Selling Aflac from Home: Is It the Right Remote Job for You?

Updated on: by Amy Kennedy

One of the lesser known work from home jobs is selling insurance for Aflac, a respected insurance company. Read this guide to learn more about the job and to find out if it’s the right at-home gig for you.

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This guide has been updated for 2023!

I’m sure you have all heard of Aflac.

You’re probably familiar with their duck and might have seen their ad recently on TV for Aflac Agents.

I recently contacted Aflac to find out exactly what the deal was and how this all works.

First, I wanted to see if it was something I could do and second, I thought maybe I could help fellow WAH parents with the insight that I gained.

What is Aflac?

Aflac is known for being one of the best supplemental health insurance companies in the industry.

In fact, it’s currently the largest supplemental health provider in the United States.

Supplemental health insurance is a type of insurance that offers additional coverage for services or supplies that your regular health plan doesn’t cover.

Think of it like an umbrella that gives you extra protection when you’re out in the rain.

You’ll have a primary insurance plan but always have the option of purchasing a supplemental insurance policy through Aflac to pay for things your regular plan might not cover or not cover enough of.

Some of the types of medical issues Aflac insurance policies cover include:

  • Emergency room visits
  • Cancer treatments
  • Dental treatments and exams
  • Hospital stays
  • Chronic illnesses
  • Short-term disability

It’s important to note that Aflac long term disability policies do not exist.

Aflac isn’t a long-term solution to healthcare needs, but instead addresses more short-term issues that might arise with extra coverage.

Customers can, however, take out a life insurance policy through Aflac to help their loved ones if anything were to happen to them.

In addition to working with individuals with private or state insurance coverage, Aflac works with businesses to make sure their employees are adequately protected from any medical stuff life throws at them.

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If you’re interested in purchasing an Aflac policy for yourself, you can find an Aflac rates sheet 2020 here.

What Is an Aflac Agent and What Do They Do?

Most insurance companies have agents who work with the company either directly or through their own agency to reach and serve the company’s clients.

So, an Aflac agent sells Aflac supplemental insurance policies.

Officially, your title will be Benefits Advisor.

Some companies will allow their agents to work from home, at least sometimes, to sell their coverage.

Aflac is one of those companies!

The best thing is that you’ll be an independent contractor so, although you’ll sell Aflac insurance, you have much more control over how and when you work.

You choose your own hours and you can work around your family and life.

Since you are an independent contractor, you’ll run your own business under the Aflac umbrella.

However, this IS NOT strictly a work AT home job, it’s more of a work FROM home job.

Wait a minute – what’s the difference between work AT home and work FROM home, you ask?

Good question.

Basically, a work AT home job is one you do completely at home.

When you are working, you are in your house.

A work FROM home job is one where you do some of your work from home (making calls, setting appointments etc) but you’ll also spend some of your time driving to the meetings you have set up and selling the insurance.

However, if you have a home office with a separate entrance from your personal home entrance, you could spend even more time working at home by allowing business employees you’re meeting with to come visit your office instead of traveling to meet them.

But, in most cases, it’s likelier that you’ll need to head to the place of business you’re meeting with as a convenience for its employees.

As an agent, you should also expect to have a lot of time set aside for phone calls, which means you’ll need a dedicated phone line and voicemail set up for your business.

Aflac agents typically spend a lot of time on the phone cold calling potential businesses to explain to them how Aflac insurance might help them.

A computer and printer can also be helpful so you can print documents and track your phone calls, emails, and other business stuff.

It goes without saying that this is, essentially, a sales job.

You’ll be contacting potential customers to sell insurance to them, so it’s essential that you’re comfortable explaining Aflac’s products, upselling insurance, and talking to strangers.

How Much Can I Make as an Aflac Agent?

Unlike most insurance agent jobs that pay with a salary, the Aflac agent position pays solely by commission.

If you’re a good salesperson, this could be great news for you, especially if you have a large network of local businesses who might be interested in what Aflac offers.

However, those without large networks or selling experience could end up with a less-than-impressive income from this job.

Aflac states that in addition to commissions, you’ll also take home renewals, stocks, and bonuses.

Still, none of this is guaranteed.

If you don’t make any sales, you won’t get any income, no matter how many meetings you’ve held and hours you’ve worked.

There is a perk when it comes to your commissions though:

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You’ll continue earning commission not only on the initial enrollment but also commission for as long as that policy is paid for.

You will continue to earn on any policy you enroll for as long as you work with this company.

After 1 full year they will also buy stock for you and you can sell it the same day you are given it or just leave it and let it grow.

Each year you earn more stocks and more commission.

According to Glassdoor, the typical salary of a Benefits Advisor for Aflac in 2020 ranges between $13,491 and $100,989.

That’s a huge salary difference and the difference is likely caused by where the agent lives, how well he or she sells, and how many other agents are in the area.

The truth is that agents who live in large areas with plenty of businesses to target are likely going to make more in commissions than those who live in small towns who have to travel long distances to reach their target customers.

Before beginning the screening process, you might want to do a quick search for other agents in your town to see if you’ll have a lot of competition, which could make it more challenging to get paid.

You can use Aflac’s agent locator tool to find other agents in your zip code.

How Does One Become an Aflac Agent?

First, you have to go to the Aflac website and submit your interest.

This will just be a brief form that asks for your basic information and contact information.

You will be contacted by phone to let you know when the instructional conference will be held and where.

