Careers · Choosing where to work
Life insurance agencies that provide leads: what “free leads” really means
Two agencies can both say “we provide leads” and mean completely different things. Here’s how to tell them apart before you sign.
The short answer
Agencies that provide leads pay for prospects themselves and hand them to agents, usually in exchange for a lower commission rate than agencies where you buy your own. “Free leads” can mean fresh exclusive leads, shared leads, aged leads, or leads you pay for later through deductions — so ask what the leads cost you, how fresh they are, how many agents get each one, and how many you’ll get each week.
The five things “we provide leads” can mean
| What they say | What it can mean | Ask |
|---|---|---|
| “Free leads” | Truly free to you — the agency pays | Is anything deducted from my commission for leads, now or later? |
| “Leads provided” | Provided, but billed back through commission deductions or a “marketing fee” | Show me where lead costs appear on a commission statement. |
| “Unlimited leads” | Often aged or recycled leads, shared with many agents | How old are they, and how many agents get the same lead? |
| “Exclusive leads” | Sold to one agent only — usually the priciest kind | Exclusive to me, or to the agency? |
| “Lead program” | You buy leads from the agency’s preferred vendor, sometimes with a minimum order | Is there a weekly minimum? Can I stop any time? |
Seven questions to ask on the first call
- What does a lead cost me — directly or through deductions? Get the answer in writing.
- How many leads will I get in a typical week, and what happens if I work through them?
- How fresh are they? Brand-new requests, aged requests, existing policyholders, or a mix?
- Is each lead mine alone, or do other agents call the same person?
- What’s the contact rate? How many leads answer the phone at all?
- What do I give up for free leads? A lower rate is normal — ask exactly how much lower, in writing.
- If I leave, do I owe anything for leads I worked?
Red flags
- You must buy a lead package, training kit, or “starter bundle” to begin
- Lead costs show up only after your first commission statement
- Nobody can tell you the contact rate or how many agents share a lead
- The “free” leads are a list of your own friends and family
- Pressure to recruit people to “earn” more leads
How United Eagles handles leads
Leads are provided — you don’t buy your own. You work real prospects from your first week on the phones, so your money goes into your pocket, not a lead vendor’s. You still get paid uncapped 1099 commission at a contract level set in writing before you sign, and nothing is charged to join, train, or contract with us.
Straight answers
Common questions
Which life insurance agencies give free leads?
Some independent agencies pay for leads and give them to agents, usually in exchange for a lower commission rate; many others require agents to buy their own. United Eagles Financial provides leads to its agents. Whoever you talk to, ask what leads cost you directly or through deductions, how fresh they are, and whether they’re shared.
Are free leads in life insurance actually free?
They’re free to the agent if nothing is deducted from commissions for them — the agency pays, and that cost is usually reflected in a lower commission rate. Ask to see how lead costs would appear on a commission statement.
Are aged leads worth calling?
They can be. Aged leads are people who requested information in the past or already own a policy. They take more dials per conversation than brand-new requests, but they cost far less — which is exactly why agencies that provide leads often use a mix.
Should a new agent buy leads?
Usually not while you’re still learning. Without a proven close rate you can’t know whether a lead price will pay off, and the lead bill comes due before commissions arrive.
Keep reading
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