardino, CA (San Bernardino voters, btw,voted the union politicians OUT because they bankrupted their city). It’s not easy coming out of a bankruptcy as an individual; it’s got to be 100 times more difficult for a city to do it. I praise the TN VW workers for voting down the UAW!!

  • February 12, 2014 at 10:04 am
    Libby says:
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    I think it’s based on tracking all the adults that are currently working. The number has gone down for various reasons.

    I’m with you. The day I’m able to retire, I’m outta here. Paid my dues, did my time.

    • February 12, 2014 at 3:11 pm
      Agent says:
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      How about listing the various reasons Libby like you ask me to do when I make a general observation? What are your sources for the various reasons why Americans no longer have a strong work ethic?

      This country used to value the work ethic and people were proud to get a job and have a career. Have you ever hired anyone in your experience? I have and the look of joy on their faces is priceless. I think we have an influx of people who are basically lazy and want everything handed to them. Part of the Entitlement Society we have now. Pretty soon, there will not be enough workers to support the ones who don’t want to work.

      • February 12, 2014 at 3:28 pm
        Libby says:
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        Yes, I agree with you. The younger set doesn’t seem to have the same work ethic we do. I think there are two reasons and they are Mom and Dad. My parents made me do chores to earn an allowance if I wanted to buy something. I didn’t always get everything I wanted for Christmas and every team did not get a trophy. We realized we had to work for what we got and would be punished for not doing the right thing.

        But since I started supporting myself at age 17 and am now 55, I’m just plumb tired. When 59-1/2 hits (sooner if I can swing it) I’m going to retire. When the money runs out, it runs out. I’ll figure something out.

        • February 12, 2014 at 5:18 pm
          Agent says:
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          Libby, the big difference is how a kid is raised. A kid from a middle class/lower middle class background does not really have a shot at higher education unless they have a scholarship or work their way through college. My family didn’t have two nickels to rub together, but we did have a very strong work ethic and wanted to get ahead. Kids are supposed to do better than their parents. My scholarship enabled me to get educated and then my drive to succeed did the rest. I was the first in my extended family to have a college education. My parents were supportive, but no they couldn’t give me a new car to go to school in or a monthly allowance. I still had to work my way through with every odd job I could find. It only made me appreciate what I had when I did succeed. A lot of kids are spoiled these days and think they are entitled. When they graduate, they think they can start off with a big salary, benefits etc. They have found out differently in today’s Obama economy and often either work at menial type jobs or they fail to launch and live with their parents who continue to spoil them. That is why so many of these snot noses are not much good in our industry. They have no idea how to work, be productive and they expect more from their jobs than the employer is willing to pay. We veterans are also tired of butting our heads against a brick wall. Our industry does not resemble what it was just 10 years ago. This is all I know so I will hang in there and hope we change the government out shortly and get some people in there that will represent us instead of ordering us around, ruining the economy and making life tougher on us.

          • February 14, 2014 at 10:28 am
            Libby says:
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            Agent – this “entitlement” attitude has been around alot longer than just the last 5 years. It’s an entire generation and has nothing to do with the President. It’s been brought on by parents giving everything to their kids thinking they were doing a good thing. It turns out it cripples them when they are finally let loose in the world. They expect everything to be given to them and to get everything they want, because that’s how it’s always been for them. A parent’s job is to prepare their children for adulthood, not be their best friend.

          • February 14, 2014 at 1:36 pm
            FFA says:
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            Agent, I do agree with you on the raising of the kids thing.
            Kids do need to work for their education – middle class / lower class / higher class – no matter.
            People in the Lower Class tend to lean social status as reasoning for failure. when I hear that, I point out the founder of Dominos Pizza, Jimmy Grahm and a few others. Always follows with another excuse.

          • February 14, 2014 at 2:48 pm
            Libby says:
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            So you think social standing has no bearing on the chances of success in America?

            Yes, there have been many poor &/or disadvantaged kids that have gone on to success. But those are the exception rather than the rule. If your familiy has money they can buy you a diploma from Harvard or Yale and guarantee you have a lucrative career whether you’re any good at what you do or not.

            Poor people do NOT have the same advantages as the wealthy and that’s just a fact of life. Not an excuse. A fact.

          • February 14, 2014 at 4:15 pm
            FFA says:
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            Libby, I did not say anything like that.
            I stated that there is opportunity for all people rich and Poor and all points in between for success.

          • February 14, 2014 at 4:46 pm
            cassandra says:
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            Agent

            I mainly agree with a lot you said (surprisingly) but you cannot impute the lack of work ethic to President Obama. You also cannot impute the changes in the industry to Obama, either.

            In looking at industry change, you have to note the computerization and the “clericalization” of insurance. New stats indicate that many will purchase on line for small business and personal lines. I find that highly interesting since in my experience, when people ask for “full coverage” on auto, asked to provide replacement value for HO, and if they know what business income is supposed to do…are essentially clueless. But so be it.

            You might also look at the insurance companies who are fostering this with on line quoting and binding…and then reducing agent commissions…The bean counters are now in control.

            Unfortunately, it seems the new generation of agents and underwriters is just as clueless.

            All this has NOTHING to do with Obama or Democrats…this is technology replacing wisdom and knowledge to save payrolls…

            Frankly, I am glad that I am at…or near…the end of my insurance career; I can’t believe some of the stupidity that I see daily from the rookies.

            Agent, I think the insurance industry needs no help in “ruining the economy.” Our industry does a pretty good job of that itself.

            AND, it would seem to me, that the “government” has pretty much left the insurance industry alone…oh, except for the 50 state DOI’s that make life ridiculously complicated for anyone trying to insure a multistate or national risk…

            You are blaming this administration for some things that aren’t its fault. Trust me, many of these changes you don’t like are evolutionary and a lot are the result of terchnology and globalization…as well as due to striving to keep the Wall Street investors happy…

        • February 14, 2014 at 6:22 pm
          Agent says:
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          I thought you were married Libby. Aren’t you a two person income family like a lot of Americans? If both of you are on Social Security, have a 401K or IRA and any other investments, do you still think you will run out of money? Perhaps so if Progressive taxation continues and Progressive politicians continue to be elected in the near future.

          • February 18, 2014 at 8:59 am
            Libby says:
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            Unlike you, I don’t know what the future holds, Agent. I won’t be on social security or have access to my pension at 59-1/2, so I suppose it’s possible I could run out of IRA and 401k money. Fortunately, my husband will be 62 by then and if he retires, we’d have his social security then. But again, I don’t know. Just know I’m tired and am aiming for 59-1/2 to retire.

          • February 18, 2014 at 9:09 am
            KY jw says:
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            I’m jealous, Libby. I’ll probably work until I’m 65. I *might* be able to get out at 63, if the stars align just right and my IRA & 401K kick butt. I went through a period of not saving and boy that really was a bad idea. I’m doubling down, now.

          • February 18, 2014 at 12:09 pm
            Libby says:
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            Yeah, I hear ya. I’m not sure I’ll be able to do, but it sure is my dream. Have I mentioned how tired I am??

    • February 12, 2014 at 3:33 pm
      M. Prankster says:
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      I am soooo with you on that Libby! I really feel sorry for elderly people– I mean in their 80’s and older still working — it’s gotta be killer!

      • February 12, 2014 at 3:53 pm
        Libby says:
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        I’m not elderly. Just tired.

