Complaint Review: Altig International American Income Life - Burnaby British Columbia

With American Income Life, expect to work 6 days a week to be successful. The way it works is you need to book AT LEAST 26 appointments for the week, make AT LEAST 18 presentations per week, which leads to some sales and money for you. The numbers are nearly flawless...as long as you put the time into doing it.

My experience, I didn't put in enough time. I did what most agents were doing and hiring an appointment setter. Well, he didn't perform up to par and I got nothing but excuses from him. I set a requirement for him to make at least 30 appointments, but he didn't put in the time...sadly, he was my friend. After working 60 hours + per week the few weeks before with training and my first couple weeks in the field, I was way too tired to go out and door knock and do all that stuff that was required to be successful, so my numbers started to drop off quickly. One thing you will notice is if your numbers start dropping, the company doesn't try to help you out, they kinda tend to shrug you off and try to find a replacement for you...at least my manager did that.

Soon enough, I wasn't making enough money to survive. On top of that, my net to gross dropped below 50% when a family that took out a rather large policy cancelled their policy, so they stopped paying me. Now, when I went to an appointment, I wasn't collecting food bank food for the other members, I was collecting it for myself, because I could no longer afford any food. Soon after that happened, my credit cards maxed out, and I could no longer afford gas, rent, my car or anything for that matter. I had to leave the company and move back in with my parents...and get a loan from my mother to pay my month's bills.

I spent over $600 in North Dakota in getting licensed and starting up with the company. I only made about $800. Subtracting the two, I only came out ahead $200 in the two months I worked for American Income as an agent...is that fair? No, it certainly is not.

I am a very smart, college graduate who is qualified for many different jobs. I chose this one why? Because I fell for the propaganda. Week after week, the whole international sales team sits down and watches the charasmatic Rick Altig deliver his propaganda to us during out Thursday meetings. It wasn't until the very end of my time, when I had less than nothing, did I realize that I had made the biggest mistake of my life.

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of potential in this company; you just need to be willing to sacrifice your social life and your weekends with your family to really see the benefits in working with this company. I was not willing to give up my family for this job, and I paid the price for it.

I will survive this mistake of mine. I will bounce back and get all my bills taken care of, but the amount of heartache I suffered in the process of hitting rock bottom for the first time in my life, will haunt me for the rest of my life. Look into your heart before you decide to join this company. If you are not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be successful, then my suggestion is not to bother. Find something else. And for those of you who are up for the opportunity, I wish you good luck and I sincerely hope you are very successful...because the money IS there.

Well, I have to admit there is always someone that will do the job. That is for sure.

Anyway, you mentioned she writes off so much that she has almost no income tax to pay. Well, then she is either spending almost all her income in work related stuff or she is not making much, does that make sense? <----Cheesy sales pitch question used by Altig.

But seriously now, some people like it, some people do not, it is an honorable job as long as it is done honestly since we know how dirty the insurance business is and how dirty insurance salesman can be.

Ellen, I also have to admit its a pretty hard job, specially cold calling and working until very late and every day, mainly on weekends.

Either way, my point being, you are right, there is people for everything and you really have to be suited for the job to actually do it so faithfully as your friend does!!

I appreciate your comments and realize that you have a valid perspective having actually worked for the company. And you're right that my friend must spend a lot on her expenses related to her job. However, she also writes off a lot of those expenses and pays very little in income tax as a result. I'm sure a lot less than me, anyways. Regardless of her expenses, she does have a mortgage (obtained within the last year through nothing but her own income) and she drives a nice car, too. She also goes on all-inclusive paid by the company vacations that can be considered as part of her income.

In terms of her time spent at work, I'd say that what you describe is mostly characteristic of her first year with the company. She made a sacrifice and yes, I barely saw her that first year. But isn't this what all self-employed people have to do when they're starting out? It's a choice and in return she is now reaping the rewards: she has a job that she loves, lots of flexibility and a great income. These days it seems she only works a few hours a day some days, takes time off whenever she feels like it. I do see her on weekends and in the evenings. Having said all of this, I could never do what she does because I don't have the right personality for this kind of work. But I admire and respect her ability to do it and support her in the choice that she's made. And there are others like her out there who might love their life like she does as a result of working for Altig.

I appreciate your comments and realize that you have a valid perspective having actually worked for the company. And you're right that my friend must spend a lot on her expenses related to her job. However, she also writes off a lot of those expenses and pays very little in income tax as a result. I'm sure a lot less than me, anyways. Regardless of her expenses, she does have a mortgage (obtained within the last year through nothing but her own income) and she drives a nice car, too. She also goes on all-inclusive paid by the company vacations that can be considered as part of her income.

