“You’re only as strong as your foundation.” This familiar quote that seems almost self-explanatory is one that AIA takes to heart.
In 2019, AIA Malaysia launched AIA Elite Academy, an exclusive, first-of-its-kind on-boarding programme for new Life Planners (agents) who possess the talent and passion to pursue a successful career in insurance and financial planning.
Fast forward a few years later – navigating one of the biggest health crises of our times and transitioning to new norms of working and living, AIA Elite Academy continues to evolve to meet the training needs of Life Planners in a post pandemic world.
Priding itself on a time-proven syllabus that features best-in-class training with access to a community that cultivates a spirit of collaboration, professionalism and well-being, AIA Elite Academy provides flexible and customised career paths to help potential recruits achieve their own dreams and goals.
“The role of an insurance agent has changed drastically over the years. The advancement of digital technology and product innovation, in addition to the constantly evolving needs of customers, highlights a need for a training programme that will provide agents with a solid foundation,” said AIA Bhd’s chief agency distribution officer Leong Chee Soong.
“With AIA Elite Academy, we ensure that our new Life Planners are given the right support and foundation to achieve a sustainable and long-term successful career.”
Proven track record
To date, AIA Elite Academy, including its predecessor Elite programme, has successfully groomed over 8,000 accomplished Life Planners. This demonstrates a higher level of productivity in comparison to those who did not join the programme.
Additionally, the programme also offers a financing scheme that comes with the highest bonus pay-outs in the industry, all of which are designed to help Life Planners kickstart their career with AIA on a firm foundation.
He added that AIA has managed to attract many young graduates and highly skilled professionals who have joined AIA as Life Planners.
“Many have made this change in their career because they were looking for |more fulfilment in their careers, flexibility to manage their own time besides wanting to be empowered to manage their own goals and achievements,” he told FocusM.
Emphasising the importance of providing a smooth transition for these professionals to make the switch, Leong said the AIA Elite Academy allows them to build upon the skills and capabilities that they have already acquired through customised training and mentorship.
The Academy’s focus on Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) excellence has also demonstrated impressive results. Among AIA’s new Life Planners, as many as 25% of them have successfully earned this highly sought-after global accreditation in the insurance industry. This is indeed an invaluable achievement as many take as long as a decade to make it into this prestigious list.
Below is FocusM’s up, close & personal with Leong on the AIA Elite Academy:
FM: What are the goals and benefits of joining AIA Elite Academy?
Leong: Helping potential talents achieve success both financially and in their careers form the cornerstones of why AIA Elite Academy was established.
It is a first in the industry to offer a comprehensive 36-month development programme with an attractive financial scheme, giving people the much-needed support and mentorship when they first start out in this industry.
In fact, AIA is proud to offer multiple programmes that are designed to support different career objectives as these individuals progress through the ranks.
The programmes also allow a dual-development career path which enables Life Planners to play up their strengths – either by excelling through personal sales or leading a team.
FM: How does this programme uplift agents?
Leong: Regardless of which industry and background they are from, we make sure those who join our programme receive the best training through guided self-paced learning.
AIA’s up-to-date syllabus will equip them with the right skills and knowledge to help them transition to this new career easily so that they can go on to build a strong foundation for their business and earn a sustainable income.
Our programme is also customised to meet different career goals:
- Elite Lite is for those who want to develop their skills as Life Planners but also relish having the freedom to pursue other life passions.
- Elite/Elite Pro on the other hand, is designed to help highly driven Life Planners unleash their full potential in the industry.
- Last but not least, Elite Premier Leader is designed to build the next generation of aspiring leaders who can lead their own team of high performing elites.
FM: What kind of support can agents expect under this programme?
Leong: The AIA Elite Academy Programme presents the opportunity to engage with a community of like-minded people. They can contribute and be a part of study groups while receiving guidance and mentorship from the industry’s finest leaders and trainers.
Not forgetting the fact that they will also be supported via the financing scheme so that they can focus on honing their skills and knowledge as they kick start their career in this industry.
FM: What digital tools are provided to agents in this programme?
Leong: All our Life Planners, whether or not they are in the AIA Elite Academy, are fully equipped to do everything digitally – from learning, recruiting and training, to prospecting, selling and servicing customers.
Our distinctive technology and digital eco-system ensures that our Life Planners have the means to engage and support their customers anytime, anywhere.
We will continue to focus on stepping up our digital transformation to constantly meet Malaysians’ health, wealth and protection needs, whilst providing them with a wide range of frictionless services as well as unique and personalised experiences.
FM: Why choose AIA when there are many other training programmes in the industry?
Leong: It’s simple. We were the first company to invest in such a training programme so we’ve been here long enough to be able to demonstrate proven results and a solid track record.
Our time-tested programmes empower Life Planners with the necessary tools, training and skillsets to allow them to grow professionally, giving them the support they need to become successful entrepreneurs and attain global recognition. As I always say, a new rewarding career is just one decision away. – July 18, 2022
Yvonne Yoong is FocusM’s contributing Property & Lifestyle Editor. She is seasoned in covering the property beat and other industries.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