        • February 13, 2014 at 8:41 am
          KY jw says:
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          I’m not tired, yet, but I do want to spend my money on something other than gas to and from work. ;)

      • February 13, 2014 at 1:05 pm
        Agent says:
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        Prankster, we have Progressive politicians to thank for the state of this economy and forcing people to work beyond their normal retirement age.

      • February 14, 2014 at 12:37 pm
        Agent says:
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        Libby, I agree in part with your post, however in the past 5 years, the Progressives in government has snowballed the entitlements with no end in sight. Food stamps doubled, housing assistance, free cell phones, government cheese, welfare, 99 weeks of unemployment, disability claims for Social Security with millions added to the rolls and that is for life. Yes, some parents have spoiled their kids and given them too much and not prepared them for the real world. They are the ones who have the failure to launch kids sitting around downloading their apps on their iphones. 3 squares, no rent, have car, free laundry and they are good. Unfortunately, they will not be productive citizens.

        • February 14, 2014 at 1:13 pm
          Libby says:
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          Yes, “entitlements” as you like to call them, have increased. Mostly to avoid a depression due to the folly of Wall Street and the crash of the economy which did not happen on Obama’s watch. I know you say he hasn’t done enough fast enough for a recovery and you may be right. But much of the blame rests with Congress and their inability to pass any meaningful legislation due to their constant bickering and grandstanding.

          • February 14, 2014 at 3:11 pm
            Agent says:
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            Libby, there is enough blame to go around. If you remember, the Democrats controlled Congress starting in 2007 and between Pelosi & Reid, they ramped up the spending big time. They didn’t monitor or control Fannie & Freddie which led to the sub prime meltdown. Don’t you remember Bawney & Chris saying they were sound and no need to be alarmed? The sub prime meltdown is one of the prime reasons why the economy tanked. I know you like to blame GW for all of it, but Congress is the main culprit. All Wall Street did was get greedy, get a lot of banks interested in buying all those bogus notes and make some money on them. Yes, they are partly to blame, but government started the ball rolling and the housing crisis really started back in the Clinton days when they were pushing home ownership for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay a mortgage. That was incredibly stupid and it pretty much ruined the country for the foreseeable future.

          • February 14, 2014 at 3:18 pm
            Libby says:
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            “We can put light where there’s darkness, and hope where there’s despondency in this country. And part of it is working together as a nation to encourage folks to own their own home.” – President George W. Bush, Oct. 15, 2002

            Don’t try to blame that on Clinton…

        • February 18, 2014 at 9:13 am
          KY jw says:
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          You want to know what’s really scary? I know parents here in the bluegrass state who actually DO NOT want their kids to move out. I’m not joking. They do everything they can to encourage their kids to “stay home”. If my husband had his way, our daughter would never leave. Thank heavens she takes after me and wants to be independent. She’s not interested in being smoothered, but many kids love that style of parenting.

          • February 18, 2014 at 12:08 pm
            Libby says:
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            I tend to think that’s selfish on the parent’s part. They are not allowing their children to experience life.

      • February 14, 2014 at 3:30 pm
        Agent says:
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        Libby, America has always been the land of opportunity if one has the gumption and drive to get educated and will work hard for it. Millions of kids have gotten student loans to get an education and worked part time to get through school or had scholarships to help them out. I am a prime example. I literally did not have 2 nickels to rub together my whole college career, but I made it. The poor and disadvantaged of today have grown up in entitlements and apparently like their status and want others to support them all their lives. There also is a case to be made of single parent households not being able to guide the kids, make them get their homework done and the lack of supervision leads to trouble. That is why I admire Dr. Ben Carson so much and his mother who couldn’t even read making him read books until he had a hunger for education. The man made it, became a world class Neurosurgeon and he is a prime example of success.

        • February 14, 2014 at 3:54 pm
          Libby says:
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          Agent – you speak of entire class of people as if you are well acquainted. You simply don’t know what you’re talking about. Getting an education is no way as simple as it was when you did it.

          I do agree about parental guidance, or lack thereof. That has been one of my major points when talking about this issue. Breaking the cycle. More than likely the parents were raised the same way and know of no other example with which to raise their children. It’s about changing a culture. Do that and the rest will come with it.

          • February 14, 2014 at 4:23 pm
            Agent says:
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            Libby, I respectfully disagree that you think getting an education was easier when I went to college. You don’t have any idea how I struggled to get through college. My mother divorced my dad when I was 16 and she had almost no resources at all. I worked hard in the summer to get enough to carry me through the year and worked in a dining hall washing dishes. I drove a 49 Plymouth that barely got me around and had trouble finding gas money. It was very hard, but it made me appreciate what I achieved later in life. I look on my office wall at that degree with pride.

          • February 14, 2014 at 5:05 pm
            Libby says:
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            I’m not taking anything away from your accomplishment. What I meant is primary education is sorely lacking, espectially for inner-city youth. Without the foundation of a sound primary education, you can’t even get into college. That’s all different from our generation when most kids had access to quality primary education and parents were more involved in their kids life.

            If you can’t read or write, how are you going to get into college?

      • February 14, 2014 at 3:33 pm
        Agent says:
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        FFA, How would you like some Friday afternoon humor?

        I saw a great picture of Chris Christie. He was trying to explain his problem with the bridge closing scandal. It said under his picture – This is all a big misunderstanding. I am on a diet and I told my staff to close the fridge, not the bridge. That is funny!

        • February 14, 2014 at 4:30 pm
          FFA says:
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          Good Stuff. From Letterman last night –
          They invented Chocolate Flavored Tooth Paste. cant get affordable Health Care, but we can get Chocolate Flavored Tooth Paste. Chris Christy uses it for a condiment…

          • February 14, 2014 at 6:04 pm
            Agent says:
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            From the era of George Carlin who may have been the funniest guy I saw in the past 25 years.

            Why is it that we could land a man on the moon before we realized it was a good idea to have rollers on a suitcase?

        • February 14, 2014 at 6:12 pm
          Agent says:
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          So Libby, why is it that primary education has failed in this country? The US spends more on education than any country in the civilized world. Why do we have a Department of Education at all? It is worthless. Need a hint? Teachers Unions who aren’t interested in teaching and just want all their benefits taken care of in lucrative contracts. Ask FFA about the teachers unions in Chicago sometime. Also, the broken home syndrome where parents are not involved in their kids education. I must say that my parents only had a high school education and they were not very involved, but I had better not bring home a C or D on my report card in any subject or I would catch h – – -. I was motivated to keep my grades up. Dr. Carson’s illiterate mother knew enough to make him keep his grades up too. I think he turned out well, don’t you?

          • February 14, 2014 at 6:48 pm
            FFA says:
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            My grades motivation was simple – No B’s, No Keys. No if and or buts about it. Pick up a ticket – lose the car for three months.

            Primary education – Bring back the Nuns with their knuckle wrapping rulers. Their nasty looking stares…. memorize a page out of the Dictionary.

          • February 18, 2014 at 12:06 pm
            Libby says:
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            Agent – why do you ask me a question and then go ahead and answer it yourself?

