Becoming An Agent

Straight Answers

Do I need experience?

No. Most of our people came from something else entirely — ministry, teaching, coaching, construction, real estate, the service industry. GFI’s training system is built to take someone from zero. What you cannot be taught is work ethic and a willingness to be coached.

Do I need a license?

Yes. You need an active life and health insurance license in your state. That means a pre-licensing course and a state exam. We will help you choose a course and set a target exam date, but the license is yours and you keep it wherever you go.

How long does licensing take?

It varies by state and by how much time you can put in. Most people who study consistently are through the course and exam within a few weeks. Your state’s department of insurance sets the course-hour and fingerprinting requirements — we will point you to the current ones.

What does it cost to get started?

The costs are your pre-licensing course, your state exam fee, and your licensing and background-check fees. These are paid to your state and to the course provider, not to us. We will give you the current numbers for your state before you commit to anything.

Is this a job with a salary?

No. This is an independent contractor role and it is commission-based. There is no ceiling on what you can build, and there is no salary underneath it. That cuts both ways and you should know that going in.

Can I do this part-time?

Yes, and many people start that way while keeping their current job. What matters is that the hours you commit are consistent and protected. Two reliable evenings a week beats a burst of activity followed by three quiet weeks.

What is the “warm market” and why does it matter?

You start with people who already know you — family, friends, church, former coworkers. Not because we want you selling to your relatives, but because trust is already there and you learn far faster in a room where you are not a stranger. There is no cold calling and no purchased lead lists to start.

What will I actually be doing?

Sitting down with families, walking them through how money grows and how it is taxed, finding out what they are trying to accomplish, and then bringing them options from the carriers we work with. The consultations are free to the family. We are compensated by the carrier.

Will I be on my own?

No. Your first appointments have a mentor in the room. You observe, then you present portions with backup, then you run it yourself. We also hold team calls, and attendance at those turns out to be one of the better predictors of whether someone lasts.

What products will I be able to offer?

Because GFI is non-captive, you are not locked into one company’s shelf. That includes life insurance with living benefits, indexed strategies, annuities, retirement rollovers, mortgage protection, and college funding strategies. You add carrier appointments and product certifications as you grow.

Is everyone successful at this?

No, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you something. Some people get licensed and never book an appointment. The ones who make it are almost always the ones who built their list of 30 before they were licensed and got their first appointment on the calendar within two weeks of passing the exam. We front-load both of those on purpose.

What is the first step?

A conversation — that is genuinely all it is. If it sounds like a fit after that, the next step is sitting in on a real appointment as a guest so you can see the work before you invest anything in it.