They will confirm your desire to attend and confirm your email address to send you all the information needed for the meeting.

Aflac hosts several of these throughout the year at different locations, so you should be able to find one somewhat near where you live.

At the instructional conference you will be asked to bring an updated resume and dress in business wear.

I would recommend you bring a notepad and pen with you for taking notes and for filling out the application that they will give you upon walking through the door.

The meetings last around an hour but can go longer if there are a lot of questions (mine lasted an hour and a half).

You will be given some background on the company and what Aflac really does, but the vast majority of this meeting seems to be more of a motivational talk to get you interested.

The gentleman spent most of the time talking about his family life and how he had previously been wallet rich but family poor and how Aflac changed that.

They will paint a very pretty picture of what your life can be if you become and Aflac agent.

At the end of the meeting they will collect your resume and the application and if they feel you are a good fit, they will call you back for a formal interview.

If you make it through the formal interview process you will have 8 weeks of training, part of it will be in a classroom setting and you MUST attend those classes to move onto becoming a certified Aflac agent.

So, it is a lot of work just to get your foot in the door.

Not only will you need to make an impression with your resume and application, but you’ll also need to make an impression during your formal interview.

Aflac particularly looks for agents who:

  • Have excellent communication skills, particularly on the phone and in-person
  • Understand Aflac’s brand messaging and its products
  • Are excellent salespersons
  • Have had previous sales experience
  • Have strong professional and personal networks
  • Are interested in growing their own business and personal brand

The Basics Of Being An Aflac Agent

Just to save people time, I want to give you some basic information here about the Aflac agent position.

Some of the details about the job might not be right for you, so it’s important to know the basics before getting yourself far in the application proves only to realize it’s not something you can do.

First of all, you will need to become licensed to sell insurance within your state.

This can be fairly cheap or fairly pricey depending on your state.

After the pre-licensing class (that is required), registration fees, and actual license fee, my total came to $400!

Aflac does not pay for any of this, so check with your state and your budget before deciding. You can not do any training without this license!

Second, Aflac will not allow you to enroll individuals unless they’re a part of a company you’ve reached out to.

It could be more difficult to convince a business owner that this insurance could help its employees than reaching out to individuals separately to explain how Aflac works.

It can also be intimidating for some agents to host large-scale meetings for businesses rather than work with individuals one-on-one.

Another important thing to note is that this is essentially a business opportunity.

Yes, you’ll be contracted with Aflac, but you won’t be a direct employee of the company.

That means there are no benefits for you as far as sick time, paid time off, maternity leave, or health insurance.

As a business owner, you’ll be responsible for footing the costs of those yourself.

On the plus side, you’ll also have total control (within reason, of course) of your business and how you operate it while sticking to Aflac’s brand messaging and policies.

Pros and Cons of Becoming an Aflac Agent

No job is without its pros and cons, so here are some of the biggest benefits and drawbacks of the Aflac Benefits Advisor position:

Pros

Flexible Work

For obvious reasons, flexible work is a common praise among Aflac agents.

They can work when they want and, to an extent, where they want.

If they want a day off, they can take it. If they need to be available to pick up their kids after school or drop them off in the mornings, they can schedule their days around that need.

You’ll create your own schedule as the owner of your business!

Chance to Grow Your Own Business

Of course, owning a business is a great perk itself!

Unlike other agent positions where you’ll be an employee of the company, you’re an independent contractor for Aflac, which means you’ll own your own business using the Aflac name and products.

Along the way, Aflac will support you in growing your business by providing training materials and support necessary to get your job done.

Incentives for Top Performing Agents

Although the position is commission-based, you do have a chance to earn bonuses and other incentives if you perform well.

Aflac offers unlimited earning potential, so there’s no caps on how much you can bring in every day, week, month, quarter, or year.

The company also offers cash bonuses, expenses-paid trips, and other benefits to agents who continue to impress it with their awesome sales techniques.

Cons

Payment is Commission Only

Although there are some cash and trip incentives for top performers, the drawback is that this is a commission-based job.

You are 100% on commission, so there’s no guaranteed pay through Aflac – not even a small hourly rate to ensure you get some pay for your time.

If you make no sales in a week, you get no pay for a week.

Your sales techniques need to be on point and you need to be diligent about getting new customers on board to be successful with this job.

No Lead Generation Help

There are no leads provided from Aflac for potential customers, so it’s up to you to generate your own leads.

This process could be time consuming in itself and it’s not something you’ll get paid for.

You also could be calling the same company that a bunch of other agents have already called before, which could result in a lot of wasted time.

Can’t Enroll Individuals

Another complaint from agents is that you can’t enroll individuals one-on-one.

Instead, you have to target companies and then set up meetings with the company to talk to its employees.

You will have to arrange to meet with the CEO or owner of the company to explain to them what Aflac is and what you have to offer their employees.

You must then gain their permission to meet with their employees.

You will return a second day to meet with the employees of the company to explain the insurance plans and hand out brochures.

Finally, you will need to return a third time to enroll whoever is interested.

As you can imagine, this process can be lengthy. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to enroll new people, from start to finish, with just one or two days’ work.

Does Aflac Offer Other Work from Home Jobs?

I’ve focused this guide on the Benefits Advisor position because it’s the most common work from home job from Aflac for people to show interest in.