        • February 17, 2014 at 5:46 pm
          Agent says:
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          Actually Libby, a kid can get into college being functionally illiterate. Junior colleges take kids if they are good athletes and can play football or basketball. They manage to keep them eligible with menial courses requiring little skill or aptitude. Later, they get them transferred to bigger 4 year schools who perpetuate the problem and pass them on with basket weaving courses, remedial reading, remedial math, remedial everything, anything to keep them eligible. It doesn’t work out so well for the other kids, but athletes get special treatment. I knew a guy in college who was a great football player who had special tutors, menial courses and they still couldn’t keep him eligible. He would go to class and sleep in there or not go at all. What a dunce.

      • February 14, 2014 at 4:33 pm
        Agent says:
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        FFA, I remember reading a story a while back that Bill Gates founded Microsoft in his garage with a couple of buddies of his. Herman Caine also had poor circumstances and rose to head a Pizza chain. There have been many rags to riches stories in the US since our founding. What other country in the history of the world has had this kind of success story? Where have most of the inventions come from in the past 100 years or so? How about medical advances? It is truly amazing at the genius of inventors and how a free society has encouraged it. Now, we have a President and his minions who are about to destroy our free society and create an entitlement society slowly sinking into the abyss of mediocrity.

        • February 14, 2014 at 4:43 pm
          FFA says:
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          There is a commercial currently running in my neck of the woods about all the start up from a garage. Gates is hi lited on that.

      • February 18, 2014 at 12:44 pm
        Agent says:
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        So Libby, I don’t think I said that I know what the future holds for anyone and this is about as unpredictable an economy and country as I have seen in my adult life. I am sure that this country will not last with Progressive entitlements and Obamacare sucking the lifeblood out of it. There just aren’t enough working people to fund what they are doing. Does your husband not have any 401K or IRA coming in addition to taking Social Security? Between the two of you, I would think you could get by unless you have a lot of debt built up. Most successful people don’t have a lot of debt when they get to around 60 or so since the kids are long gone, no student loans to pay off, mortgage paid etc. I must have done something right along the way, because I just have monthly living expenses, property taxes etc to pay since Texas does not have a state income tax. You poor Blue States people have a lot on your plate. Good luck paying for all that.

        • February 18, 2014 at 1:48 pm
          Libby says:
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          Well, we have to pay for all the red states that suck off the federal teet.

          And yes, my husband has a 401k, pension, and social security and he is planning to work until 65. Me, I don’t have alot of debt, but I want to be able to pull my own weight. And since we just moved in to our house in 2011, it is far from paid off. But we’re making progress. 3 down and 12 to go.

          • February 19, 2014 at 6:32 pm
            FFA says:
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            You consider Il a Red State?

    • February 14, 2014 at 9:52 am
      Agent says:
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      Ron, how about providing more recent articles from your vaunted websites with old information. You trot out an article talking about 2010 income levels??? Where have you been in the age of Obama? A good number of the retired do not live on Social Security alone or they wouldn’t survive. They either have a business or work part time or have some investment income which put them over the threshold of income, therefore they are taxed on the Social Security income they receive.

      • February 14, 2014 at 10:20 am
        Ron says:
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        Agent,

        How about providing some useful information based on questions people ask?

        KY jw’s original question was, “But, if you have enough money to retire, aren’t you still paying taxes?” She said nothing about working during retirement years.

        Did you read my post? Did you miss the part where I stated, “You may or may not be paying taxes in retirement. There are several factors based on how your retirement is funded.”?

        Do you have anything that disputes the facts that were presented in the articles I cited?

        • February 14, 2014 at 12:41 pm
          Agent says:
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          Give me updated information Ron and I will respond to it. Your data is so old, it leaves out the worst of Obama’s economy from 2011 to 2014. I did answer the question, but you and I obviously don’t speak the same language. That is the difference between yankee talk and Texas talk. Did you miss the part where I stated that Social Security is taxed if the person worked, had a business or had investment income? What part of that do you not understand?

          • February 14, 2014 at 12:58 pm
            Ron says:
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            Agent,

            If you do like my information, then priovide your own for once. All you do is complain about the research of others, but are too lazy to do your own.

            Please provide the data with a cited source showing how bad the economy has been from 2011 to 2014.

            I did not miss that part, only that you did not need to mention that fact. I will state it again, “You may or may not be paying taxes in retirement. There are several factors based on how your retirement is funded.”? All you or anyone else had to do is go to the site for which I provided a link. I was not going to list all of the scenarios and guidelines for when Social Scerutiy is taxed and when it is not.

          • February 14, 2014 at 3:48 pm
            Agent says:
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            Hey Ron, why don’t you google Natural Gas Pipelines – USA and pull up the map provided that will show you all the pipelines emanating from Texas and tell me what you see? They all head north and east and yes, many of them end up in NY. Perhaps your gas supplier is buying Texas gas and distributing it. I don’t think those gas pipelines are sitting there empty.

          • February 14, 2014 at 4:02 pm
            Libby says:
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            Agent – I think that used to be true, but since the Marcellus deposit has been found, it has been supplying a good deal of the Northeast.

            http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-26/natural-gas-pipelines-to-expand-u-dot-s-dot-supply-glut-energy-markets

  • February 13, 2014 at 1:59 pm
    Questionning says:
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    Lets keep in mind that this younger work force has witnessed a different employer than their parents witnees. The employer of both of my parents ( I am a baby boomer) provided unlimited sick leave, accrued vacation, short term and long term disability, and generous pensions. And they retired with 20 to 30 years of service. However both my husband and I were loyal and worked 60 work weeks only to be laid off without a thought after 10 years and 19 years of service. For no reason other than down sizing. New employers do not offer pension, 401K, disability, no accrue of vacation, or increase of vacation time. Both of my kids have witnessed this….why would they want to give their life and soul to an employer when they have witnessed the new way of corporations. And why would I encourage them to do anything but work their day, but always remember work to live, not live to work.

    • February 13, 2014 at 4:41 pm
      Agent says:
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      James Carville famously said – It’s the economy stupid! Whenever things go bad in the economy and profits dwindle and the government is imposing sanctions, regulations out the kazoo, it kills the incentive for work and for the employer to offer benefit packages. They are also going to lay off people or cut them back to comply with the onerous Obamacare. How many of the college graduates with their fancy degrees can even get an interview these days? Not many. Most are living at home with Mom & Dad and can’t launch. If they get a job, it is out of their degree field and pays a lot less than they thought they would be making. Thank Progressive politicians for this horrible work environment and for the actions of employers.

      • February 14, 2014 at 4:59 pm
        cassandra says:
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        A

      • February 14, 2014 at 5:12 pm
        cassandra says:
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        Agent

        But that’s not the whole picture. Do you think that maybe it has something to do with the 1.5 trillion in cash profits being held offshore by our largest corporations, maybe? You can’t seriously tell me that’s Obama’s fault.

        And to respond to some of your prior comments, you REALLY think that people would rther sit on the dole than get a job? Most of the reason many were forced to take SS and/or SS disability was because THE JOBS ARE GONE. Net loss of in excess of 2.3m manufacturing jobs in this recession.

        And surely, you cannot equate a marginally qualified homeowner with the greed of fund bundlers who were making millions knowing that they were selling garbage. I can much better understand the homeowner’s aspirations than the unbridled greed of the ones already making big bucks. How can you possibly not recognize the multiple causes?

