Is Primerica A Pyramid Scheme? Welcome to my Primerica Review! (Updated 2022)
“Is Primerica A Pyramid Scheme? Is Primerica a Scam?” These questions probably popped in your head the moment you encountered the company.
Verifying whether a company or a business opportunity is a scam or not is one of the greatest characteristic someone like you should have.
So, congratulations for reading this review!
With that being said, “Is Primerica A Pyramid Scheme? Is Primerica a Scam?”. These are the questions that we will answer today.
To make myself clear first, I am not promoting or bashing the company. However, I am just simply giving out my best and honest opinion about it.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
Is Primerica A Pyramid Scheme: Quick Summary
Name: Primerica
Website: http://www.primerica.com/
Founder: Arthur L. Williams Jr.
CEO: Glenn J. Williams
Year Founded: 1977
Type: Financial and Insurance Services MLM Company
Rating: 2/5
Recommended? No
More...
What is Primerica?
Primerica is a company in Duluth, Georgia that sells insurance and financial services under an MLM business model.
It was founded by Arthur L. Williams Jr. in the year 1977, over 42 years ago under the Citigroup, Inc.
In the year 2010, it spun off from its parent company, Citigroup through an initial public offering (IPO).
Currently, it is publicly listed as “PRI” on the New York Stock Exchange.
In all of the reviews I have written, I can say that Primerica is a bit unique compared to other MLMs such as Herbalife, Juice Plus and Advocare.
To summarize, these companies mainly focus on health and wellness. However, an MLM company selling insurance and financial services is a bit uncommon.
Whenever you want to establish a connection or relationship with Primerica, you can do it on two ways:
Purchase their products
Join them in their business
But first, let’s talk about the company’s products first.
Want to earn money without selling and recruiting? Click here!
Is Primerica A Pyramid Scheme: Primerica Products
Primerica sells financial and insurance services through an MLM business model.
Furthermore, it mainly targets audiences that belong to the middle-class in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
According to what I found in their website, their services are the following:
Term Life Insurance
This is your standard life insurance policy product. However, their pricing can be up to 29% more expensive than the same
Debt Consolidation Loans
This type of loan is a kind of debt refinancing where a loan would be taken out to pay other loans. However, this can also hurt your credit score temporarily.
Primerica DebtWatchers
This is one of Primerica's tool which can help you create strategies and evaluate your loans or debts. After that, it will then be a tool for you to fulfill those obligations.
Auto & Homeowners Insurance
This is a referral service of Primerica to Answer financial. To summarize, this means that whenever a Primerica agents signs up someone to this program they will get a little cut.
Below, more of their products are listed:
- Mutual Fund Investments
- Variable Annuities
- Segregated Funds
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Pre-Paid Legal Services
If you want to learn more about the products, click here.
Among these services, Primerica also offers a complimentary service that analyzes your financial needs to make you understand your financial situation a lot better for you to plan ahead your future.
In addition, the company offers you a business opportunity.
You will be given a chance to become an independent representatives for the company, not as employees.
We will discuss more about this below.
How to earn money in Primerica?
Primerica is not any different from other MLM companies such as Optavia and Beachbody, when it comes to business opportunities.
So, there are two ways for you to earn money when working as a representative in Primerica. These are the following:
Sell their products (financial and insurance services) to earn sales commission.
Recruit people to become your downline and help them to do the same thing.
Before you start earning your income, there are steps that you need to accomplish first.
Steps For Joining Primerica
So, the very first thing you need to do to become a representative for Primerica is to pay an amount of $99 (which is also refundable after a few months).
Furthermore, this payment will provide you with your “Primerica Sales License” and also a background screening.
That’s right, when researching about the company, this is one thing that I like.
Primerica ensures that the people who wishes to join them are actually competent and good people.
So, they will check whether you have a criminal record or any history of committing any bad deeds in the past.
Furthermore, you will have to pay $25 per month.
This includes the training and the tools that they will provide you.
With these, you will be better in growing the business and can initiate sales properly.
Is Primerica A Pyramid Scheme: Compensation Plan
Types of Commission
This part is one of the most important topics to tackle on since we are talking about business.
So, how do you get paid? How much do you get paid?
First of all, you have 4 main ways of earning commissions in Primerica. These are listed below.
#1 Sales Commission on Insurance
This is the commission you earn whenever you make sales from selling their services.
#2 Overrides on Downline’s Insurance
With this, you get a 10% override commission from your downlines’ sales.
#3 Differentials from Downline’s Insurance Sales
This one is available for the higher ranks.
With this type, you can earn more money from your downlines as long as you help them make more sales.
#4 Commission on Other Products
You can earn more commissions whenever you can properly sell other products of Primerica
With this method, I can earn a 4-figure income without selling anything or recruiting anyone!
I just promote products and get paid!
Payment Structure
The Compensation Plan of Primerica is unilevel.
To summarize, that means that all of your customers and people you recruited, are on your first level.
I have provided a visual representation below to properly explain it.
In the picture, you are person A.
Whenever you recruit a person, they will belong to your “frontline”, like persons B, C, D, E.
So, each of your downlines can recruit other people too.
Compared to other MLM payment structures, this one is the simplest.
Furthermore, the main advantage for this type is that you can recruit people as many as you can.
The more people you recruit, the higher the commission you earn.
All in all, the Primerica Compensation Plan allows you to earn commissions from your recruits for 11 levels.
Below, is a video that will explain further how a unilevel payment structure works.
Ranks and their Benefits
Just like other MLM companies, Primerica’s compensation plan is designed to have ranks.
