Good Neighbor Podcast South Charlotte
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Neighbors of South Charlotte.
Good Neighbor Podcast South Charlotte
Felipe Aranha - Primerica- From Paycheck to Purpose: Unlocking the Primerica Opportunity
What happens when corporate limitations push you to reimagine your career path? Felipe Aranha's journey from supply chain management to financial advising reveals a refreshing alternative to traditional employment. With candor and enthusiasm, Felipe shares how finding Primerica transformed his professional trajectory from one dependent on supervisors' approval to one where results alone determine success.
The conversation delves into what makes Primerica distinctly different from both corporate environments and other financial services companies. Felipe explains, "You don't need people to like you necessarily... that's not decisive of if you're going to keep progressing." This results-oriented approach creates a meritocracy where advisors can advance based on their own efforts rather than waiting for recognition from above. For those tired of workplace politics or feeling stuck on the corporate ladder, Felipe's experience offers an intriguing alternative.
Most compelling is the flexibility Primerica offers to newcomers. Whether you're seeking part-time income ($500-$1000 monthly with just 5-7 hours weekly) or a complete career change, the company invests in your success by covering licensing costs, providing comprehensive training, and establishing a mentor relationship. Unlike competitors who expect candidates to obtain licenses before joining, Primerica takes a "learn while you earn" approach. Felipe emphasizes that you don't need prior financial experience—just a willingness to help others achieve financial independence and the commitment to learn. For those wondering if they could thrive in this environment, Felipe's enthusiasm and clear explanation of the path forward makes a compelling case to explore this opportunity.
Primerica - Felipe Aranha
Instagram @PrimericaFelipeA
(803) 795-2156
Good morning everyone. This is Regina and I'm the podcast host, based in Charlotte, north Carolina, and what I love to do is talk to local business owners, and today I am speaking with Felipe Arana. He is a financial advisor with Primerica. Hey, felipe.
Speaker 2:Hey Regina, How's it going?
Speaker 1:Oh great, I have so enjoyed getting to know you over the last couple weeks and your story, your journey. I think we should start out first telling us a little bit about you and your story, and then who is Primerica.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, so I'm a former corporate worker. I used to run production planning, inventory, control, logistics, things like that for manufacturing, and I used to work in Brazil. So I got this great job opportunity in the US and I worked in corporate for a bit, but I was in a changing point in my career and I was looking for the next supply chain opportunity. But Primerica found me and so I learned about. Primerica is one of the greatest financial companies in the US and basically we help people get out of debt, become financially independent and, you know, help a lot of people basically. So you know, I figured if I'm going to do a career change, it might as well be now. You know there's no best time than now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that is quite a leap. What I mean? What drew you to make that kind of change personally, yeah.
Speaker 2:So to be honest with you, corporate is great, don't get me wrong. You know. But there's some things about the way that things go in corporate, for example, for you to get like a promotion or something, you really need your boss or whoever it is to really like you to kind of really sell you or, you know, hold your hand and go through, and that's kind of limiting, you know. And so one of the things that some people do is they just hop jobs from one to the next so they can get a better position, to get a better salary. And you know, in prime america, for example, this is totally different.
Speaker 2:Prime america works with results. So you have like a clear path. If you want to be promoted, you basically promote yourself and it's very clear you have to do this. You have to reach that amount of people, those results, and then you're promoted and then then you keep climbing. You know you don't need people to like you necessarily. That you know that helps, of course, but that's not decisive of you know if you're going to keep progressing or not. That that's one of the difference about Primerica that I like.
Speaker 1:So how do you know if you're a good fit for doing this kind of work?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we looking, uh for people that likes helping other people. You know that have a good reputation and, uh, that are open to learning a new skill. They are okay with being uncomfortable, you know, learning something new and really, really, uh, uh, expanding yourself. You know, uh, prime america has a a lot of leadership in self-development part. That is very important. You know we're dealing with people, so you need to know a lot about yourself and know a lot about what you're doing. And that's also really good.
Speaker 2:In Primerica, the training, the coaching. You know every worker have a mentor. That has been years and years in the industry so that you don't mess up. You know, so that you have one-on-one sessions weekly to you know kind of know the trade, learn the trade and rehearse and things like that. So that's really good. You know the training side of it is good. You don't need a financial background. I didn't have one, as I was saying, but that doesn't matter. You know you just start from zero and you're going to learn how to deal with clients. And also, one thing that sets pro america apart is that you are also you have the door open if you want to become a business owner. So you're going to learn the trade of financial and how to be a business owner. So you know you. The same way. You don't have a financial or a business owner background, that doesn't matter. Primerica will take you there step-by-step.
