This post makes some excellent points:

"I started at AEFA with the same thoughts you seem to be having - Get licensed, leave and take over the world. I think there are some things you may not be considering or that you do not know, which isn't criticism, I thought the exact same way. There's really more info you need to give or maybe think about yourself to get better responses.

-What do you want to accomplish by getting your licenses?

Your licenses let you sell product. If you don't want to do what it takes to SURVIVE with everyone else that sells you may think about forgeting the licenses and go RIA, depending on what it is you want to do. I don't know where you would even take your licenses because no brokerage is going to pay costs associated with holding licenses of a producer not having met production levels or having a book of business.

-What is your background? What are you going to do for clients?

You sound as if you think the training at AMEX will provide you with knowledge to do something. My question would be what do you want to do? And what do you think AMEX does or will teach you?

Let's start with who AMEX is. They are IDS Life Insurance. Before changing their name to something that sounds nice like every other life insurance company has done they did the same thing all life insurance companies do. Analyze and make recommendations on how to fit their products into a client's life. And like most insurance companies, they are good at it. They want you to sell product. Your plans lead to recommendations of specific product. Which leads me to...

-What is it you envision the training to be?

They are going to teach you how to sell that plan and that product. They will not teach you how to compare products, give advice on things you do not make a profit on, basically how to be a financial planner. Your business card will not say financial planner.

Let me digress for a moment and share an experience which I will tell you may very well be different at other AEFA offices, but may help to clarify my point on training -

My branch taught me how to sell Variable insurance as an investment to anyone that could afford it, and having no background who was I to argue. Sounds excellent, tax shelter, insurance to meet the savings goal if you die. And while they can afford it why not give them $1M even if they need 1/3 the coverage because the cost per thousand of coverage is cheaper.

What they did not teach me were alternatives, how to decide whether or not the insurance covered a permanent need or temporary need, how much was needed. The printout the analyst created tells you that. They don't teach how to offer more than one option, they teach how to present the plan and overcome objections. How to sell. I took the time look into it at FPA meetings and starting the CFP courses and know a little more about VULs, enough to be dangerous I'd say. I know when they might be appropriate, how they might not be. I know now it's the most expensive type of insurance and why. But I didn't know then and was selling it and personally I think that is probably a great way to be sued and lose a career if what you make yourself out to be is an independent professional.

Point is they won't teach you a lot in 6 months. The business is fake it until you make it and produce in the meantime.

-What level of income is acceptable?

When I did self study it was pay for your own materials and pay AMEX for licensing fees (around $1500). That three-thousand is quickly half, spread over what, 2-3 months?, less depending on how long you take to complete licensing. I spent three months, $1500 income over 3 months. Is that acceptable to you considering you want to start a family? Have they told you what the average first year advisor makes? In Detroit it is near $20,000. But that's average, you get what you put in, and by your own admission you aren’t willing to work the hours they tell you it takes to make it. Six months down the road your AEFA leads are gone. Where will your income come from then if you aren’t putting in the hours to create leads?

-Do you plan to walk in to AEFA with clients or expect to get most from their leads.

I'm sure they probably told you first year they expect you to get around 10 from them, 10 from your natural market, and 10 from referrals / prospecting / etc. Prospecting takes time and $, convincing people who know you to give you money can be difficult especially if you haven't been in the business, calling the types of leads given to new recruits (recycled is what they call them) takes time to find ones that will bite. Unless you are walking in with clients and aren't prepared to spend the next 3 years doing those hours then I don't know if it's the best time to start that career. I didn't meet 1 person that had been there less than 3 years that wasn't a phone jockey and working 60 hour weeks that didn't bring their client base over from another career."

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