American National Insurance Reviews

Pros

Great work/life balance, pleasant co-workers, stable organization and competitive benefits

Cons

Salary amounts not very competitive with rest of Houston area, too conservative, be more apt to change

Advice to Senior Management

Above...be more open to change

Pros

Work Flexibility (being an independant contractor) affords the beset flexibility
Pay ( the management subsidy program is very lucrative to start with)

Cons

The leadership from the President of the company is lacking much vision.
Technology is about 30 years behind current (still using dos applications)
Certain territorial managers were promoted because of sales performance, regardless of the fact they don't know how to motivate or manage people.

Pros

As with all insurance companies you have the ability to create your own future.
Compesation is ok as compared to other captive companies.

Cons

Horrible follow through from management.
Don't expect any support or online training except for being told to take web courses. I haven't seen my manager in months while supposedly being in training. If you are new as an agent, pick a different company.
Too many different companies that aren't merged together. It gets very confusing just trying to figure out who to call.

Advice to Senior Management

Get with the times. Project 100 was used 30 years ago. How can you plan on substaining the future when you cannot relate to generation X or Y? You have no brand recongnition, no marketing, and no training in a business that is extremely difficult to get off the ground as an agent.

Pros

Easy work load and flexible hours make it convieneint for those who need time after work for school or family.

Cons

Not the best place pay or benefits. Does not recognize achievement. Satisfied with the way things are.

Advice to Senior Management

Treat your people fairly or they will leave. This company has potential but the tight fisted management prevents the company from retaining good people. Stop focusing on your history and focus on the future.

Pros

Lots of flexibility. Many products to sell. Stable firm with a long history. Based in Galveston Texas.
Nice people there.

Cons

This is nothing but a do it yourself project. We have no boss, little or now training, no leadership, some support from the home office. NO name recognition.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't let agents be abandoned by MLGA's who quit. Find someone to give them leadership, guidance and training. Pay some expenses.... study for exams, taking exams, E & O.. geez something!!!

Pros

Flexible work life balance, extremely generous sick leave, good vacation, improving benefits, great opportunity for growth, pension, multiple locations, stable and caring toward employees.

Cons

Somewhat conservative, the company could use a push into current times.

Advice to Senior Management

Be more willing to change and grow, you wont lose the values that got you there by jumping on the technology bandwagon and coming into 2010 with the rest of teh worls. Be more innovative and less afraid of preservation.

Pros

Hours are very flexible. Opportunities are near endless.

Cons

You HAVE to be an entrepreneur like mind to succeed. Nothing is handed out, you get what you earn. Trial by fire is an understatement. If you're looking for a company who's going to hold your hand and walk you through it all, this is the wrong place for you.

Brand recognition, or lack there of make things more challenging.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus on creating a better package for agents. The AAA pay program is good for new hires, but needs improvement. A rollover of policies per month would be a welcome change.

Pros

Pay is not bad, but not great. The trips are nice and classy, the big ones at least. From time to time you might find someone who will help you out.

Cons

You will be baptized by fire. The managment will sell you out and not be there when you need help. They do not care about you they just want you to keep making them money because everyone gets a cut of what you sell. The pressure is ridiculous when the management won't even go help you, they say "they have paid their dues" and then leave you out there to do it all on your own. No chance to be able to move up and running around having to collect premiums, 20,000miles in 8 months, $5,000 in gas in 8 months. You get the picture. Did I say that the pay was good?

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your agents, they are the backbone of the company.

Pros

Good claims handling, can choose your schedule

Cons

Rigid short-sighted know-it-all management that does not value it's people - customers or workers alike. Thus, they are not nearly as successful as they could have been. Lack of national advertisement and name recognition creates unnecessary challenges for the Agents. Insurance is about trust and it is hard for people to change, particularly, to unknown company, no matter what their ratings are. Nobody buys into that anymore, but people still buy into marketing. Add to it higher than competition rates in many areas and you will be wondering why does anyone chose to switch to this company. American National just dumped millions of dollars into "vertical marketing" campaign, which no Agent has asked for and only a few can benefit from. At the same time no money were invested into what every Agent has asked for - creating brand recognition.

Poor commissions will push you to work extra hard even for a modest income. If you are not a top producer (and they really don't care how you do it) you are history, as well as your book of business and all the hard work you put into building it. if you do not leave on your own they will ask you to even though you are a 1099 and it does not cost them a dime to have you service your clients. They love to keep your commissions. Property and Casualty side of American National is just a gimmick to get people to buy life insurance with sub-gimmicks like CHROME program to make clients switch other property insurance to American National. People see right through it and if they did not get turned off prior to that it will be another great opportunity to lose a client. Company does not want to hear your opinion, even if you are a top producer. Really, they do know it all, and if not, they would rather give money to the outside "experts" than listen to any of the "little people" who really care about the business and invested their life into it.

If other insurance companies were not as bad at handling claims I would leave long time ago.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your people! One does not have to be a CEO or a Business Guru to make a positive impact on satisfaction and profits. Invest and support your people! We are the biggest asset you have. Expand training, particularly in office operations area. Expand commercial insurance side. Stop charging SM&R fees. Stop running business in the scarcity mode and lay off the gimmicks. Compensate people whose book of business you kept after their departure. Invest into real marketing campaign and with that you can be the most sought of insurance company, but will you do it?

Pros

American National is a very stable company with a rich history. There are no boom and bust cycles with the employees. It is a conservative atmosphere where talent and hard work are rewarded.

Cons

Things change more slowly than in some other companies, but if you like stability and continuity this is a great company.

Advice to Senior Management

The company needs to be more aggressive in promoting itself and its job opportunities.