Mentorship Changed the Game—and It’s Non-Negotiable Now

If you’re just getting started in Final Expense sales, let me say this loud and clear: mentorship isn’t optional—it’s everything. And trust me, I didn’t always think this way.

When I first launched the Ford Insurance Group, I prided myself on offering what most agencies don’t: strong training and rock-solid support. I made myself available. I answered questions fast. I built out group calls and training sessions that were filled with good, tactical information. And for a while, I thought that was enough.

But heading into the end of last year, I had a realization that changed everything about the way we operate.

Group Training Will Only Get You So Far—Here’s Where It Falls Short

You see, group training is great—until it’s not. It’s excellent for general knowledge. It helps build community. It gives you exposure to broader topics. But when it comes to mastering Final Expense sales, especially face-to-face? Group training just doesn’t cut it.

Why?

Because selling Final Expense is personal. It’s nuanced. And it’s filled with dozens of micro-decisions that happen in the moment—decisions that most new agents don’t even know they’re making wrong.

And that’s when I started asking:
What if the gap between our good agents and our great agents wasn’t just about effort or drive—but about a lack of personalized feedback?
What if most new agents are falling through the cracks simply because no one’s there to course-correct in real-time?

That’s when mentorship became our new baseline.

We Introduced One-on-One Mentorship—And It Transformed Everything

We didn’t just add mentors as a bonus. We built them into the foundation of our agency.

Every single agent who joins Ford Insurance Group now gets paired with a one-on-one mentor. And not just any mentor—we’ve got two experienced face-to-face Final Expense agents and one top-tier telesales mentor ready to guide, role-play, and refine every step of the way.

Here’s the deal: if a new agent joins us and won’t commit to the mentorship process, we don’t keep them.

It’s not harsh—it’s necessary.
Because agents who go through our mentorship system consistently outperform everyone else. Period.

Mentorship Is the Shortcut to Confidence, Skill, and Long-Term Success

Look, confidence doesn’t come from theory. It doesn’t come from passively watching a training video while you sip your coffee.
Confidence comes from action—and from real feedback on that action.

New agents are often making small (but critical) mistakes:

• Saying the wrong thing at the wrong time

• Missing subtle buying cues

• Pushing too hard, or not enough

• Fumbling the close because they’re nervous or unsure

And the worst part? They don’t even know they’re doing it.
That’s where mentorship steps in.

A good mentor sees what you can’t. They can stop you mid-role-play and say, “Hey, don’t say it like that—try this instead.” Or “Did you hear how the client responded? That was your window to pivot.”

And when that kind of real-time correction happens early and often, something powerful occurs:
Your learning curve gets cut in half.
You start improving faster. You build muscle memory. You get your reps in. And suddenly, you’re not “new” anymore. You’re capable. Confident. Closing.

Not All Mentorship Is Created Equal—Here’s What You Really Need

Before you think, “Well my agency does Zoom calls, so I’m covered,” let me stop you right there.
There’s a huge difference between being on a group video call and being mentored.

Everybody has videos. Everybody hosts team calls. But most of them still miss the mark. Why?

Because mentorship means direct access. It means one-on-one accountability. It means someone who’s been where you are—and is committed to walking you through it.

Mentorship isn’t something we toss in as a perk. It’s a requirement. Because after seeing what it can do, we’d be crazy to let agents go without it.

And the results speak for themselves:

• Our agents ramp faster

• They retain better

• They perform consistently

• And they stick with this business longer

You’re Not Weak for Needing a Mentor—You’re Smart

Let me end with this:
If you’re new, struggling, or just feel stuck, you don’t need more motivation—you need mentorship.

Mentorship is the bridge between where you are and where you want to go.
It’s not a crutch. It’s not babysitting. It’s not hand-holding.
It’s about giving you the tools, insights, and corrections you can’t get on your own.

So whether you’re considering joining an agency or evaluating your current support system, ask yourself:
Am I getting real mentorship? Or am I just attending trainings?

Because at the end of the day, the agents who thrive aren’t the ones with the fanciest lead systems or the flashiest marketing—they’re the ones who had someone walk with them through the fire, sharpen their skills, and guide them through the real-world application of this business.

Final Word: Make Mentorship Your Non-Negotiable

Here’s what I know:
Training is good. Support is great. But mentorship is the X-factor.

If you’re serious about winning in Final Expense—whether it’s face-to-face or telesales—you need someone in your corner. Someone who’s already won. Someone who can show you the real shortcuts. The real strategies. The real way this business works.

And once you experience that kind of mentorship? You’ll never want to go without it again.

Let me know if you’d like this converted into a downloadable PDF, added to a website blog, or broken into a social media series. I can also help you create a mentorship pitch page or onboarding doc for new agents.

Thank You For Reading

Thank you for reading. In addition to growing our team, my company also offers products and services to help independent insurance agents increase their production and profitability.

If You’re Looking to Join an Agency

The DIG Agency specializes in helping agents become top producers selling final expense life insurance 100% from home using our free lead system. We provide high-quality training, expert coaching, and the technology tools you need to succeed — whether you want to work part-time or build a full-time career.

As your skills grow, you’ll have the option to transition into a broker role, where you can buy your own leads, earn higher commissions, and even build your own team — all without any forced recruiting or MLM gimmicks.

If you’re serious about building a real career in final expense sales, visit https://www.davidduford.com to learn more. Watch the Overview Video on the homepage to see exactly how our system works.

If You’re Already an Agent and Want Better Leads and Tools

Whether you’re independent or already working with another agency, we can help you get more high-quality leads and streamline your sales process. Here’s what we offer:

• FE Leads Direct
  Order exclusive final expense leads at wholesale pricing through our done-for-you lead management system. These are the same leads our top producers work every day. Learn more at https://www.GetFELeads.com.

• DIG Dialer
  Designed for insurance agents selling any product, the DIG Dialer helps maximize your calling efforts. It’s the same dialer we use at The DIG Agency and has boosted our presentation rate by up to 300% compared to other dialers. If you want more presentations and more sales, visit https://www.digdialer.com for details.

• Final Expense CRM
  If you’re a final expense agent looking for a field-tested CRM to manage your leads and clients, check out Final Expense CRM. Designed specifically for remote sales, it features Grace AI to help pre-set appointments and automate follow-ups to increase your sales opportunities. Try it for free for 14 days at https://www.finalexpensecrm.com.

Wherever you are in your career — new agent, experienced producer, or independent broker — we’ve got the tools, training, and resources to help you sell more, earn more, and build the business you want.