        And as for your college homily, l will tell you that I had parents that geve me the car, the sweet sixteen and a full ride to an out of state college…pretty spoiled, huh? But I also got merit scholarships that I got little money for since they were need based. I also worked two and three jobs all the semesters I was there, getting fellowship money in my fields of study…all while carrying extra hours. I also started working at 17 before I was out of high school, mainly for the experience. I’ll fill you in on just how easy it is to get a job as an early boomer since I am looking. Betcha I don’t have a lot of luck. So, do I think I deserve SS? Do I think I deserve unemployment comp that I have collected about 6 months on in the prior 45 years? Yeah, you betcha. But I guess in your mind, I’d be one of the scammers that just want to sit back and let the taxpayers like yourself pay my way…

        Agent, it ain’t EVER so simple as your one liner snipes suggest.

        • February 14, 2014 at 5:36 pm
          Agent says:
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          Cassandra, could you be related to Libby? It sounds like it. I was working at age 11 throwing papers back when they allowed that. Got my spending money and clothes money that way. I never did not work throughout my teen years and bought my first car by working, not having it given to me. My brother had to co-sign for it to guarantee the loan and I never failed to make a payment. Why were you laid off? Do you not have marketable skills in the insurance field? A lot of agents look for people that can really work and perform. In the meantime, I don’t have a problem with you collecting unemployment while you look. That is what it is there for. I hope you don’t use up the whole 99 weeks before you catch on somewhere. Have you tried a head hunter? Sometime those people can find a job for someone faster than you just scanning the paper or going on the internet to send resume’s out. You are wrong about the scammers. There are millions of them out there with no interest in finding a job and are content to let the governmnent take care of them.

        • February 14, 2014 at 6:52 pm
          FFA says:
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          Cas says: THE JOBS ARE GONE. Net loss of in excess of 2.3m manufacturing jobs in this recession.

          May I ask just what Obama has done since he has been in office to bring them back home???

          i know, its all GWB fault they left so no need to respond with Bush Bashing.

          • February 17, 2014 at 11:18 am
            Agent says:
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            FFA, did you see the news that the VW plant workers in Chattanooga, Tn rejected the UAW attempts to organize that plant for the unions? The article also said that the UAW membership has fallen off dramatically in recent years. Obama saved what was left of them by bailing out GM and Chrysler, but they are their own worst enemy and it is only a matter of time before they drive up costs so high that GM & Chrysler won’t be able to compete with the others.

          • February 17, 2014 at 2:37 pm
            Agent says:
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            So FFA, I saw a Cato Institute study that tells us where we are on the “Entitlement Society”. They compared welfare benefits and minimum wages. In 33 states, welfare recipients can do better than working, so why work? Hawaii is the worst example. They will pay up to $60,590 per year, District of Columbia next at $50,820 followed by Massachusetts at $50,540. If you were a lazy slob, these are the places to live. You might have to get a job in Oklahoma and South Carolina since they are about $22,000 for Welfare. The top 18 welfare states are all Blue states. Why am I not surprised?

          • February 18, 2014 at 9:10 am
            Libby says:
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            Agent – do you have any idea how expensive it is to live in HI, DC, and MA? Or any blue state? That’s because the blue states are the wealthy states and they subsidize all the red states that have their hands out for federal funds. I’m sure you could live quite well in OK for $22k a year.

          • February 18, 2014 at 9:38 am
            KY jw says:
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            Agent, I just read about the union vote at VW. Interesting. I don’t approve of unions – they’ve outlived their usefulness. I did find this tidbit buried in an article on Fox:

            “Amid membership declines at industrial unions like the UAW, the AFL-CIO has begun to partner with outside nonprofit groups and has tried to organize more low-wage service workers. The federation also announced a plan last year to start focusing more on Southern organizing and politics, particularly in Texas, which last year had one-fourth as many union members as New York state despite having 2.7 million more wage and salaried employees, according to Labor Department statistics.”

            I hope Texas withstands the assault, Agent.

          • February 18, 2014 at 12:50 pm
            Agent says:
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            KYjw, thank you for your insightful comments about VW and the union rejection in Tennessee. Unions have been in decline in this country for a while. Yes, I am aware that the unions will try to organize in red states like Texas. They think they can organize in Houston which has been a sanctuary city for illegals and there are a lot of low information people down there. Yes, Texas will fend them off and we will reject the left wing Wendy Davis as well.

    • February 14, 2014 at 4:11 pm
      Agent says:
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      Ron, you want me to provide info on how bad the economy has been from 2011-2014? What a joke? Do you not have eyes and ears or read all the bad news that keeps happening in this country? Perhaps you should provide me with some information on how the economy has done so well under Obama. Please don’t cite bogus employment numbers since we both know they don’t include all the workers who have given up and stopped looking or gone on Social Security Disability. The true unemployment of this country is somewhere north of 15% and you know it. Also, please don’t cite the Stimulus that wasn’t a Stimulus since you know that didn’t create jobs and was only a payoff to supporters. A lot of Democrats got very rich off that scheme. Also, please don’t cite any more websites with data that is 4 years old. It doesn’t apply to what is happening in the past 3 years. It has gotten worse, not better for all Americans.

      • February 17, 2014 at 11:49 am
        Ron says:
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        Agent,

        Why can you not provide data showing how bad the economy has been? That is what I am asking for. My position is that the economy is not as bad as all of the news reports would have us believe.

        Here are some stats for you:

        Stock market up 100% since 2009
        GDP up in 17 of the 20 quarters since 2009. The worst being the 1st quarter of 2009.
        GDP up 33%
        Exports up 58%
        Imports up 44%
        Durable Goods Orders up 58%
        Manufacturing up 116%
        Consumer Spending up 10%
        Building Permits up 85%
        New Home Sales up 21%
        Government spending down 5.6%
        Changes in the deficit since 2009:
        2009-10: -8.42%
        2010-11: +0.39%
        2011-12: -16.32%
        2012-13: -10.49%
        2013-14 (based on budget passed): -71.22%

        http://useconomy.about.com/od/fiscalpolicy/p/deficit.htm
        http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/indicators

        Now it is your turn to provide data that refutes what I just presented.

        • February 17, 2014 at 2:56 pm
          Agent says:
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          Tell me Ron, if things are as rosy as you paint them under Obama, why do we have the bleakest job participation rate in the past 36 years? Why aren’t employers hiring anyone if they have so much business to do? Why can’t college graduates find work? Do you think the economy is stimulated by more unemployment like your heroine Nancy Pelosi believes? By the way, I don’t believe any of your Dept of Labor statistics since they have been cooking the books for 5 years on employment numbers and they serve at the pleasure of the President and will make him look good if they possibly can. No one with half a brain believes we have a true unemployment rate of under 7% right now and when you don’t count the ones who have given up, that is a big fat lie. Where were all those shovel ready jobs Ron?

          • February 17, 2014 at 4:03 pm
            Ron says:
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            Agent,

            I do not think things are rosy. Just that the economy has not gotten worse under President Obama. Why can’t you provide statistics to show how it has gotten worse? You wanted me to provide information to support my position and I have. Where is yours?

            You asked, “why do we have the bleakest job participation rate in the past 36 years?” That is easy, we are the most efficient labor force ever. Why should companies/businessowners hire when they are making record profits?

            If you follow my posts, you will know that Representative Pelosi is one of my LEAST favorite politicians. No, I do not believe that unemployment stiumlates the economy. However, if stopped, it would have a short-term negative impact until those who can be working, start putting forth the effort to find a job or start their own business.