There are, however, two other positions for independent contractors that might suit you better:

Sales Intern

The Sales Intern position is great for people who are interested in an insurance agent career but don’t yet have licensure or the experience needed to work as an independent agent.

As an Intern, you’ll get paid cash incentives for your time, so your earnings likely won’t be as much as an agent.

However, you’ll gain plenty of real-life experience as an agent that you can use to transition yourself into a Benefits Advisor or into another similar role at a different company.

Interns also have access to professional support from the Aflac team and other agents, which can be a great way to get your foot in the insurance industry door.

District Sales Coordinator

A District Sales Coordinator manages several independent Benefits Advisors for Aflac.

You’ll be in charge of overseeing the sales of advisors in your district or region.

District Sales Coordinators will also need to seek out new advisors and train them to work in their areas.

These positions are also for independent contractors rather than employees, so they’ll still offer flexibility in the way you work.

You’ll also be eligible for the stock bonus plan that Benefits Advisors have access to plus exclusive access to advancement opportunities in addition to your commissions.

Alternatives to Aflac

MetLife

If you’re interested in working as an insurance agent, MetLife can be an attractive platform for you.

MetLife offers a wide range of insurance products, including life insurance, annuities, auto insurance, and home insurance.

As an agent with MetLife, you would have the opportunity to help individuals and businesses protect their assets and plan for their financial futures.

MetLife’s strong presence in the United States provides you with a solid customer base and potential for growth.

With comprehensive coverage options, you can guide clients in choosing the right policies that meet their specific needs.

Working as an agent with MetLife can provide you with a rewarding career helping others secure their financial well-being.

Prudential Financial

As an insurance agent with Prudential Financial, you would have access to a wide range of insurance products, including life insurance, retirement plans, and investment services.

Prudential Financial is a well-established company with a global presence, offering you the opportunity to work with a diverse client base.

You would play a vital role in helping individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals by providing them with tailored insurance and retirement solutions.

With Prudential Financial’s comprehensive financial services, you can guide clients through the process of planning for their future, ensuring their financial security.

Working as an agent with Prudential Financial can offer you a fulfilling career in helping others build and protect their wealth.

Allianz

Allianz is a multinational insurance company that provides various insurance products, including life insurance, property and casualty insurance, and health insurance.

As an agent with Allianz, you would have the opportunity to work with a globally recognized brand and serve clients worldwide.

You can assist individuals and businesses in finding the right insurance coverage to protect their assets and mitigate risks.

Allianz’s extensive range of insurance solutions allows you to address a diverse set of client needs.

Working as an agent with Allianz can provide you with an exciting and dynamic career, offering the chance to engage with clients from different backgrounds and help them navigate their insurance requirements.

Chubb

Chubb is a global insurance company specializing in property and casualty insurance.

As an agent with Chubb, you would focus on providing coverage for risks such as home insurance, auto insurance, liability insurance, and specialty insurance solutions.

Chubb’s reputation as a leading insurance provider gives you credibility when working with clients. You can assist individuals and businesses in understanding their insurance needs and tailor policies to offer comprehensive protection.

Chubb’s global presence allows you to tap into a wide range of clientele and provide them with the personalized service they require.

Working as an agent with Chubb can offer you a challenging and rewarding career, helping clients safeguard their assets and navigate potential risks.

Zurich Insurance Group

Zurich Insurance Group is a prominent multinational insurance company offering diverse insurance products and services.

As an agent with Zurich Insurance Group, you would have the opportunity to work with individuals, businesses, and multinational corporations, providing coverage options in areas such as property, casualty, life, and health insurance.

Zurich Insurance Group’s global reach offers you exposure to a broad customer base and the chance to handle complex insurance needs. As an agent, you can assess the risks faced by your clients and provide them with tailored insurance solutions to protect their interests.

Zurich Insurance Group provides a platform for you to develop expertise in various insurance fields and build strong relationships with clients.

Working as an agent with Zurich Insurance Group can offer you a dynamic and rewarding career, helping clients navigate the complexities of insurance and secure their financial well-being.

So, What’s My Final Opinion About Being an Aflac Agent?

My take on the job is that it’s certainly not right for everyone.

You’ll need an outgoing personality that isn’t held back when it comes to selling and talking to be successful in this career.

If you don’t mind cold calling and you are a real go-getter this job might be for you.

Aflac and some of its agents say that if you do your job well, you can easily be in a 6 figure income in 10 years’ time and retire on your commission alone and never have to sell another policy ever.

Also, that commission payment can be willed to your spouse upon your passing.

It’s important to note, though, that this kind of success isn’t something Aflac guarantees and it’s not the norm.

You will also need to prepare to spend time away from home to drive and meet with potential clients, but you can arrange those meetings around your life and your family.

Personally, I found that my training would be held in a different state because my region manager is based out of that state. That was a major inconvenience for me.

I can’t see spending that much time away from my family, so I passed on the opportunity.

However, if you are interested in becoming an Aflac agent, go to the Aflac Opportunities page and fill in the information requested.

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Nicky Larson

March 8, 2012 at 11:43 am

I previously worked as an AFLAC rep, and it truly is a great company. However, like Deb explained you MUST enjoy cold calling and have no problem hearing “NO” a lot. I actually started out as an admin for AFLAC and then decided to take the exam to get my license. They do require you to put in a full time week, they really do not want people doing this job part time and they do have 30 day, 60 day, 90 day reviews, and then quarterly to be sure you are meeting your sales goals. Also, not all phone calls, it is a lot of driving as well. I loved the company, but it just wasn’t a good fit for me. I’m not exactly a sales girl 🙂 But if you can do it, good for you!