In terms of her time spent at work, I'd say that what you describe is mostly characteristic of her first year with the company. She made a sacrifice and yes, I barely saw her that first year. But isn't this what all self-employed people have to do when they're starting out? It's a choice and in return she is now reaping the rewards: she has a job that she loves, lots of flexibility and a great income. These days it seems she only works a few hours a day some days, takes time off whenever she feels like it. I do see her on weekends and in the evenings. Having said all of this, I could never do what she does because I don't have the right personality for this kind of work. But I admire and respect her ability to do it and support her in the choice that she's made. And there are others like her out there who might love their life like she does as a result of working for Altig.

I appreciate your comments and realize that you have a valid perspective having actually worked for the company. And you're right that my friend must spend a lot on her expenses related to her job. However, she also writes off a lot of those expenses and pays very little in income tax as a result. I'm sure a lot less than me, anyways. Regardless of her expenses, she does have a mortgage (obtained within the last year through nothing but her own income) and she drives a nice car, too. She also goes on all-inclusive paid by the company vacations that can be considered as part of her income.

In terms of her time spent at work, I'd say that what you describe is mostly characteristic of her first year with the company. She made a sacrifice and yes, I barely saw her that first year. But isn't this what all self-employed people have to do when they're starting out? It's a choice and in return she is now reaping the rewards: she has a job that she loves, lots of flexibility and a great income. These days it seems she only works a few hours a day some days, takes time off whenever she feels like it. I do see her on weekends and in the evenings. Having said all of this, I could never do what she does because I don't have the right personality for this kind of work. But I admire and respect her ability to do it and support her in the choice that she's made. And there are others like her out there who might love their life like she does as a result of working for Altig.

I am surprised you say you "see" your friend.

I have no doubt she is a hard working person, but allow me to please explain myself:

She is her own boss right? and makes 3 times what you make right? well

It is great to be your own boss for AIL, but did you know you have to work 6 days a week (at least), 12 hours a day? it is 100% comission. But you get to start at 11 am or so, so you can sleep in.
Please do not forget that the seventh day you usually have to make cold calls to prospects.

In addition to that, her job makes her travel around putting a lot of wear and tear in her car, and now with gas prices at over a dollar per liter she infact will be making less money.

If you think about it carefully, how much more gas she spends everyday than you going to work?

How much more wear and tear in her car? old changes, eating out, etc?

But think about her day, 12 hour days out of home 6 days a week, well divide her earnings by the number of hours she put in on appointments and driving around, now add the wear and tear, gas, meals, etc. She is not making 3 times more than you are. And at the end of the year she has to add another big cut to the Government for Taxes

If you enjoy cold calling, using your University degree to be an insurance salesman, missing Saturdays and Sundays with friends and family well, then you are suited to join AIL.

This is not an attack, is just the perspective from someone that worked there, made good money but opened his eyes.

PS: Ask your friend to apply for a Mortgage, sadly as a self-employed individual she would hardly be able to get one that buys the house her hard work deserves. -fact-

I have a good friend who has been working for Altig International (a sub-Division of American Income Life) for two years. Despite what you'll probably think, I do not work for the company and have no vested interest in this company or reason to say this other than it's the truth. Before you go judging a company after one interview and posting rip-off reports on the internet you need to do your homework. This type of commentary is not only hurtful to a good company but limits the opportunities of those who could potentially benefit from working for them. From what I can see of my friend's job, you're right in saying that it's not a job for everyone. You do need to be willing to work hard and be suited to the job (like with almost any position), but the opportunities and earning potential within this company are truly staggering. I know for a fact that this part of their claim is not a scam or a rip-off. My friend earns three times what I do working in a good 9-5 government job and I've been there for seven years. I know because I have seen her cheques and see the lifestyle she leads. I have to admit that I was also a little dubious at first when she told me about her new job at this company, but honestly, everything they claimed would happen for her financially, did. Sometimes these things really are for real. And the company does help people through the insurance that they sell. If you don't want to work for them, fine. But if you're smart you'll sign up for one of their critical illness programs. Working in the healthcare field I've seen hundreds of people lose everything after an illness that caused them to lose their jobs. This company provides benefits to these people and their families and much more. I'm no expert on the company, but I do know that it is not a scam and that many people including their clients and their employees benefit from what they do.