            From where may I be able to obtain accurate unemployment data?

            Based on the strict definition of unemployment, we probably are below 7%. However, when you factor in those who are are underemployed and have given up, I agree with you that the number is much larger.

            I never promised shovel ready jobs, so stop asking.

          • February 18, 2014 at 4:01 pm
            Agent says:
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            Hey Ron, go to http://www.townhall.com and see the latest that joblessness is the new leader in the vexing problems of this economy. It has some nice charts in there for your viewing pleasure. At a time when the economy is very fragile, people worry most about jobs and politicians like your favorite President is pushing immigration reform which is so far down the list, it is almost non-existent as an issue. This tells me that he is so disinterested, he can’t be bothered with job creation unless he is giving a loan to a green energy company that promptly goes belly up within a year after blowing through their loan and their jobs with it. At last count, I believe it was up to 32 Green companies that have bitten the dust after getting substantial loans.

          • February 18, 2014 at 4:10 pm
            Libby says:
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            Agent – What if we got all the people that are working here illegally and not paying taxes on the tax roles? Wouldn’t that make your little conservative heart flutter?

          • February 18, 2014 at 4:14 pm
            Ron says:
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            Agent,

            For the record, President Obama is not my favorite.

            My favorite Presidents in order since I was 18 (voting age) are:
            1. President Reagan
            2. President Clinton
            3. President HW Bush
            4. President Obama
            5. President W Bush

            I just think President Obama is unjustly criticized by perception rather than facts.

            If you are going to criticize my websites, you can take yours and shove it!!!!

          • February 18, 2014 at 4:17 pm
            Ron says:
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            Libby,

            Conservative heart is an oxymoron

          • February 18, 2014 at 4:25 pm
            Libby says:
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            LOL! :-)

  • February 14, 2014 at 8:45 am
    Greg says:
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    A higher percentage of baby boomers are working than ever before. This headline of this article is extremely misleading:

    http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_303.htm

    • February 14, 2014 at 9:32 am
      Agent says:
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      The reason why Greg is that they now have to work. Thank Progressive politicians for that.

      • February 14, 2014 at 10:31 am
        Libby says:
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        Which is it, Agent? They’ve given up and are dropping out or their working longer than before? You can’t have it both ways.

        • February 14, 2014 at 12:06 pm
          wvagt says:
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          It does work both ways. It’s true that they’re working longer than before; however, they know that if they quit or lose their job they’ll most likely have to give up, because there’s virtually no chance they can get another job. See Prankster’s first post in this thread.

          • February 14, 2014 at 12:45 pm
            Agent says:
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            Good one wvagt. I know marketing reps with companies that were involuntarily retired by the company who were in their late 50’s, early 60’s and they have tried for a year to catch on with someone else and haven’t been able to find anything. They replaced these guys with snot nosed know it alls they could pay less and many are worthless. Give me a veteran who knows his way around the business and can give solid info and advice anytime.

          • February 14, 2014 at 1:15 pm
            Libby says:
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            I see your point, wvagt.

        • February 14, 2014 at 5:18 pm
          cassandra says:
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          Libby

          You took the words out of my mouth…seems like agent is talking out of both sides of his.

    • February 17, 2014 at 5:17 pm
      Agent says:
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      Ron, you reach some astounding conclusions about the job participation in this economy. Why am I not surprised? You sound just like Obama trying to justify why the jobs are not there. I think one of his more stupid remarks are that we have ATM machines and that is why bankers are not hiring. How about reaching some correct conclusions for a change? If the Stimulus was supposed to put people back to work, why didn’t it? All it did was “save” some government jobs and didn’t create private sector jobs. Where did the infrastructure jobs go? Why won’t he approve Keystone after 5 years of study when everyone else approved it and it would create 20,000 jobs? Why are we still allowing jobs to leave the country without providing incentives to keep them here? GM and GE have shipped thousands of jobs to China in the past 5 years. How about doing things American instead of foreign for a change. We can’t recover this economy without creating real jobs and not government jobs which only drain the taxpayers. By the way, keep your nose out of the Dept of Labor, Census Bureau if you want accurate info. Theirs is not trustworthy as we have already seen.

      • February 18, 2014 at 8:03 am
        Ron says:
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        Agent,

        I am disappointed in myself that I did not notice this earlier. How to go from pointing out how Dr. Carson was able to overcome very difficult circumstances and become a shining exception to the rule regarding the fate of poor inner city children, then chastised an entire generation because you encoutered a few self-entitlted, lazy young people? You may have already discounted the next Dr. Carson solely because he/she comes from a certain generation? Kinda shortsighted of you. But, then again, par for the course.

        Do you honestly believe that advances in technology have not resulted in less need for human labor, increased productivity and higher profits? I wonder how many more employees you would need to manage your current book if you did not have computers.

        • February 18, 2014 at 10:29 am
          Agent says:
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          You aren’t the only one disappointed in you Ron. You talk in circles and the brain synapses aren’t functioning. Do you really think there are only a few self entitled lazy young people out there running around? Try going out on the street and watching the iphone crowd with their nose buried in it 24/7. They are out there, believe me. Try the typical college campus. These kids have absolutely no clue what is going on around them, have not been taught Civics, government or history of this country. Is it any wonder they were fooled twice by Obama and voted for a catchy slogan? What is yours and Libby’s excuse? I will agree that Technology has helped our business, but we haven’t cut a single employee from the payroll. Our employees can handle a greater load due to our operating system. By the way, the country can use more computer repair people, programmers along with Auto Repair Technicians, Plumbers, Electricians, Carpenters and other trade professions, but instead, we are graduating kids with Liberal Arts degrees that know nothing about anything except how to download an app.

          • February 18, 2014 at 11:30 am
            Ron says:
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            Agent,

            You will need to give me specific example of how I am taliking in circles. If you would just answer my simple questions with simple answers instead of always going on some irrelevant rant, this would be much easier for the both of us.

            For some reason I believe you are afraid to admit that you agree with me on some points. FFA has noticed it, why can’t you?

            Do you believe you could manage your current book of business at your current staffing level without computers?

            I agree with your statement, “By the way, the country can use more computer repair people, programmers along with Auto Repair Technicians, Plumbers, Electricians, Carpenters and other trade professions”. However, like every other industry, not everyone is suited for a career in the trades.

            Just remember, there was someone that looked at Dr. Carson and stereotyped him because of where he came from. There are a lot of grateful people that he has helped because someone took a chance. I just hope you do not miss out on the Dr. Carson of insurance because you have stereotyped an entire generation.

          • February 18, 2014 at 12:04 pm
            Libby says:
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            Agent, your statement “Our employees can handle a greater load due to our operating system.” is exactly what Ron was talking about. While you may not have let anyone go from payroll, you probably haven’t added anyone like you would have had to do before computers. Companies are expecting their employees to do more with less due to technology, or just plain overworking them, and companies aren’t hiring more people. It’s a big reason for the un/underemployment.

      • February 18, 2014 at 11:39 am
        Libby says:
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        Agent – You are a conservative Republican. As such, I would think you would be applauding all these companies that are shipping jobs overseas and making themselves and their shareholders record profits. Why, it’s American ingenuity at it’s finest!

        Since when is it the government’s job to help American corporations create jobs? If you could get some CSR in India to work for $5 an hour on your accounts, you’d do it too. I’m sorry, but you’re a hypocrite.