Nicky Larson

March 8, 2012 at 11:45 am

I forgot to add that if anyone has any general questions, I would be more than happy to try and answer them 🙂 Feel free to contact me.

kim

January 29, 2013 at 9:47 am

I am studying for my license and getting ready to apply for it as well. I am excited to think if I work hard I will see results. For 23 years I have done the same job and worked with many people,some of which were great and hard working and then some that worked very little and made it very hard on everyone else. I am just a little nervous about commission’s. I am a eager to work hard at this and what I like most is I can still make my own schedule. Is it really worth it all? Why did you not stay in the admin position after your attempt at selling insurance?

mary

April 14, 2013 at 12:24 am

Hi Nicky,
Thank you for your information on Aflac. I am currently a P&C agent for a major company in Pennslvania and was thinking of possibly selling for Aflac. Ean around $50k now through renewals and new business, but worry most in reduction of earnings. For instance… how much commission is earned on each sale and whats the average salary for full time Aflac Sales person.
Thanks so much

rofaeel

May 3, 2013 at 10:57 am

hey Nicky,
I am working a full time job that pays $2500/mon. Also, working as a Aflac agent would be a big change to another career than I am not familiar with , would you think that will be more profitable than what I am currently earning !!!!

Suzanne Willson

September 25, 2015 at 9:48 am

RoFaeel,
I am an AFLAC agent now for 9 years. AFLAC is like starting your own business I came from being a chef and after 14 years in one company being laid off. ! was making then $40,000 a year. Now every year my income goes up by at least 10% because of the renewals. I am older so I did not have the go getter speed as some of my counterparts so the income rose slowly but I did hit 60,000 last year. I also took most of one year off with my husbands passing and health issues but with AFLAC you cant get Fired or laid off!! I am at 15% ahead of last year. My first year I did only make 19,000 but like starting your own business I did not have to rent an office, buy inventory, pay for advertising, and staff. I can continue to keep my renewals even if I decide to no longer work for them in Massachusetts it is 10 years but other states have shorter time frames.

Lanna Marie

December 5, 2013 at 11:21 am

Hi Nicky,

I just got offered a position as an Account Representative for Aflac and am quite interested, however I am also quite nervous because I have no idea what to expect.
Is the cold calling that difficult? Do people not make product quotas? How do I afford anything the first few months if it is only commission based?
Please get back to me as soon as you can. I really appreciate your willingness to help people such as myself by answering my questions.

Thanks!

Yoshe

February 29, 2020 at 2:31 pm

Right. I don’t think you will get fired olif you don’t meet a quota! You are self Employed! It’s your Business. Help.me understand that. Also how do you even sell Aflac, I just became an Agent. It sounds hard

Jeff J

February 25, 2014 at 2:04 pm

Hi Nicky,

I’m a father of 3 kids and a homeowner. My oldest is off to college in the fall, paying a mortgage and college tuition coming soon. Is this 100% commission based? If so, this would be a major gamble in your eyes?

thx
Jeff

Angie

March 8, 2012 at 7:26 pm

This is an excellent overview, Deb! I saw this commercial recently and wondered what all was involved. Now I know.

Kate Johnson

November 1, 2013 at 2:38 am

I have been contacted to go in for my first interview in akron ohio and I was just wondering if it is a good area to go into or if its a big scam? Ive read some people say that its all just a scam and not worth it…but they were all in different states…just wondering your veiw on this…thanks!

Mike D.

April 16, 2018 at 11:26 am

Selling insurance is very difficult. Almost 90% of agents do not make it 12 months. Aflac is great but they also crowd areas with other agents. You will make a lot of trips to clients. One avg. you will make 5 – 6 visits before you get paid. I will say Aflac products are the best but building your business takes a very long time.

Yoshe

February 29, 2020 at 2:35 pm

Why does it takes 5-6 visits? What is it you have to do? All Insurance is crowded with Agents,State Farm, Liberty Mutual, Protective, etc,,,,,is about your services and your ability to EXPLAIN clearly what you sell

Shawnee

November 29, 2013 at 11:05 pm

They did that to cause people to take up the secured loans deals as the
insurance broker virginia lenders do not fear non-repayment.
Attention to” scope” is on the mend, although there are still health insurance options available for the self-employed business owner.

Snowman

December 3, 2013 at 10:28 am

To Kate and anyone else interested, I have worked for 8 years for the duck and left a six figure income to come here. You will have to work hard to be successful (like anything there are NO free rides). If you do it and you will learn from others – it works. My sister in law who does this down south said it best – it is a get rich slow plan. The business will continue to grow – but you have to decide to grow with it, by continually learning and growing. If you don’t – it will be difficult. Many folks today aren’t willing to work hard. If you aren’t a hard worker – forget it. It won’t work. But my wife and I have been to: Arizona, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Florida (3 times), Nassau, The Dominican, Hawaii and other places as a result of winning trips here. The best part is that we’ve saved a ton of people with the money the claims have paid them – and they never wanted to have to use it – but they do! Good luck.

Miranda Grimm

December 3, 2013 at 12:17 pm

Thanks for sharing your story. The basis of any long term successful business is slow and steady. Very inspirational.

Tiffany

April 19, 2020 at 1:31 am

Thank you for this.

