I was recently referred by a friend to "Primerica" for an "opportunity."  He refused to mention any details and simply said, "Man, you just gotta check it out."  I obliged, considering I'm desperately looking for work this summer to pay for university.  On the drive there,  he gave me minor details, still proclaiming, "Man, you just gotta talk to this guy.  He'll explain everything."  From what I gathered, I figured this "opportunity" revolved around sales; my amusement quickly dissolved.

After waiting about half an hour, I was finally greeted by a "representative", whom I quickly identified as a boorish blockhead.  Our interview (I think that's what it was) began by him flashing all these fancy figures that I could be earn if I chose to join Primerica; uninspired and skeptical, I asked him monotonously, "So, doesn't this job require education?"  He was sharp--like a snake preying on a mouse--and said, "We actually require our representatives to complete a course in finance."  As our "interview" continued he explained why term life insurance was so good and frequently pointed at pictures of fancy digits and dollar signs; essentially I had no idea what was really going on, neither did he tell me what I'd actually be doing.  As he rapped up his uninspiring presentation, he began asking me hypothetical questions like, "How much money would like to make in life?" or "How many hours would you like to work?" and "What kind of luxury car would you like to drive?"--claiming all my dreams would come true if I joined Primerica, as I could work little hours and make a six-figure income (though, unfortunately, none of my dreams revolve around money.)  He then told me that I'd be required to pay $100 to get a finance certificate, and therefore be qualified.  I immediately thought, SCAM.  But no, I wasn't quite right. They do send you to a legitimate place (you can find them on your own) where you can obtain a certificate in finance.

As I had now listened to this guy's explanation--I think I was supposed to be brainwashed--my friend had now felt inclined to fill me in on the details.  On the ride home, which, by the way, he played a motivational CD by some Primerica guy (creepy,) I was finally told what I would be doing: selling life insurance.  On the surface, not that I would be interested or anything, it didn't seem like the deceptive conclusion that I came to later on.  However, as he continued, he said that for my "training" I would have to go out with Daniel (the representative) and explain to my family, as well as other close contacts, how the service worked; in turn, I would receive a small portion of any sales made.  By the time I got home, I began to put together the puzzle.  I was told during my interview not to look up Primerica on the web, but to go to specific sites, which he wrote down for me.  I thought that it was pretty sketchy, but  he assured me of the business's integrity with the high ratings that the company received in valid business magazines, and then showed me where Primerica was on the New York Stock Exchange.

Even though the closest I've ever made it to in business is through Death of a Salesman, by Arther Miller, I became acquainted with some business terms, terms that he failed to mention.  I reached the conclusion that Primerica is a multi-level marketing organization; they operate through a pyramid scheme.  Basically, how it works is you, the salesman, go out and sell their life insurance; in turn, however, your sales makes everyone else money, including a relatively small portion for yourself (the people higher up on the "pyramid.")  They operate through referrals and allow you to recruit people, yourself, to make more money (which is why my friend was so eager to refer me.)  The reason they want you to work for them is because you'll make them money, while they virtually do nothing.  There's essentially nothing wrong with this, but if you think about how such an operation is ran, it seems quite pathetic: they'll hire anyone (the more the merrier) and by sending these non-professional, non-educated people out to sell life insurance, do you think people will actually buy it?  What if the potential buyer decides to, uh, I don't know, ask questions?

This is where they get you again.  Throughout my interview, the guy explained how their product, term life insurance, was so great; typically, he's right, but for life insurance, it certainly isn't a "one size fits all" scenario.  Also, he made it seem that this product was so unique and that they're the only ones who offer it.  I believe I had asked him how likely it would be to sell this product in terms of competition.  He pulled out a red herring and went on about something else--I think about their really low rates.  I went on Google and was surprised to find that practically every insurance company offers the same service.  I did a few quotes under various ages and scenarios and also found that Primerica is much more expensive, practically under every circumstance, than other services--how are you supposed to sell that?  He had me convinced that their service was the "Wal-mart" (We sell for less!) of life insurance.  Nope.  Finally, I put everything together and this is what I gathered:


They try to sell life insurance to your friends and family (because, for your training, you have to "observe" the representative through six session of him trying to sell life insurance [to your close friends and family.]) And what better people to sell to!  You go to them, saying, "I just got this new "job" and this is part of my training--are they, as your friends and family, going to be inclined to buy this half-a** insurance policy?  Obviously.  Once you get through these six observations sessions, your training is now complete and you can now sell freely.  But, once again, who's going to want to buy from your non-professional, non-educated self?  Certainly, not those close friends and family, as they--if they decided to even make purchases--bought them off your representative.  I wouldn't see these people as your only hope as sales but, in the end, who's else is going trust your non-professional a**?  This is the beauty of multi-level marketing: your sales will quickly run out once you've heard, "Nos" from all you'll close friends and family.  At the end of the day, you, as well as many others, have just made someone higher up in the pyramid a lot more money, but once you run out of sales, that's okay, they have 200,000 some odd people just like you to bring them in more money and referrals.