        • February 18, 2014 at 12:10 pm
          Agent says:
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          Libby, those jobs are going overseas under your President’s watch and the policies of this Administration which includes higher taxation, high regulation, the EPA. What has this Administration done to foster growth in this economy and incentivize business to create jobs? Has Obamacare created the 4 million jobs it was advertized to do? Actually, it has killed jobs with all the taxes, higher premiums, forced businesses to cut back on employment and either lay off or cut hours. I am not happy that China, India and other countries are getting our jobs. We should be fostering our own economy, not running business off. What a joke.

          • February 18, 2014 at 1:54 pm
            Libby says:
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            That’s bullshit Agent and you know it. Shipping jobs overseas didn’t just start with Obama. It’s been going on for years.

            And in case you missed it in my last post, it’s not the government’s job to create jobs and never has been.

        • February 18, 2014 at 12:23 pm
          Agent says:
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          Libby, sorry to tell you this, but we have had computers in our business for many years to quote, process new business, renew etc. All we have done is upgrade our system which has allowed our CSR’s to be more proficient to handle more business. It was far more labor intensive in the past when we had to mail out our customers policies and manually enter everything. There is still a need in our industry of computer literate people who can adapt and use the system. We don’t need clerk typists, file clerks anymore. There are technical schools out there to train these people if they can handle it in a fast paced environment where the agency has to be nimble and responsive.

          • February 18, 2014 at 1:54 pm
            Libby says:
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            Just what does your post have to do with the point I made???

        • February 18, 2014 at 6:18 pm
          Agent says:
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          You bet Libby. I am a Conservative, but not married to voting for RINO’s. In fact, I voted in our primaries today and voted against John Cornyn for Senate and for the more Conservative Kevin Stockman. Cornyn has been in there too long and has gone along to get along for too many years. Time for a fresh approach. I don’t applaud any company for moving jobs overseas, but understand some of it giving what they face trying to do business here. The idea is to keep jobs here first and foremost and encourage investment, build new plants, employ more Americans to do jobs. We will not do that by keeping Progressives and RINO’s in office. Vote their sorry butts out of office and get someone in there who will represent the people.

    • February 18, 2014 at 5:59 pm
      Agent says:
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      Libby, don’t get me started on illegal aliens. We have a big problem with them in Texas because they keep swimming the Rio Grande, coming in here with all their thugs doing human trafficking, drug trafficking and causing all kinds of problems with crime, overloading the schools, healthcare/emergency rooms. I don’t want them here whether they are paying taxes or not. I want border enforcement and I want to see all the thugs deported. I also don’t want them getting voting rights so they can elect more Democrats. They are a far higher cost to a state than the benefit they provide for mowing lawns or doing construction at below minimum wage.

    • February 18, 2014 at 6:22 pm
      Agent says:
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      Ron, you gave me a good laugh to end the day ranking Clinton as your second favorite President. The serial Liar in Chief, impeached but not removed, disbarred attorney who lied his way through 8 years of office until it finally caught up with him when they found the intern under the desk. Why am I not surprised you like him so much?

  • February 14, 2014 at 2:08 pm
    James says:
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    I will not say the name of the Carrier I am employed with, but if you walk through one of the many Service Centers, what you see is people in their early 20’s to about 28ish. On each team of 15-20, you may have one person over the age of 30. Our entire Sales Force is under 40. The people that were “older” (if you call 40ish old!!!) were RIF’d. Naturally the company isn’t going to admit this, but we all know it to be true; Younger kids cannot find jobs, so they’ve replaced our established, well-trained employee’s they thought were making too much money and replaced them with people willing to work for much less. If you have gray hair in this company, you will not be here long. They always have a reason to RIF you.

    • February 18, 2014 at 4:19 pm
      Agent says:
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      Sorry Libby, I sometimes lose count between liberal posters between you and Ron. I can’t believe your naivety about the role of government to foster job growth in this country or run it off like Obama has. Tax policy soaking the rich, trade policy, regulation policy letting the EPA run wild, Obamacare implementation all have a big influence on whether companies hire or move out in this country. The only jobs Obama has created are government jobs which soak the taxpayer at every turn. Had he been a pro growth President, he would have created with Congress the incentives for growth by getting the government out of our hair on the abusive regulations, gave corporations and small business a tax cut so they would have more disposable income to hire and expand. Since he doesn’t talk to Congress anymore and thinks he can rule with a pen and phone, why doesn’t he do it himself? After all, he has changed Obamacare 29 times unilaterally. No one calls him on it, so just do it and get some jobs restored. Some of those jobs lost to overseas could be recalled by stopping the abuses of government and giving them some tax relief. We will not hold our breath that he will do anything. It is all GW’s fault 5 years after the Stimulus that wasn’t a Stimulus was passed.

  • February 14, 2014 at 4:39 pm
    Agent says:
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    James, I don’t mind mentioning a carrier name. I represent Safeco, which is a fine Personal Lines carrier. Some years ago, they went out and bought American States Insurance Company who did both Personal & Commercial and was one of our lead markets. We won several trips and awards with them. Safeco, in their stupidity replaced every key underwriter in both departments with people of their choice and they were young and inexperienced and had little common sense that the A/States people had. They succeeded in running a lot of business off with their model. By the time the dust settled after about 4 years, Safeco was sold to Liberty Mutual and they righted the ship. They no longer do Commercial Lines (which is a good thing) and they stick to what they know best, Personal Lines. It was a rocky road there for several years.

    • February 14, 2014 at 4:46 pm
      FFA says:
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      My producer quoted Travelers Account Home & Auto on Wednesday. Rates smoked my other carriers. Very Competitive with the incumbent. Not sure if its booked or not, but will keep you posted.

      • February 14, 2014 at 5:22 pm
        Agent says:
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        Good for you FFA. We are still waiting for Quantum 2.0 to roll out to see what the Auto rates will look like. Their Home is still high when we quote that, usually 3rd or 4th. We hope when they get this going, they will return to being competitive again. I hate to keep loading up Safeco on about everything because they are due to slow down some this year. Always nice to have a couple of competitive carriers when you are going up against State Farm, Allstate and Farmers group. A funny side note, a wise producer once told me, you don’t have the sale until you have the check. I’m pretty sure that still holds in today’s world.

        • February 14, 2014 at 6:54 pm
          FFA says:
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          dead on – No Check, No Sale.

          • February 17, 2014 at 4:59 pm
            Agent says:
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            So FFA, Travelers sent an email on the Quantum rollout which Texas was supposed to get on 2-16 and they belayed their plans until 3-16 since they didn’t have their filings in. I am curious if they really do have better numbers. They will have to be good for us to sell them since we will have to accept reduced commissions to write this product. We will be judicious in how we handle it and only if our other standards are not competitive will we use them. I don’t need another Progressive in our office and take a hit on commissions, do you?

          • February 17, 2014 at 6:01 pm
            FFA says:
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            This re marketing crap burns up more time then anything else.

            I got a rejection from a prospect this AM. I spent probably about 15+ hours with Apps, driving down there and talking back and forth with the Underwriters. I sat in his office on Sat and listen to him blow his cork at the incumbent because they truly dropped the ball. He told me he was changing from them no matter what. Send me a one line email telling me he is renewing where he is at. I ask him why and he just shoots back because that is my decision…

            He has a big hole in his coverage I found. He probably took my work product back to the incumbent.