Speaker 1:Wow, that's amazing. So what I'm hearing is then there's lots of levels. You're when you say you guys are looking and recruiting, give us an example of some of those titles, some of those positions.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. So basically, the three positions that we look for in general are three. So the first one is who we call an advisor, and that will be either part-time or full-time. This person will be trained to help with clients right To help them get out of debt, become financially dependent, other financial services as well, just like a financial coach, so to speak, and that's really great, as I was saying, for someone who likes helping other people and that need or would like some time flexibility. That could be part-time or full-time. The second position is someone we call a trainer, slash recruiter. This person also helps clients, but they're now helping us find, interview, recruit and train new teammates, so those people get compensated for helping more. Primerica is all about the results. The more results that you give, the more better compensated or teams under them that usually would help like 10 to 12 families per month and they get better compensation because they have greater impact in the community so what is the vetting process if someone is interested in and looking into this?
Speaker 2:yeah, so we gotta check uh first. You know the very first one is just a conversation like like this and I'll show what the company does. You know, and and you need to like to talk to people. You know the very first one is just a conversation like like this and I'll show what the company does. You know, and and you need to like to talk to people. You know you need to like people. There's some, some people that are just lab people, you know, or system people, and maybe that's not for them, but uh, the the personal side of it is is important, and they you also need to qualify, meaning you go through a background check and you know this area is very, very regulated. So to work with Primerica, you need some licensing, you need some certifications, you need training, you need a lot of stuff so when it comes, let's just say advisor um, that sounds like a great position.
Speaker 1:How long is training typically for that position?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So basically, when you start in any, everyone starts as an advisor, right, because you know to be a broker, to own a business, you need to know what the business does. Right, to train people. You have to do that, you have to have done that to train other people, right? So everybody starts as an advisor and there's a lot of training in the beginning for you to get your licenses. But the financial day-to-day training is basically three hours a week, one hour and a half twice a week and that's in person in our office in Huntersville.
Speaker 2:Okay, there is when you're going to learn the actual trade. You know what is a life insurance policy, what is a mutual fund investment, what is a retirement plan, you know, and so these are the things that you're going to learn. But the training depends on your goals. If you just want to be an advisor, I would say like four to six months you pretty pretty much set, you know and what you need to do. But if you're like a trainer, then you got to be there because you're training people, right. Yeah. So then it's, it's permanent. And if you want to be a broker, it's also important that you're there, that you're multiplying the knowledge and all that. But you know there's no pressure at all in prime america for you to become a broker. We would love for you to become a broker, but we have some colleagues that are just great agents. They help a lot of people and that's awesome. That's fine. You know, there's no issues.
Speaker 1:So do you help someone navigate where they might be better?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's usually a personal preference and you know kind of what are your ambitions Because, as I said, we have colleagues that are good just helping people out. You know, I myself want to be a broker. So you know I'm training I mean every training that I have available. I'm there. I listen to some podcasts they have every week, you know, with Central in Georgia, with the great colleagues there that are million plus dollar earners and they give tips. You know, yeah, knowledge is open in Primerica, so it's also very accessible. Primerica has something real nice also system that the high tide lifts all ships Right. So there's no competition Like, if I'm your colleague, I'll never want you to be less than me, because then I'll shine better. There's none of that there. Everybody wins, you know. So that's also really something real nice that I like about Pramerica.
Speaker 1:That is amazing. Well, I can tell that you're very, very passionate and you know, when you are exposed to these million dollar earners, that has to be very, very exciting. To understand the real potential.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, exactly, and that's also something that really caught my eye there's no ceiling. There's no ceiling. You know You're limited by what you want to accomplish and the amount of effort that you put in. That's also really something different from corporate, say, because in corporate you can work as hard as you want, Sometimes you might be paid overtime or something, but it's not really about the results.
Speaker 1:Is it possible for someone to do this part-time kind of dip their toe to see if it's a good fit before they leave their other job?