You don't stand a chance selling this garbage.  In fact, the average income of a Primerica salesmen is little more than $5000 annually, which is a far cry from the $100,000 income they flaunt in your face as well as even a typical $20,000 minimum wage salary.  Don't waste your time.  If you're a good salesmen, have an endless supply of contacts, and you don't mind pressuring your close friends and family into sales, there's something way better out there for you then Primerica.

However, I never dealt with the "cult" aspect of Primerica; to be honest, I figured it would just make for an interesting headline, but it seems like there's an eerie truth to it.  Although I can only base my skepticism on the fact that I received creepy vibes from every single person in that building, it seems like a lot of brainwashing is taking place.  They keep you in line, as I said earlier, by telling you how much money you can make; they do this by having frequent conferences, "motivational" CDs, covering their walls in posters, and moronic representatives influencing you every step of the way.  They do this to motivate you, so reality takes a longer time set in; once it has, you'll be scratching your head wondering, why the hell you spent so much time on such nonsense.

You really have no clue resident! We will see how great this legendary giant will be in 2012! Follow us at www.nyse.com ticker symbol pri. I love how unregulated the internet is but i gave you a regulated website to follow us! Im a proud client of primerica for over 15 years and they have done nothing but told me the truth about my finances. My kids school is now paid because of the education i was provided by my rep. Thanks pfs, another satisfied client :)

All that I'm asking of you is that you remove all posts that we DID NOT CALL - let them use other forums or someone else's phone number but not ours.  I, and many of my colleagues, work under this phone number and there are many posts that are misleading, irrelevant or simply untrue and slanderous that are posted under this number.  If you choose to leave these posts for others to read, then please leave my post as well.  If this site is allowing freedom of speech regardless of relevance than I should be allowed to comment on the context as well and post whatever I like too, right?  Either remove posts that we did not call or allow mine to stay.

THANK GOODNESS I checked it out, the audacity. He was so pleasant from the start, and his script seemed so perfectly rehearsed that a mini red flag went up in my head, but then he continued to talk and talk about the opportunity, how no financial background is required, and that all I need was a love for people, good interpersonal and communication skills, and pretty much all of the other laundry terms that job seekers put on their resumes. So, it was hard to accept the interview because he made me feel so confident and optimistic about being a "leader" and a part of "the biggest financial institution in the world". My sister and her close friend both attended the first interview and confirmed that it was highly unprofessional. The questions that they asked were basic personality questions, hardly the grilling that one would expect from a solid company. I am supposed to go to my interview tomorrow, and if "Tal Grossman" had left a number to contact them if anything should arise, I would've had the courtesy to let them know I wasn't interested, but they didn't. So? Again, thank goodness I did my research!

Also, for those genuinely looking for the "truth", just keep doing your research, go with your instincts, and be weary of  the super positive comments such as the ones below, because they too might be hired by Primerica or similar companies, doing damage control on helpful and informative sites such as these.

Good luck to those still looking for employment!
Stay positive!!!

Received a call from this number today, the guy said his name was Tal Grossman and he was calling from Primerica and then he said Citi Group.  He said they have job available in the finance department for someone with no finance experience (weird)! Then he said "I don't think you have finance experience", when I actually do have a lot of finance experience, but he did know my name and my number, so I think he got it from workopolis or something like that.He talk really fast.He called me last year and did the same sales pitch.My friend went to the interview and said its a company that tries to lure you in for insurance sales.I asked him if it was sales and he said no.  Oh well I'm not going to this stupid interview, waste of time.

Hi guys!!!!  I got the call this afternoon as well!!!!! It was so wired!!!don't you guys think so???Too good to be true!!! he said the same thing and give a number (647) 298-6200 for the interviewer - Laura Zassur 's contact info. It located at 4000 steeles..everything is the sameThank you guys... I will not go and waste of my time!!!!