Is this an MLM or pyramid scheme? +
No. You sell real life insurance products from a 70-year-old, A-rated carrier to families who have requested benefit information through their union or association. You are paid commission on policies you write and renewals on policies that stay on the books. Team overrides exist if you choose to build a team — but they're optional, and many of our agents earn six figures purely from personal production.
Is this W2 or 1099? +
1099 independent contractor. You are not an employee of DJ Vandermeer AIL or American Income Life. You run your own book of business, set your own schedule, and are responsible for your own taxes. Most agents work with an accountant in year one to handle quarterly estimates.
Do I need experience in insurance or sales? +
No. Most of our top producers had zero insurance background before joining. What matters more is coachability, consistency, and the ability to have a real conversation with a real person. The playbook is teachable. Stubbornness is not.
How much does licensing cost? +
Typically between $150 and $300 total, depending on your state. That covers pre-licensing coursework, exam fees, and your state application. This is an out-of-pocket investment you make yourself — it's part of what separates people who actually follow through from people who don't.
Do I have to buy leads? +
No. Warm leads come through AIL's relationships with over 30,000 unions, credit unions, and associations. Families request benefit information as part of their group membership — you're following up with people who raised their hand. You never buy lead lists, run paid ads, or cold call.
How quickly will I actually earn something? +
Once you pass your state exam and start field training, the average time to your first sale in your name is 7–10 days. Licensing itself takes 1–4 weeks depending on your state and exam scheduling. So realistically, most agents write their first policy within 5–6 weeks of joining, and income becomes consistent by weeks 7–10.
Is it really 100% remote? +
Yes. Every appointment is over Zoom. Training, mentorship, and the three weekly agency training calls are all remote. You need a laptop, a webcam, reliable internet, and a quiet space. We have agents working from Phoenix, from small-town Alabama, from New Zealand.
Can I apply from any state? +
We currently recruit in all U.S. states except California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. If you're in one of those four states, unfortunately we're unable to bring you on at this time. Everyone else — including international candidates in certain AIL markets — feel free to apply.
What if I fail the licensing exam? +
You retake it. Most states allow multiple retakes within a reasonable window. We'll help you target the areas you missed and prep again. In the meantime, you can still shadow team calls and learn the playbook.
Can I do this part-time? +
Technically yes, but the income figures on this page — $72k to $100k in year one — assume full-time, fully-committed effort. Part-time agents earn proportionally less and typically take longer to hit consistency. If you're trying to "dabble," this isn't the right fit.
Why should I join your team instead of another AIL recruiter? +
Three reasons. First, SSPS is the largest organization inside AIL and the origin of most of the other top AIL organizations — which means you're in the room where the playbook gets written, not three layers removed from it. Second, direct 1-on-1 mentorship with DJ, not a drip-email onboarding. Third, we lead with transparent numbers on this very page. No bait-and-switch on the call.