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, and actually we usually recommend that that you start part-time, so like, if you have your job but you know you, you would for sure benefit from an extra thousand dollars a month or five hundred dollars a month and but you still have a job. You want to stay there, that's fine, stay there, you know, do part-time with us, train and you know, by spending, say, five to seven hours a week. Depends on your production, of course, but you can have anywhere from $500 to $1,000 a month or more, depends on how much time you put in. And we usually recommend that If you're looking for a job, keep looking for a job. If you have a job, stay in your job while you get to know, you get your, your client base and all that, and then, when you're earning just as much or maybe more, that's your current job and then you can make the switch that is exciting.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you wouldn't want to do that, you know it's. It's amazing. So are you a, are you self-employed or are you an employee?
Speaker 2:yeah, so, uh, it's, it's technically self-employed. Or are you unemployed? Yeah, so it's technically self-employed. And we usually say in Primerica you're in business for yourself like it's your business, but not by yourself. You have the whole Primerica behind you. So that means, as I was saying, coaching, training, licensing.
Speaker 2:The licensing part is also very important, as I was mentioning a little bit. The field is very regulated, so you need to get some licenses. This also sets Primerica apart. I was talking to another company that works with life insurance and what they said is go get your license and come back and then we'll start right. Primerica does different. So Primerica helps you with a in-person class for the life insurance exam, life insurance license. They pay for your licenses. So it's it's really different. You know, like these licenses, in the beginning they cost around 1500 and usually the initial commitment is you put like a 125 or so in. Primerica does the 1400. After that, you know, just need to set something down. You know, because we're nice people, we're not crazy If everything was free. You know people don't value that as much. So we need a little bit of commitment. But Primerica pays for your licenses. You know, if you fail your exam, primerica pays for you to do again, so nobody loses in Primerica.
Speaker 1:That was another question. I was thinking, you know, if you're coming to interview or you want to be an advisor, there is a test. So it's really the licensing test. It's not a Primerica test.
Speaker 2:Yeah, correct. That's with the NAIC it's the North American Insurance Commission and that's a per state deal. You know each state have their tests, their exams, their processes. You get fingerprinted a lot of times. So you know you need to pass a background check. But you know, if you don't have a felony or if you didn't rob a bank last week, you're probably good.
Speaker 1:So describe maybe the top three, top five qualification or quality that a person has that you're looking for yeah.
Speaker 2:So, uh, I would say the biggest one is willing to learn. You know you you're learning all the time. That's a, that's a big, big one. And uh, learning in different opportunities, not only in training. You know you're talking to people and you're being out there and you're trying to learn. You know how to read people what they need, be a good listener that's also real good. And it's also important that you kind of tailor what you're trying to tell the people to their level of knowledge, their level of resources and all that, so it's really like a people kind of business. You know you really need to want to help people, like to know people and be willing to help people where they're at, and even though you have plans for them. You know everybody has their own race to run, so we respect that, of course.
Speaker 1:Well, and that's so true of being a true entrepreneur you know you get what you put into it and obviously you're the type of person that will take a question. And if you don't know it, right, right then you're going to figure it out. And to have the resources of a company like Primerica is amazing in the training.
Speaker 2:Perfect, yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so how do people find you if they're hearing this and they're interested in chatting?
Speaker 2:Yeah, sure, so my main social media is Instagram. I have my profile. There is Priverica, felipe A and that's P-R-I-M-E-R-I-C-A, and then my name, felipe F-E-L-I-P-E and then A for my last name. So that's my main social media, but I can also be reached on the phone at 803-795-2156.
Speaker 1:And where do people need to live? If they're listening and they're interested?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we help people in North Carolina. Basically, you know, and our teammates are mostly from North Carolina, we have people in different states but in the work is mostly remote, but we do have the training twice a week that I was mentioning and that's in person in our office in Huntersville. So that's important, you know, if you can drive there and that's a good fit. You know, that's really non-negotiable by my RVP, my mentor, because he thinks that learning person is better. I am with him with that.
Speaker 1:Oh, I agree. Yeah, zoom, and all of this remote, it has its time and its place. But, yes, I think we all learned that years ago that you miss that connection and you do learn so much being around others and inspiring one another, right? Yes, Great, awesome. Yeah, it has been a pleasure, felipe, getting to know you. I love your passion, you're excellent at what you do and I know you're going to be a huge success.
Speaker 2:All right, appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Amen, amen. Have a wonderful day, thank you, thank you, bye-bye.