AXA Advisors Reviews

Pros

flexible schedule, nice and fun people

Cons

sporadic pay, high expectations, large chance of failure

Advice to Senior Management

not sure... it's a tough business

Pros

Team and Family Atmosphere. Senior Advisors are always willing to help when asked. Many doors already open for those without a natural market.

Cons

Be sure you have a strong financial cushion, as the majority of your income will come in later years and is not immediate. (as with any other firm).

Advice to Senior Management

Develop in-house experts at the Agency Level and don't focus on pushing one particular product only. This is more beneficial for clients.

Pros

Great freedom and flexibility. You can have your own shcedule and have appointments set up anytime and anywhere you want. No need to sit in the office for hours every day.

Cons

With freedom comes lack of team feeling and lack of support. For those without natural market, it's extremely hard in the beginning. First year you invest more money than you receive in return.

Advice to Senior Management

More help with attracting customers and marketing.

Pros

Freedom to create your own business, high pay once you have many clients, no age discrimination, as long as you can continue to produce

Cons

No base pay, must find your own clients, managers are too busy to work with you beyond telling you to keep making appointments.

Advice to Senior Management

consider offering a base pay package, and giving more mentoring support to new hires for the 1st year. Allow more flexibility in who they work with.

Pros

Big company. May provide opportunities for growth if some one can break through the initial stage. Should be a proper fit for ruthless seller.

Cons

Pressure to sale is unrelenting. Pressure is also to sale to friends and acquaintances - which can be awkward for some. Only thing that's important to supervisor and management is the number of sale calls and sales made. Low regard for any other factors.

Advice to Senior Management

New employees should get more support in development rather than just make or break by numbers alone.

Pros

you work for your self, what you put in you get out. Nice offices. People are very friendly and willing to help

Cons

No support from senior management. Very difficult to get started. Will be cold calling for your first year to get very few apointments

Pros

income potential and flexibility for the entrepeneurial type. The environment for growth has definitely improved over the 24 years i have been at AXA. Migration towards more flexibility and independence has been what keeps me satisfied however they need to keep moving in this positive direction.

Cons

Difficult and demanding to start but rewarding for those who put in the effort

Advice to Senior Management

Move to an independent platform model type> Some branches foster the growth of practices and independence while others force feed proprietary products and alienate some very good professionals.

Pros

Good Product Training on Proprietary Products.
Manager support can be great, if you get the right manager.
IT and systems support are great.
Network of outside product offerings is generally good.
Joint work can be good depending on the partner.

Cons

General Sales Training can be "iffy"
Non Propietary product training and support (DI, LTC, Securities,etc.) needs more emphasis,
if you're going to claim that you provide comprehensive financial planning services.
Turnover of people (experienced & newbies) is high.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop nickel & dime-ing the expenses charged.
Need to better align training and contracts (between new comers and veterans) to promote a more homogenous "culture" and methods of operation.

Pros

- High rate of interaction with senior management
- Freedom to focus on various selling areas
- High degree of regular training and development
- Great compensation and benefits structure once established
- Flexible work schedule
- Extensive support network from other professionals in the AXA network

Cons

- Tough to start out with little to no compensation
- Must be willing to commit over 40hrs a week
- High out of pocket expenses to start out

Advice to Senior Management

- Continue to focus on improving technology

Pros

If you are self motivated and like to work on your own it is the perfect place to be in

Cons

If you like working in projects and teams, this is def not the place you would like to be in

Advice to Senior Management

It was a quite of an experience to have the opportunity to work for the company, however is not the culture for someone that likes working in teams