Robin Fiola

December 4, 2013 at 10:24 am

I’ve worked for Aflac for 13 years. I need to correct something you wrote in your review…you CAN sell certain policies DIRECTLY to an individual; you don’t need to go through a business. I sell a fair amount of the Cancer policy to individual people who work for themselves (ie hair dressers, electricians, plumbers, etc. with no employees, just themselves.) You can also sell the ACCIDENT policy on a direct basis. I think it would be very difficult to build a book of business purely on the basis of direct policies, but it could be done. The average policy cost $600/year per person. If you sold just ONE policy directly to one person every single day of the week, that’s $3000 in premium per week, or $150K in AP per year. Commissions vary by age range and type of policy, but if you consistently wrote $150,000 a year in premium, and serviced those direct policies well (that means returning phone calls, helping with claims, etc) you’d make around $35K-$60K a year…not a bad way to make a living.

Miranda Grimm

December 4, 2013 at 7:08 pm

Thanks!

Tayara Laza

December 11, 2013 at 2:39 pm

Wonderful!! Thank you

Greg

May 3, 2014 at 10:34 pm

How dose Aflic deal with people who have disabilities because I know you guys get so much walks of life when it comes the interviews

Carol Wallace

November 12, 2014 at 3:57 pm

I really appreciated your comments and advice on selling to Individuals. I have just started as an Agent for AFLAC this month and I can’t get to the owners or they claim they are already with AFLAC. What best practices could you share to help me push through. What are the best companies to approach? What should I say initially, to spark interest and get the appointment? I would like to discuss by phone if you would be interested.

Melissa

May 24, 2015 at 5:57 pm

Thanks Robin. I am starting with AFLAC in a couple of weeks. To be totally honest with you I am scared out of my mind with it being commission only. But you broke it down in a way I could see myself working my business!

Charles

March 20, 2019 at 4:57 pm

Hi Robin. It’s 2019. Are you still in the business? If so, what do you think of the viability of AFLAC products and services 6 years later? I need more flexibility in my schedule and at the same time want to really crank up my earnings through my efforts. I currently reside in Metropolitan Phoenix, Az. If you know of a good mentor here in AZ to chat with, I would be appreciate the contact.
Charles, 602-790-1862

Yoshe

February 29, 2020 at 2:44 pm

Huh?? So Cancer and Accident Policies can be written by Individually? I bet that’s your meet and.potatoes bc Business owners are stiff and create immediate resistance intil you keep coming. I would be very happy to sell 2 single a day Gheesh! You said it’s difficult to build a BOOK of Business on Individual policies,,, not if you know alot of hair dressers, plumbers, construction workers, etc,,,Self Employed. Folks are so dang lazy. Get up and WoRK,,, I would rather do Aflac and make the same 40k doing it than working where I work ,,stressed mad upset and can’t be free. 6 months is a good time to give yourself,,,,,it takes time,,,bit it works

Deb Knight

December 5, 2013 at 7:26 am

Robin, perhaps the rules are different from state to state then because a lady in my training class asked specifically if we would be able to sell individual policies to our friends and relatives to get us started and the answer was ONLY if we went to their place of work and signed them up through their work. We were told that we would first have to go to the head of the company or human resources to obtain permission to speak with the employees and then we would have to come back another day to meet the employees at tell them about Aflac and finally return a third time to sign up interested candidates. Now perhaps if it is an individual business owner it is different, but we were told it had to be through businesses only and we would not be allowed to sell policies to individual people.

Robin

April 13, 2014 at 5:29 am

Dev: What you are describing is a payroll group. You are quite correct concerning this: you need to speak to the employer, get permission to speak to employees (in groups, one-on-one, whatever is most convenient for that company) then AGAIN meet with employees to sign them up (we want to give folks a chance to think about it, talk it over with a spouse or partner, etc.)

So basically, there are FOUR steps to getting your commission: 1. Call (or stop in) and make an appointment with whomever handles employee benefits. 2. Meet with that person, and explain how it works (note: there is NO cost to the company; all benefits are 100% employee paid 3. Meet with employees to explain the benefits 4 Come back and meet ONE-on-ONE (because of HIPPA regulations, applications must be done in private, so a spare office with a door is ideal.) and sign each person up.

After submitting applications, some jet-issue (most Cancer plans, all base Accident plans) and some will take longer to go through (usually the ones that require underwriting, such as Life & Disability.) After a policy is issued, you can expect an advance on your first year’s commission to be deposited in your bank account 48-72 hours later.

As I said in my previous post, every policy pays a different commission, and within each policy, every age range has a separate commission structure (for example: you will earn a high commission selling a Life Insurance policy to a 20 year old than to a 60 year old.)

But that is NOT where your job as an Aflac representative ends. You need to deliver a list of employee chosen deductions to the HR managers (or whomever you are dealing with) along with copies of the Premium Deduction Authorizations (signed by each employee; written PROOF that they did indeed want to purchase one or more policies and agree to have the premiums deducted from their paycheck.)

You will receive notification when the first invoice arrives, and it if imperative that you physically go to the company and review the Aflac invoice, showing the payroll administrator how to reconcile it, make changes, etc. Afac ALWAYS bills in arrears, so there is never a time when an employer is paying a month in advance for premiums he/she hasn’t yet deducted.