So, let me give you a list of the ranks and the benefits each one can receive.
Representative (Can earn 25% commission)
Senior Representative (Can earn 35% commission with bonus)
District Leader (Can earn 50% commission with bonus)
Division Leader (Can earn 60% commission)
Regional Leader (Can earn 70% commission)
Regional Vice President (Can earn 95% commission with bonuses)
Senior Vice President (Can earn 95% commission with bonuses)
Looking at the those, you should really be motivated to climb up the ranks.
The higher your rank, the more benefits you can earn.
And don’t forget!
When you reach a certain rank and amount of commissions you earn, you get to receive an exclusive Primerica ring.
Sounds awesome, huh?
However, I can say that the journey to the top is very difficult.
Furthermore, it takes a lot of time and hardwork. After reviewing MLM companies, I can really say that it is very challenging to earn a good amount of income from them.
However, personally, I prefer other ways of earning money online. For me, affiliate marketing is a lot better.
Best Strategy to Make Money With Primerica
With Primerica's business model, the best way to earn a high income with them is to expand your downline representatives. So, this means you have to be able to recruit a lot of people. However, this can be quite a challenging task because there are not a lot of people willing to go into this kind of trade.
In conclusion, you have to be charismatic and a good salesman to maximize your profit with this company.
Is Primerica A Pyramid Scheme: Red Flags
#1 Negative Reviews
#2 Needs more knowledge
Primerica does offer you with training and tools that you need for you to work properly. However, I don't think this is enough.
The company deals with financial and insurance services. There are concepts and terms that you need to understand first.
What I am saying is that, since this is about finance, which is a very serious matter, people who have a great experience in the finance world is much fitter for the role.
#3 Low Income
After reviewing several MLM companies, this one is not really a surprise. Most of their representatives barely earn money. In fact, they lose more money than they can earn.
Based on my research, in the year 2016, Primerica only paid $6088 to each licensed representative.
That is not enough for you to have a sustainable life. It is not enough for you to meet all of your needs.
# 4 Controversies
In the year 2012, Primerica faced a lot of lawsuits.
It was alleged that Primerica representatives encouraged public workers to invest inappropriate high-risk retirement products that the company offers rather than safe-government secured ones.
Additionally, they all did this to earn commissions.
Well, I guess those representatives really did what they got to do to earn money.
Is Primerica A Pyramid Scheme: Positive Side
#1 Screening for representatives
I mentioned above that one of the requirements to join Primerica is to pay $99.
This payment includes the license and the screening.
I really think that this is great because by examining the representatives, the company can ensure that these people are fit to carry their name and sell their products.
This can increase the credibility of the company.
#2 Membership is reasonable
Yes, you do need to pay $99 for the license and screening. Furthermore, a $25 payment must be done per month.
Personally, I think that this is more affordable compared to other MLMs. $25 is affordable for most people.
Besides, the $99 is refundable. And you only need to maintain the payment of $25.
Other MLMs even require you to pay hundreds of dollars for their products.
#3 BBB rating
Even though Primerica received lots of complaints, the company's BBB rating is still great. Additionally, the company is BBB accredited.
What is a Pyramid Scheme?
Before answering the million dollar question, "Is Primerica a Pyramid Scheme?", let me give you a brief explanation of what a pyramid scheme is.
A pyramid scheme is an illegal business model that mainly focuses on recruiting people to earn commissions.
It is very unsustainable because only the people at the top of the "pyramid" can earn money.
While the others at the bottom receive NOTHING.
What makes it different from an MLM is that, MLMs provide real products. Furthermore, you can earn money by selling these products.
And yes, you earn money through recruiting in an MLM.
A video below is provided to explain further what a pyramid scheme is.
Is Primerica a Pyramid Scheme?
So... Is Primerica a pyramid scheme? Is Primerica a scam? The answer is NO.
Primerica is a legit MLM company that sells financial and insurance services for over 42 years already.
If it was a pyramid scheme, I don't really think it would reach this far.
The only thing that makes it a bit shady are the complaints that other clients gave.
Ignore Those Scams And Do Best Way to Make Money Online from Home!
But then again, all companies have both good and bad reviews. Having bad reviews does not necessarily make a company a scam.
Each client have different experiences with the company. However, if we talk business, I don't think Primerica is the best choice for you.
Primerica is an MLM company. And I personally think that MLMs are designed to be a business, not a job. Even though you are a representative, you are also their customer.
Nontheless, it is still your choice in the end.
Personally, I do not prefer MLMs. If you want to truly earn money, then I recommend affiliate marketing.
This is How I Make Money from Home!
Primerica requires a lot of effort with only a low chance of getting paid with great income. This goes for other MLMs. However, why choose it when there are better ways to earn money?
For me, affiliate marketing is a lot better. Want to know why?
- No need to sell products
- No need to recruit anyone
- You can earn a passive income
- You can work freely
I have been working as an affiliate marketer for quite some time and with it, I earn commissions like this!
At the end of the day Primerica may well be a unique MLM setup, but unfortunately, like 99.9% of MLM business funnels – they are relying on recruitment for a large portion of earnings. This one fact should put newcomers to the company off instantly, but we know it won’t (people will lose money here). I find it a shame that so many newbies looking to work from home get wrapped up in these MLM opportunities. Whilst a lot of them are legit, they are extremely hard to make a profit with, and only the top of the tree (or pyramid) will see real profits.
Hello Chris! Thank you for reading my review. I totally agree with you. I feel bad for those people who are just trying to find new ways to earn money and they end up with this kind of MLM. That is why doing a little bit of research first is a lot better than immediately registering in those businesses.