        • February 18, 2014 at 9:49 am
          Libby says:
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          AKA – “The sales not made until the premium’s paid.”

          • February 18, 2014 at 10:37 am
            Agent says:
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            Sorry about that FFA. The world is so crazy now and it is getting harder and harder to read people. I haven’t had that happen to me for a while, but it happened years ago when the account was just trying to keep his agent honest. He would show them my quote, they would make changes, negotiate with the carrier and keep the business since he and the agent were fishing or hunting buddies etc. I prefer to work my referrals or try to pick up lines I don’t yet have with existing customers.

          • February 18, 2014 at 12:30 pm
            FFA says:
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            i sat there listening to him yell at the incumbent. She could not even provide a dec page… She jammed him up on audit after audit. Dropping payroll to show a cheap premium just to get socked after audit.

          • February 18, 2014 at 1:55 pm
            Libby says:
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            Then he’s an idiot and you don’t want him for a client.

      • February 18, 2014 at 4:42 pm
        Agent says:
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        FFA, did you make Contingency with Travelers this year? We were notified that we got one that was more than twice what it has ever been even when we had much more volume with them. I don’t know if they have awakened to do a better return to agents or what. We did have a very good loss ratio with them. I am awaiting their calculation sheet to see how it was figured. Wonders never cease to amaze.

        • February 18, 2014 at 5:54 pm
          FFA says:
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          No way. Not enough production with them folks.

        • February 19, 2014 at 9:09 am
          Libby says:
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          Keep that in mind when you think about moving business from them due to lower commissions. If they are giving a more lucrative profit sharing for profitable business instead of up-front commission, it may be a better deal for you. Too bad nobody came in and explained it properly when they cut your commissions. Shame on them.

          • February 19, 2014 at 4:09 pm
            Agent says:
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            The whole presentation was that they heard agents about premiums and not being competitive and business leaving so they came up with Quantum 2.0 to offer a more competitive auto product to compete with other carriers. After listening to that for 30 minutes, the last sentence spoken was that the commission would be cut 3% for Auto. Since I have yet to see a quote in the new system, we will wait and see before placing business in it. Contingency is always dependent on Volume & Loss Ratio. All an agent has to have in one huge auto accident or one storm or a bad fire and sorry, no contingency.

          • February 20, 2014 at 4:02 pm
            Agent says:
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            Libby, we look out for our insureds. If Travelers is not competitive and don’t offer real value to the insured, they will continue to lose out. Quantum had better be at least as good as our other markets or better than most because we don’t enjoy writing business for less commission. We live on our commission income and contingency is just gravy if we have a good year with them.

  • February 17, 2014 at 10:38 am
    Rusty says:
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    I am coming to the conclusion that the current administration and its allies do not want the job market to return to its former condition because that means more and more people will again be self-sufficient and not have to rely on government programs, which runs counter to government expansion and re-distribution of wealth. Furthermore, I believe that the current goal is to gradually destroy the middle class so as to develop a two-class system of people dependent on the government controlled by the people who then control the wealth and the government. Sound familiar? It should.

    • February 17, 2014 at 11:29 am
      Agent says:
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      Rusty, I agree. I think the plan is to keep the population dumbed down and dependent so they can keep electing Democrats to office who will perpetuate the entitlement society. What we have now is a Middle Class that is being reduced to the lower Middle Class. The Lower Class will remain about where they have been for generations and the Middle Class will be joining them in the coming years. So much for America being the land of opportunity where anyone can bring themselves up by getting educated and getting a good job.

      • February 18, 2014 at 12:39 pm
        txmouthbreatherboogereatertx says:
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        Totally agree with you Agent, the republavangelist movement has turned northward and is creeping in North ‘Murrica. The dumbing down has begun and it has eradicated the middle class. If we can start building that fence now, we should be able to stop this madness by 2016. The Kochcaine peddlers called tea party are to thank for this mess. Does any one know how to make a rascal scooter go boom?

    • February 17, 2014 at 12:15 pm
      Ron says:
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      Rusty,

      If the current administration does not want the job market to return, then why have we seen net job gains every month since October 2010 with and average increase of 184,000 net jobs per month.

      Just out of curiosity, what was the Bush Administration doing while we experienced an average net loss of 422,000 per month from February 2008 through the 1st qurter of 2009?

      http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CES0000000001?output_view=net_1mth

      Why do Republicans fear data and facts so much?

      if there is anyone who is against an improved job market it is businessowners. Simple supply and demand tells us that the larger the pool of possible candidates, the lower the price. This is why wages have remained stagnant and corporate profits are at an all-time high.

      • February 17, 2014 at 1:10 pm
        Agent says:
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        Ron, the Bush Administration had an Unemployment rate of about 4.5% for most of the Presidency until Pelosi/Reid got in control of Congress in 2007 and started the slide by letting Fannie & Freddie go wild on Sub Prime mortgages which led to the meltdown. Perhaps you don’t remember Bawney & Chris saying they were sound and not to be alarmed. The SEC also dropped the ball by not monitoring well. It is no wonder we had the financial meltdown with Progressives & RINO’s in charge. By the way, it takes about 250,000 jobs created each month to have a vibrant job market and a growing economy. Corporations have not done much hiring in the past 3 years because they knew what was on the horizon with Obamacare. I think their fears were well founded. What has Obama done to encourage private sector jobs? All I see is a waning job market.

        • February 17, 2014 at 2:38 pm
          Ron says:
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          Agent,

          Please cite your source of, “the Bush Administration had an Unemployment rate of about 4.5% for most of the Presidency”.

          I agree with your total post. I am just curious where you get your unemployment data.

          • February 17, 2014 at 3:01 pm
            Agent says:
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            Articles I have read Ron, experience of living through that time, paying attention to the news, the internet articles on the economy. Believe it or not, one does not have to go to a government website to find out what has gone on and what is going on currently. You should not place so much trust in government and the info they put out. They are Big Brother and will tell the serfs info they want them to know whether true or not. In fact, you should especially not believe their info in today’s world. Surely, you are not the lemming you look like with your posts.

          • February 17, 2014 at 3:39 pm
            Ron says:
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            Agent,

            If that is what you call citing a source, then I have a very difficult time believing you have a degree in anything but Philosophy, let alone Economics.

            You call me a lemming, yet do no research of your own. You only assume that those people writing the articles that you read are telling you the truth.

            I was not trying to pick a fight. I actually stated that I agreed with you. If you state data or statistics, it should be accompanied by the source from which it was obtained. This is not rocket science.

            Why are afraid to cite your sources?

    • February 18, 2014 at 4:25 pm
      Agent says:
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      FFA, I agree with Libby on this dude. If he wasn’t upset with this agent for how he was treated, he is a fool and he is also not for long as a businessman. I have had other agents show clients a cheaper premium before to make the quote look less and some accounts have fallen for it. The problem with audit additionals are the agent gets to renew it one more time before the audit hits the customer. Then, if it is lost, at least they had it for a while. I always ask the client what the premium was based on. If it is not in the quote, there is something fishy going on.

      • February 18, 2014 at 5:58 pm
        FFA says:
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        That was the point I was trying to get across to him. His back round was in finance at a governmental level. He knew the game they are playing. He was brought in to get through the continuing audit problem. I took his sales and payroll right off his tax forms. I did it right. Do it right up front, no back end head aches. Incumbent could not say what they were basing the premium on.