That first invoice is extremely important, because IF you sign someone up for a policy, get paid your Advanced Commission on it, but they cancel before the effective date, 2 things will happen, and neither are good news for the agent. 1. You will get charge-backs (after all, Aflac has essentially “loaned” you the money before collecting a cent from the account. If the policy is cancelled, you have to pay that money back 2. Your “no-pay” rate suffers. A “no-pay” rate is a %, based on # of policies cancelled before the 1st invoice divided by total number of policies you sold. It is NOT based on dollar amount, but on number of policies. So, for example, if you sold 30 policies, and 15 of them were cancelled after they were issued, but before premiums began, you’re no-pay rate would be 50%.

This is a situation all agents try to avoid. If your no-pay rate goes above 13.5%, you are no longer eligible for any contests or prizes. If it goes above 35%, you aren’t eligible to receive ADVANCED commissions (the quickest way to get your no-pay rate down is to sell more policies!)

Okay, sorry for such a long post. I don’t know what state you are in, but I’ve never heard of any state in which an associate cannot sell a Direct policy, and it has nothing to do with where the person works. I find the answer that was given to the lady your class flat out WRONG.

I could be incorrect here, but as I mentioned, I’ve been an successful full-time Aflac associate since 2001, and have sold many Direct policies to family and friends. In fact, I sold a Cancer policy to one of my girlfriends last week, and she just go laid off and is collecting unemployment! Her mother recently passed away from cancer, and her younger sister was also diagnosed with it. She approached me and said “I think it is about time I sign up for this.”

When you sell a Direct policy, the rates are higher than if they are purchased through a group, and deducted from one’s pay. I set her up on monthly recurring bank draft. She is 55 years old, and Direct Cancer rates are age-banded. She chose Maximum Essentials; basically an ‘economy’ version (my words, not Aflac’s) of our full fledged Maximum Difference Cancer plan. Her mohthly rate is $22.36. After much thought, she decided to add an Initial Diagnosis Benefit, which brought the rate to $36.00/month.

Deb, what state are you licensed in? I will find out if you can sell Direct policies, but I would be very surprsied if the answer were “no.” It’s harder to make a living when you are only writing one policy at a time…but not impossible. Years ago, the Aflac magazine (which all associates receive for free) featured a woman in Arizona who ONLY sold Direct policies to Individuals and their Families. Her goal was one policy a day, no matter what it took (as long as it was legal and ethical, of course!) She wrote an impressive amount of business.

in my experience, policies sold Direct have a higher retention rate than those bought through payroll deduction at work. If a person loses their job, they are usually panicked about money,and often DON’T keep their Aflac (all plans are fully portable, at no rate change, as long as the person paid for them through payroll for one month.)

Good luck!

Active agent

December 6, 2013 at 10:16 am

Aflac is the most amazing company I have ever worked for. They care about their insureds and their employees. Being an Independent agent has challenges of course. However, If you are driven, compassionate to others, a natural people person. You will succeed in this business. I have worked internally and externally for this company ( very impressed internally). Of course, there will be competitive people, people who are more numbers driven than others. At the end of the day it is worth it. When you can service an account, help someone out when they need their claims handled or have a quesion, return calls. Provide exceptional service even when everything else is going on around you. Yes, this has been challenging on all levels financially, spiritually, emotionally. However, I believe in this company and I have made some really good money with this company. This is a roller coaster ride for sure but when it stops. You get back on bc you have invested so much time and energy into it. Think of the people that need these products and you being able to help a family needs. This will continue to keep you focused on the main cause of why we do business in the first place. If you want a get rich quick dream this is not it. Eventhough, I receive residual income once a month ( based on my previous business written), also, you receive shares of stock every month if you have policies that have earned it. If you are looking to grow with yourself and the company this for you. This company has taught me alot about myself. So join the journey with me and become a part of the Aflac family !

Lebron James

February 13, 2014 at 6:37 pm

AFLAC wasn’t the right move for me, Thank god I chose basketball 🙂

Tamara Blair

September 2, 2014 at 2:19 pm

I am an Aflac agent for the City and County of San Francisco, State of California, and Federal Accounts. I also open small business’ and write direct.
This can be a tough gig at first, yes you have to cold call but as you gain experience and accounts you can depend more and more on referrals. The residual income is great and builds over time. My advise; if yours isn’t the main family income and you can work a commission only job, (which in any industry can be feast or famine) go for it. I cannot imagine working for a set salary or having a direct boss ever again. In this industry, activity breeds success! Keep active and business will come … Sit on your butt and fold laundry or watch TV and no, you won’t make money.

I love the fact I can sit down with a client for 10 minutes and make $600. I love being able to be at my children’s school functions. I love the fact I can schedule lunch in with a friend … lots of freedom, but with that there is also lots of personal responsibility for your own income.

Is it easy? sometimes. Is it hard? sometimes. Is it worth it? YES. This is it for me. I found it!

William Detwiler

December 18, 2019 at 2:22 pm

Thanks for the info Tamara! I’m coming from 12 years of teaching 4th and 5th grade and hit burnout. I’ve never considered myself a sales person, but I am passionate about helping people, which is why I’m considering Aflac. Would you consider success in this field is attributed more to a sales background or someone with a good work ethic who is looking to help others?

CHASIDY COLE

September 11, 2015 at 8:01 am

I was working for an Aflac Agent that was writing policies out of states he is not even licensed out of and collecting from Aflac on personal accounts when not registered with Secretary of State as a Corporate entity and operating 3 other businesses out of the Aflac office and was told by A SENIOR SPECIALIST OF VA Federal Employees TO STOP SENDING/ADVERTISING TO VA N EMPLOYEES since Aflac is not an approved vendor to VA.

