World Financial Group, deceptive insurance salesmen. Ripoff Centerville Ohio
World Financial Group reps disguise themselves as "financial planners" or "coaches" etc: In actuality they are Insurance salesmen who will talk about financial planning and sell you a super expensive VUL (variable universal life ) insurance policy.
This will be pushed as the best thing you could do for investment and insurance purposes.
They company they use for this has the highest commissions in the industry. They won't tell you that. They will also try to recruit you to join their business and sell you the dream to become your own business owner and lure you with the old six figure income line, trips to Hawaii, Jewelry etc: You will pay them $100.00 for the priviledge of joining this business.
YOU will have to pay for the "training"- an insurance license and securities liscense(about a thousand bucks). You will also be requiured to attend weekly meetings.(basically brainwashing meetings) You will be pressured to come up with a list of 25 of your friends and families names so that they can go and sell these expensive commission laden policies to them while they "train" you in the field. They of course make all the money from this while you start to loose friends and family. Oh and the best part is that you will be required to pay about $300.00 a month (again for the priviledge of doing business with them) to the office while doing all this. This is atypical (not typical) MLM. Same upline downline stuff with different names.
They will want you to transfer all of your savings and investments over to their commissioned companies. After you wake up and quit because you can't sleep well from selling family things they are paying WAY too much (and that you don't understand yourself)for they will threaten you for telling the truth.
The joke is on you. You gave them the names of your friends that they get to sell to when your gone. They continue to get 12b1 fees from all the accounts you rolled over. You get to agonize on how you got suckered into this and deal with the friends whose names you gave.
If you want to be a financial planner go to school and do it legitimately. Work for a reputable company. Go to a fee based planner if you want a plan. They will not sell you commissioned products with big loads on then. This company is a morph og WMA which has a real bad history of scamming.
Jack
Springfield, Ohio
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Jack
Springfield,Ohio,
U.S.A.
A better way
#4Author of original report
Tue, January 12, 2010
Ok, so why don't you tell the "Client" that they can do all the same business at a company like "Vanguard" themselves and skip the massive commissions? They can buy term insurance for their needs and make proper investments on their own. They don't need to pay huge commissions to WFG or any one else. Why don't you explain surrender charges to them. Explain what a down market would mean to a VUL and it's premiums.
It's all about misleading the customer so that you can make big commissions on their ignorance. Been there, done the whole WFG thing, including the licenses etc. So how many friends or family run away when they see you coming?
I had a huge amount of investments they continually hounded me to turn over to them and I am so glad I never did that.
People, you can do all this yourself. JUST CALL VANGUARD and run away from WFG.
No, none of this is is illegal but it sure stacks the deck in the SALESMANS favor. Sales people are what WFG personnel are. They are not truly in this to insure the people are the beneficiary of the service.
Keep your money, call Vanguard, Fidelity, T-Rowe price...... not WFG!
DON'T PAY A MIDDLEMAN SALES PERSON A GIANT COMMISSION EACH MONTH!
If you must have an advisor, go to a FEE ONLY Real financial planner with real schooling and credentials, not an insurance salesman with a sales license. You can buy insurance too, direct from a reputable company. You do not need a middle man from WFG or any other company.
Yes WFG is legitimate, but there is a much better way to take care of this business of finances and insurance.
And yes, I and my wife were threatened by the Leader of this company when we started telling people the truth about this.
Jack
Ohio
ME2
United States of AmericaThe Facts
#4General Comment
Mon, January 11, 2010
I have read the information as regards to the above mentioned company. I believe the individual does not understand the insurance industry.
To sell any type of insurance product, annuity, or security you need a license. The average cost for the classes and test are easily $1,000.00 or more. If you study on your own without classes you can have your insurance license for less than $200.00. A securities license on the other hand will require quite a bit.
As regards to the $300.00 month for the office, that is generous of them. Most broker dealers do not supply a working office unless you are a captive agent.
I don't know the company personally, but everything they are doing is above board. The thing to remember is that MLM companies framework and style is based off of the common practices of the insurance world.
As a side note, there is no way to "Sell...a super expensive variable annuity". It's your money. It can't be expensive. YOUR money goes into an account that makes money off the market, mutual funds, and other investment the variable annuity is in. You personally can take that money out and use it.
Chad
Lexington,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
My opinion
#4UPDATE Employee
Tue, October 21, 2008
To be in the financial business you have to have certain licenses. These licenses do cost money and if you're going into business for yourself, you will have to pay for them. You also have to have Errors & Omissions Insurance, which most pay monthly. You don't have to "pay" anyone to work in the business. If you want to work for yourself, you can make unlimited amounts of money and you can create unlimited bills for yourself. Being a business owner is about making a profit.
If you don't want to work for yourself, you can do this same job at a bank or various investment companies with a salary. You may even get small commissions added to your salary for sales. This route gives you security. You will not be able to make nearly as much, but you will also not have to worry about paying any bills.
As far as the products go, when you are with World Financial Group, you can choose to use any kind of insurance product that seems to be in the best interest of your client. You can use term, whole life, VUL, etc. If the customer is already properly insured, you probably won't even talk much about insurance, you'll probably talk about investments and tax shelters.
WFG is just a marketing company that will set up relationships with financial services providers for you to be affiliated with so you can go into business. You can work with loans, life insurance, investments, property & casualty insurance, college planning, etc. You can be creative and tailor your business to be what you want it to be. For example, you could specialize in setting up group term insurance and 401(k)'s for businesses.
This business is not for everyone, you have to bust your tail in the beginning and you have to commit to it. If it's not a good fit for you, there's no need to go on the internet and bash the company and blame everyone else for your failed venture. Good luck to everyone!