        There is a 4 letter word for people like that – NEXT!

        • February 18, 2014 at 6:06 pm
          Agent says:
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          There is an old saying FFA that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. If the incumbent was not able to produce the estimated payrolls and/or sales, they were flat out lying to the customer. If the customer didn’t demand the numbers, he is stupid. If he were smart, he would have and then he would have known the wool was being pulled over his eyes and he could then let you have the business on the honest numbers. In Texas, CE for ethics is required to keep a license to sell. From what I have seen, if some agents have taken an Ethics course, they certainly don’t practice it.

          • February 18, 2014 at 6:47 pm
            FFA says:
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            He did demand them I was sitting right there and heard him ask the burning question – What is the sales you are using? What is the payroll? She said – “Its an automatic renewal. I dont have Dec Pages. They send them to you, not me.” … A Chicago agent. Liar Liar. Pants on Fire.

            I was shocked when he started OBama Bashing…

  • February 17, 2014 at 11:57 am
    Whodathunkit? says:
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    If it were true that the Boomers dropping out are causing the participation rate to decline, wouldn’t it be offset by more jobs being created on a monthly basis. The job creation (or filling of vacated jobs) has been less than stellar. I will be one of those drop outs in May, but my job will be filled by someone else (of lesser experience, but hopefully someone currently in need of employment). So I will be added to the non-particapation rate, but one person will leave the unemployed rolls.

    • February 17, 2014 at 4:55 pm
      Agent says:
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      Ron, do you need a website to go to the bathroom? Do you need to quote Keynsian Progressive economists like Paul Krugman to try to sell Progressive solutions to our economic issues? We know you are a Progressive at heart since you continually try to sell it to us. Sorry Ron, no sale. I would rather read a variety of articles by different people than read the garbage you put out. Have you ever read anything from Charles Krauthammer, Dr. Thomas Sowell, Katie Pavlich, Jonah Goldberg or are you just married to government or left wing websites. I could also point you to Michelle Malkin who has a good one out now on the Wreckovery. It is quite revealing on the misinformation being put out on the economy. This economy is not recovering no matter how much you try to gloss over it with your fake numbers.

    • February 18, 2014 at 9:54 am
      Libby says:
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      I think the dropouts are the ones that have been laid-off or let go and there is no job to be filled.

      • February 18, 2014 at 11:20 am
        FFA says:
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        Not at their pay…

        • February 18, 2014 at 11:55 am
          Libby says:
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          Or their age…

          • February 19, 2014 at 8:32 am
            Whodathunkit? says:
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            Not in my case. My wife and I are moving to a state with no state income tax and milder weather to retire (no, not Florida). I’ve spent the last 42 years in the insurance industry, but I’m sure I will be replaced by a talented individual that will add more to the industry in the future than I would. So I guess I’m not dropping out, but just moving on.

          • February 19, 2014 at 9:12 am
            Libby says:
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            That doesn’t sound like dropping out, it sounds like retiring. Congrats!

  • February 17, 2014 at 12:17 pm
    FFA says:
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    Jobs are not being created. Positions are being eliminated. What are not being eliminated are being replaced by less expensive workers.

    • February 17, 2014 at 3:42 pm
      Agent says:
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      Hey FFA, do you believe all of Ron’s rosy picture of the economy and how it is booming? One would think his numbers are of an economy that is booming, creating jobs, more tax revenue, lowering our trillion dollar a year debt and that Obamacare is not hurting the economy and preventing employers from hiring. Obama should hire him as a spokesman since Carney isn’t doing the job and can’t answer a question about the bleak employment numbers or any other subject they ask him about.

      By the way, on Fox at noon today, they had a story on the frozen Great Lakes and having to use ice breakers to create lanes through the ice for trade etc. You guys have it bad up there. We are basking in 60-70 degree weather down here. Looks like that Polar Vortex will be around for a while up there.

    • February 21, 2014 at 11:11 am
      Agent says:
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      So FFA, I saw a utube this morning that was interesting. On Jimmy Fallon, they had the First Lady on last night. She was talking about Obamacare and the young people. She said they needed Obamacare because they were “knuckleheads”. While it may be true for a lot of them, she was putting down all of them. That is keeping with her elitist view. I do agree that they were mostly knuckleheads for voting for her husband and believing the Hope & Change message that was a total lie.

  • February 17, 2014 at 5:44 pm
    FFA says:
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    Agent, I believe what I see on Main St. empty Building. Local Shelter over crowded. Tax bill just going up and up. grocery Bill escalating. even the price of TP has risen substantially. My utility bills controlled by the City has sky rocketed. All these life is great studies…. Not in my neck of the woods. More and more mom & pops shutting down. Had a client call to cancel his auto ins today because he dont have any money to pay his bill. He is 45 and unemployed for two years. Unemployment has cut him off. Its bad.

    I saw that Ice Breaker piece last week. Snowing again today. I believe in Climate Change – not Global Warming. Face the Nation on Sunday wanted to debate if its mother nature or a man made thing. Yea, let the politicians sit around and debate the climate. Nothing more important for them to do….

    These people are nuts. You cant change Mother Nature. She does what she wants to.

  • February 17, 2014 at 5:49 pm
    FFA says:
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    Meet the press had Mitt on Sunday. I didn’t realize how successful the Seattle Olympics were under his direction.

    no one can dispute his success there. He did state he was not running again.

    • February 18, 2014 at 10:44 am
      Agent says:
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      Yes, I saw clips of that too. Actually, it was the Salt Lake Winter Olympics and he did it for about $3 Billion. The Russkies have spent $50 Billion on Sochi. I think the Olympics have gotten out of hand on spending, kind of like our government. They should just hold them at proven venues in the future who already have the facilities. Rio will be the next problem getting the facilities ready in time. They were going to introduce golf next time and there has been a lot of trouble building the Olympic Golf Course down there. Maybe they will have to do Putt Putt instead for the Gold Medal.

      • February 18, 2014 at 11:01 am
        KY jw says:
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        Brazil can’t get their World Cup locations ready, how can they host an olympics?

        • February 18, 2014 at 11:18 am
          FFA says:
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          Brazil is the ones that beat out Chicago. Daley was using that as a spring board to clean up the South Side.

          • February 18, 2014 at 6:09 pm
            Agent says:
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            BO, Michelle and Oprah had no luck selling Chicago to the International Olympic Committee. Gee, I wonder why. He could have just ordered them to give it to Chicago with the phone or just do an Executive Order.

          • February 18, 2014 at 6:42 pm
            FFA says:
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            It is too bad they brought politics and holly wood into it. Should have just been Daley and a few Athletes.

          • February 19, 2014 at 4:15 pm
            Agent says:
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            FFA, Chicago might have had a better chance sending Mike Ditka, Mike Singletary or Michael Jordan over there to sell Chicago. Obviously, the politicians and Hollywood didn’t do the trick.

          • February 19, 2014 at 5:18 pm
            FFA says:
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            The three Mikes… HMMM.

  • February 18, 2014 at 10:27 am
    txmouthbreatherboogereatertx says:
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    Those Seattle Olympics were magical like his magic Mormon underwear. They were in the buy one wife get 6 free town of Salt Lake City.

    • February 20, 2014 at 3:58 pm
      Agent says:
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      Yes, FFA. The three Mike’s, not Michelle.



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