Kristina

November 14, 2018 at 7:44 pm

It is at the one I just left , they ( union) was sending us emails , our managers sending us emails, I was thinking of getting covered before I left. This was within this year though , many of my coworkers jumped on it it’s way better than what was offered, ironically after I left Aflac emailed me interested in a job as an agent . No doubl there will be shady people stealing a good name to scam people .. I also can do direct sales as well so I won’t have to depend on their big companies if I have enough people interested in personal policies for themselves and family ..

Rachel

December 19, 2015 at 4:03 pm

I unknowingly signed people up who had their policies lapsed for 5 months.

Will I receive any commission for my work?

And if not me, the who gets the commission?

Rick

January 27, 2016 at 3:16 pm

So here’s my question – if a client asks to receive a new rep for AFLAC due to non-service by their current rep – does the former rep still receive commissions for business they booked before the rep change, or do all the commissions go to the new rep? Asking for a friend who is not happy with their current rep, but wants to keep AFLAC.

Mila

July 24, 2016 at 12:39 pm

I would not recommend working for Aflac. Yes, potentially you can make a lot of money, but the problem is, you must work within a corrupt hierarchy whose managers. I have managed to open and close numerous large accounts, which should have been very lucrative for me. Each time I was required to bring in “management,” given the size. Each time a broker — ie, friend of my manager — came in through the backdoor and closed after the business had agreed and was ready to sign with me and arrangements had been made. Enrollments were then assigned to their buddies. In other words, I made all the investment, the hierarchy made all the profit. I got nothing out of it. I spend thousands — while my management made hundreds of thousands off me. I made a few hundred here and there for enrollments.

If Aflac were an ethical company, I would say yes….Too much work, too much running around for what you make and lose. Imagine — even if you make $60,000 — how much of that is lost in taxes? Let’s say after taxes, you take home $40k. Then on top of that, you have to buy promotional items, incorporate wear and tear on your car, gas, business expenses, charge backs. No one is getting rich off Aflac but corrupt hierarchy and the brokers. The rest might be breaking even, if not dropping out altogether. There is a 90 percent drop out rate the first year. You have to be creative — ie, expand to annuities, life insurance, etc,

It’s fun being your own boss. Not fun being lied to and robbed by your colleagues. There are easier, more respectable ways to make a good living.

Aflac is worth it if you really are gung-ho and have a separate income, like a kid living at home whose parents are supporting him or are independently wealthy and want to play at being an entrepreneur. It’s also good for the unemployed who have no other options but are looking to boost their resume until they find something better. It is also a good entre into business before moving on to something bigger and better.

Having experienced Aflac, I would not recommend a job here. My colleagues some of whom were managers as they considered their bosses corrupt and would not lie to associates entrusted to look after them. Others left to financial ruin. (I saw one colleague’s car towed during training…since she could no longer afford to make payments.) Read the critical reviews online — this job is a gamble and Aflac is considered a joke in the insurance business as it hires indiscriminately through cattle calls and throws agents at the wall to see who sticks. YOU make the investment while the BUSINESS profits. Even if you are successful, you risk having your business stolen right out from under you. You consider if this is something you want to do — it appears not everyone has had bad experiences — depends upon your team and hierarchy but my experience resonates with many, just look at the reviews on Indeed and Glassdoor. Scathing!

SUZANNA MCGEHEE

September 3, 2016 at 7:55 am

Interesting blog post . For my two cents , if your company is interested a AFLAC M0272BURM , We encountered a fillable document here www aflac com wellness benefit.

Jeff coooer

July 27, 2017 at 1:38 pm

The trouble with Aflac is that if you start up in a relatively undeveloped market you can expect to see the fruits if your labor much quicker than if you enter a saturated market where a group of district and regional directors, along with their new hires, have been pounding the bricks. Since it is like a business than you should plan on having 6-8 months minimum in savings, to pay living expenses, to underwrite your book of clients; especially if you work in a developed market. Unfortunately, alot of the recruiters are targeting people who aren’t really financially equip for the load and this is a big reason they eventually leave. The cold calling is mind numbingly hideous. It’s literally door to door trying to get appointments set up for meetings the prospect will probably forget about. Professional networking groups are good but slow as hell requiring alot of time and attention for little payout and business development is basically walking around handing out business cards. It’s literally like selling vacuum cleaners door to door. If the company valued it’s workers they’d offer some sort of stipend or base salary and I don’t mean 45k base plus commission but some token amount to maintain people. The financial services industry is huge and those at corporate know that they, the company, have an exponentially better advantage than those hired. Aflac is set up so that the salesman becomes almost indentured to the company via it’s vesting program. Pay close attention to what your boss says because it always changes. First it’s the “from home” pitch and than it’s the “most sales people start seeing results with the first year” pitch. Than the “1st year” becomes the third, than the fifth, than the tenth. That’s all fine but why the big charade? Then there’s the competition. Theirs smaller companies that offer the same product and business owners usually get these Aflac products from agents they already have relationships with and business owners are essentially distrustful of insurance people to begin with and are also habitually conservative about everything. Another form of competition is the aflac sales people in your region or district. If you have someone who’s really offensive or pushy in their approach than that reflects on all Aflac people. The next is that since turn over is so high there’s always new grunts being recruited to go out a solicit accounts. But the bright side is that there no territory, you can sell it anywhere and if you want to drive five hours away to drum up business than that’s fine. But, who would actually see any long term benefit to that pragmatically speaking. In other words, the sales people restrict themselves to their geographic location out of practicality. A friend of mine ran an auto franchise in very populous metropolitan area. Sounds great right? Wrong. The trouble was it was Saturday with other franchises in that area. So, he decided to move to an area where there were no other competing franchisees. He opened three within two years and is doing good. Trouble is, he had to move to another state to do it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Aflac is doing anything “wrong” per se and it is a legitimate business model but the top 10% makes ALL the money and those guys at the top know that they’re prospering, with a tremendously biased advantage, off the backs of simple everyday folks who were brought up to believe that hard work was the way to get anywhere in life. The problem is they don’t really understand what “Hard work” is but the senior management at Aflac does.

