EF Fall 07.indd - National Association of Professional Allstate ...

Hi Jim,Thank you again for sending me thefiles. I would like to take you up on youroffer to further assist me. First of all, comingacross NAPAA website has been thebest thing that I’ve done in the last eightmonths. I’ve been researching Allstate andState Farm for about eight months now.I’ve met with countless Allstate, StateFarm and Farmers agents. Also, I’ve spentmany hours with MDLs and AFEs (StateFarm). Even after spending so much timewith them, as well as doing my own research,I feel as though I haven’t mademuch progress. Since MDLs and AFEsare in the business of recruiting, I takewhat they tell me with caution – especiallyafter the negative comments I’ve readabout them in many articles and on messageboards. Agents they refer me to seemto be political and reserved. I can’t helpbut think these agents were personallyselected for a reason. I question whetherthey have my best interest in mind. Almostany question I ask is followed by“Well, that depends on you.” The answersare very general at best. I’m finding outthat few to none like to talk about the badside of being an agent for their company.I don’t know how they’re expecting me tomake good business decisions and draftup a strong business plan if I don’t understandboth the good and the bad side ofthis business and the company. I feel likeI’m going in a circle.Long story short, I have nowhere elseto turn for direct answers. After reviewingthe NAPAA website, I believe inwhat your organization is trying to accomplish.I would like to know if you oranyone in your organization can help meanswer some of the questions I’ve beendying to know for the last 8 months.I’ve decided to pursue my career withAllstate over State Farm because I feellike Allstate has a better contract basedletters to NAPAAon the research that I’ve done. However,after reading the articles you sent me, I’mnot so sure anymore. I would greatly appreciateany assistance you can offer me.Editor’s Note: Headquarters staff spenthours with the author of this letter. The articleswe sent him were “Memoirs of a ScratchAgency Owner”, “Jack’s Story”, “The Rest ofthe Story” and “It begins with the Interview,”all of which were published by Exclusivefocusin the past year. Last we knew, the authorwas still trying to make a decision.I receive your emails and, althoughI believe a group representing agents iswarranted, I feel that this one is a negativecampaign.Any thought to trying and work withcorporate to get some gains for the agents?Editor’s reply:Thanks for your question. First, I shouldsay that NAPAA would like nothing morethan to work with the company on issues affectingagents. In fact, NAPAA has offeredto work together with Allstate on several occasionsover the years. When I was NAPAApresident, I stood before Ed Liddy at an Allstateshareholders meeting and beseeched himto begin a dialog with us. In addition, I hadmany positive relationships with many insenior management. My latest offer to workwith management was written in the spring2007 issue of Exclusivefocus magazine whenI wrote: “Since reducing agent turnover isa goal that NAPAA shares with Allstate,we invite Mr. Wilson to meet with us. Wewill be truthful, insightful and professional.We won’t be timid, shy or intimidated. Mr.Wilson, if you’re reading this, please give us acall us at 877-269-3474. Let’s talk.” Unfortunately,this offer, like all of our other overtures,has apparently fallen on deaf ears.Again, thank you for writing. We valueyour input.Do you guys actually work for corporatenow, or does it just seem that way? Usedto be we could get some real news fromNAPAA instead of just cheerleading.Please stop sending me these emails.If you ever do decide to actually becomeadvocates, a voice for the agency forceagain, please let me know.Sincerely,A prior NAPAA memberEditor’s Reply:I wanted to let you know that we have receivedyou email requesting that you be takenoff our mailing list. I am sorry you have decidedNAPAA is no longer an agent advocate.I would like to point out that in recent yearswe supported both the anti-credit scoring initiativein your state as well as the Duke Metzcase. We are currently active legislatively inFlorida and Texas. Our legislation in Texas(HB1047) is a bill that, if enacted, will givecaptive agents the same termination protectionsthat independent agents now enjoy. Idon’t know what your definition of advocacyis, but I would say these measures are definitelyadvocating for the agent. What wouldyou recommend we do and how would yousuggest we pay for it?Agents tend to think that NAPAAneeds to do this or do that. The reality isthat it takes money and membership, notfair weather fans. If every Allstate agentwas a member, we would have the moneyto accomplish much more. The FL lawsuit,which we lost, cost us over $700,000. We areonly now beginning to dig out from underthat one. I contributed over $3,000 to helpfinance that lawsuit… how much did youcontribute? I have been a NAPAA memberfor 14 years… how long were you a member?I lost my agency for speaking out andyou still have yours.I guess what I am saying is that if youwant NAPAA to change, then get involvedFall 2007 Exclusivefocus — 9