AXA is terrible.  NML is a good company.  I would look at brokerage firms as well as insurance co’s.

Any in particular you would suggest ? The training and mentoring component is important to me.
Thanks,
Wendy

at nm, you'll have to pay for everything out of your own pocket--local phone calls, office space, etc.  at axa, most of the basic business expenses are provided as you'll be treated as an employee.  at nm, you're an independent contractor.

jj_huh, it’s better to keep your mouth shut than to answer questions incorrectly.

Take a look at Edward Jones.  Most people here will admit their sales training is very good.  I have been at EDJ over 10 years and very happy.  Several on this site started there and then went independent.

Whuttner, if you have any specific questions about NWMFN I would be happy to answer them just pm me.  I have spent almost a year there as an intern doing exactly what the full time reps do, so I know the business and their business model pretty well.  They are a great company, although I will be leaving to work with EJ to be closer to home.

 I’ve been offered the AXA job and Northwestern wants me too . We’ ve been NWML policy holders for 25 years and our personal rep offered to mentor me, he’ll also let me call into his B clients and inactive ones; he’s been trying to get me to join his group for a number of years  . I told him I wanted  to offer a full range of services and liked the fact that AXA wanted me to get the series 7 and 66 right away -  he said he’d facilitate writing policies so I wouldn’t have to turn anything away until I had that ability at NW myself.  The training at NWML seems well developed although the manager who hired me at local AXA office has his own system and is their office is #4 in the country and he seems to be the best manager out of the 4 there.
I’m older than the reps at AXA but having those youngin’s around could spark my competative streak but I seem to kind of fit in the NW offices a bit better.
I know that I don’t know what I don’t know about the industry yet and love to hear your opinions/ experiences. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SHARE YOUR OPINION WITH ME ?
Thanks so Much

Most of the people who are members here do not work for an insurance co, so you probably won't get a ton of response.  That being said, I would investigate what jj had to say earlier.  It sounds like NWM has the FA side as an afterthought, based on his comments.  Try to figure out what the payout grid is for each company, and view it in the context of overhead expenses you would have to pay with one and not the other.  I have seen many favorable comments on this board about NWM, and this is the first time I have read anything about AXA. 

AXA is an insurance company.  Northwestern Mutual is an insurance company.  To survive at either company, you will need to be able to sell insurance. 

Could you sell an insurance product if you knew that your client would be better served by working with your competition?

Yes, that is not a test.  If it were, there would only be one insurance company, one B/D, one I/A, and one commercial bank, because everyone would refuse to work and sell for any of the competition out of ''geez, I really want to help you, but you should go talk to NWM, they would much better serve your needs…"

 I’ve been offered the AXA job and Northwestern wants me too . We’ ve been NWML policy holders for 25 years and our personal rep offered to mentor me, he’ll also let me call into his B clients and inactive ones; he’s been trying to get me to join his group for a number of years  . I told him I wanted  to offer a full range of services and liked the fact that AXA wanted me to get the series 7 and 66 right away -  he said he’d facilitate writing policies so I wouldn’t have to turn anything away until I had that ability at NW myself.  The training at NWML seems well developed although the manager who hired me at local AXA office has his own system and is their office is #4 in the country and he seems to be the best manager out of the 4 there.
I’m older than the reps at AXA but having those youngin’s around could spark my competative streak but I seem to kind of fit in the NW offices a bit better.
I know that I don’t know what I don’t know about the industry yet and love to hear your opinions/ experiences. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SHARE YOUR OPINION WITH ME ?
Thanks so Much

Man, I’m glad I picked financial advising over insurance…just saying.

Hank,

Well, to start, it is not dictating in BOLD letters that THIS FIRM IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.  Beyond that, there has been a traditional fall off between Ins. firms and financial planning firms, as far as A)payout for the agent, and B)quality and diverse product offering.  I was exensively aprised of this over the last few months.  Pick your product/industry, and pursue it…

Well, to start, it is not dictating in BOLD letters that THIS FIRM IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.  Beyond that, there has been a traditional fall off between Ins. firms and financial planning firms, as far as A)payout for the agent, and B)quality and diverse product offering.  I was exensively aprised of this over the last few months.  Pick your product/industry, and pursue it…

jj_huh, it’s better to keep your mouth shut than to answer questions incorrectly.

“Yes, that is not a test.  If it were, there would only be one insurance company, one B/D, one I/A, and one commercial bank, because everyone would refuse to work and sell for any of the competition out of ''geez, I really want to help you, but you should go talk to NWM, they would much better serve your needs…”

“Well, to start, it is not dictating in BOLD letters that THIS FIRM IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.  Beyond that, there has been a traditional fall off between Ins. firms and financial planning firms, as far as A)payout for the agent, and B)quality and diverse product offering.  I was exensively aprised of this over the last few months.  Pick your product/industry, and pursue it…”

[quote=anonymous]jj_huh, it’s better to keep your mouth shut than to answer questions incorrectly.