Mike

March 17, 2018 at 6:20 pm

I am an active Aflac independent associate selling health policies in my home state. A few points that should be cleared up.

1. “You MUST go through businesses, you can not enroll individuals without a company.” This is not true. You can sell all the direct policies to individuals you want to. I have gone into businesses that did not want to allow us to offer their employees policies at no cost to the business, and had employees want the policies badly enough that they asked me to sell them direct policies which i was happy to do. The commission structure is not as good for direct sales, but the individuals needed insurance and I was happy to provide it for them.

2. Yes, you are indeed on your own to find prospects and develop them into accounts. Aflac offers no real assistance in finding customers. On the other hand, this is your business and it is your responsibility to built it. If you want an employer who sets everything up for you, get a regular job.

3. Unlike may other sales jobs, Aflac does not charge you for sales literature, brochures, forms, etc. Everything you need is free. All you do is go to the site, place your order for materials, and it is at your door within two days.

4. Finally, you are not an Aflac employee. You are an independent businessperson. Once you have an insurance license in your state, you can seek and appointment to sell insurance for any company you want. )And BTW, my Aflac regional office helped me get a significant discount for the study program to ensure I passed the test on the first try.) In essence, you are starting your own business. In the USA, the average time it takes a new business to become profitable is between 2 and 3 years. YEARS folks, not months. Again, if you want a regular paycheck, get a regular job.However, with a career like Aflac, your income really has not top end. It has unlimited income potential that includes yearly residuals after your first year and generous stock dividends.

Angela

March 22, 2018 at 9:30 pm

Hi Mike,

I am getting ready to get licensed and start working with Aflac. I am very excited for this opportunity but, understand it will take dedication!!

Barbara

August 4, 2018 at 1:15 pm

Angela, how is it going? I am considering Aflac as well.

PJ Best

August 6, 2018 at 2:11 pm

Thank you for your very informative overview: Very matter-of-fact and helpful. You saved me a lot of time of finding out that it’s not for me. Your take was very honest, balanced and comprehensive. It is nothing like some of the comments that appear to be staged with the smell of promotion from an Aflac plant with favorable, flowery sentiments. It also doesn’t have the sting of someone who is reeling from the disappointment of it not being all that they were led to believe that it would be.Thank you!

It seems similar to a ‘Pre-Paid Legal’ kind of outfit from years ago (but without the pyramid scheme piece). I’m not a salesperson by any stretch but when I saw how some companies already were offering Pre-paid as part of their benefits, in addition to people having several people already approach them with a presentation, it seemed like there was nowhere else to go with it, in order to be profitable and successful.

Emily Perry

August 5, 2020 at 9:15 am

I am in the process of obtaining my insurance license to start selling Insurance with AFLAC. I’m not sure if things have changed over the years, but now Aflac Agents can write insurance to any individual as well, including friends and family to get started. Also, I live in Georgia, and the company paid for my training. I just had to pay to get fingerprinted and licensed, which will be total a little less than $200. It’s a great opportunity to earn a decent income if you are good at sales and talking to people. Just wanted to give y’all an update! 🙂

Barbara Kasprzak

December 10, 2020 at 9:45 am

I joined Aflac last year in July, 2019. I worked there very hard for 3 months. I got leads but every lead turned into failure because I had help explaining the products and it was a very long explanation and every place I had a lead told me, no, because their employees wanted core benefits and not dental, vision and voluntary benefits. I went to two or three places with other employees for a sales presentation and the other two I went with were paid for the presentation and sales but I was not, even though I did get someone to sign up. I was told it was a “learning” experience. Now i am receiving a bill for almost $80 for their literature and business cards because I got fed up and went back to a job that actually paid me for sales. It was not a good experience for me at all and I am now stuck with this bill and there is no phone number on there for me to call to complain.

Barbara A Kasprzak

December 10, 2020 at 9:52 am

I should charge them for having to stock their literature in my house for a long period of time. I have to go there and drop off these folders to their office, during Covid-19, if I don’t want to be billed, I assume. I don’t know if I joined there at a bad time, or if it was just a poor support group I was involved with or what? I never got a commission and wasted my summer there. I was also told that I would be helping with a call center that I would be able to earn money leaps and bounds over where I worked before and I kept emailing and asking when this would start and I was told that sometimes, things just don’t happen when you expect them to happen and you have to take the good with the bad. I didn’t find any good, just bad. They wanted me to come back very badly. I felt like I was used and I won’t go back.