Only the strong will survive - Agent New York Life Employee Review

4.0
Dec 19, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You call the shots. You can earn a comfortable salary. Be prepared to work 60 hours a week if you want to earn more than 50k a year during your 1st 10 years. Yes there will be high's and lows but 50k is average for a hardworking agent. Also be prepared to invest at least 20% back into your business for marketing and expenses. making your net take home about about 30K. When you toss in residuals. your AGI is 40k. Not bad considering the freedom you have. If you are considering a career as an agent set aside 6 months of living expenses up front. If you ever get lucky enough to have a 6 figure year. SAVE the extra money!! remember you might need it next year, be sure to take a nice vacation though.

Cons

Be prepared to weather, reversals ( that's when you have to give back your commission when a customer cancels during the 1st year) Declines, for every $1000 new business you turn in, NYLIC will likey decline 30-40% of it. ( it's all about risk management) so that means if you want to earn $3000 per month in commssions you need to turn in $5000 in new business every month. Also If you want to sell investments you need to bring in $43,000 in commissions (annually or you'll have to pay a supervsion fee of $1.500. The company makes you pay this during the last quarter of the year. along with your professional laibility insurance, and tech support, that's $2800 right off the top. (Happy Holidays!) That means you'll have to turn in about 18K in new business during the last qtr to make $3000 take home each month.

Explore other reviews about New York Life

5.0
May 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great environment, helpful management and good mentorship

Cons

Hard to get recognition for merit

1
5.0
Oct 9, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Right out of college, I had an opportunity with the New York Life. Being young I felt that I was at a disadvantage but I worked hard, I was relentless, and ambitious. My first full year, I was able to make a six-figure income. It wasn't easy but is medical school easy? Is law school easy? The training and development at New York Life was unmatched. I knew nothing about the Insurance and Financial Services industry until I was given an opportunity at New York Life and the training was exceptional and has led me to the success I have today.

Cons

You have to work hard, be relentless, entrepreneurial, invest a lot of time and effort into the business and above all, expect a higher standard of living and strive towards that goal every single day.

251
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New York Life Response
9y
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback – we appreciate it. As you say, a successful career as an agent requires dedication and commitment. For many, including you, the professional rewards are worth it. But we do understand that starting out in this career is not always easy. That’s why we offer new agents continuous training and support, to give them the advantages they need to succeed.
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