Even though less than 1% of MLM participants make a profit, the National Agents Alliance tries to recruit by promising life-changing experiences, prosperity, and financial freedom. Last year, the NAA even sought to recruit veterans to join their team in a LinkedIn post.
Former President Donald Trump is slated to attend a fundraiser in Charlotte on Saturday co-hosted by the CEO of an alleged multi-level marketing (MLM) group.
Andy Albright, the CEO of National Agents Alliance (NAA), is co-hosting a fundraiser for Trump where attendees will spend anywhere between $5,000 and $250,000 per couple. Albright co-founded the NAA in 2002 and was appointed as CEO in 2006, according to the organization’s website. The group, which is currently headquartered near downtown Burlington, NC, has been accused of being an MLM.
MLMs are reliant on individual sellers moving their products with the premise that they will make a profit from their work. On its website, NAA describes itself as an “insurance marketing organization that recruits life insurance agents across the United States.”
The organization boasts that it has agents in all 50 states and that these “agents” are given support as they study for licensing exams, as well as in-person trainings, mentorship, and even “bootcamps for new agents.” The company claims it also provides its agents with “state-of-the-art” leads to follow up on, in hopes of expanding their clientele and profits.
The NAA actively recruits on social media, where it boasts over 45,000 followers or subscribers across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. The organization actively uses its pages to promote and recruit new participants, promising life-changing experiences, prosperity, and financial freedom. Last year, the NAA even sought to recruit veterans to join their team in a Linkedin post, stating ‘Elevate your career post-military service with The Alliance!’
Another co-host of the Trump fundraiser, Scott Greenblatt, is the CEO of Veterans Guardian. The group has been heavily criticized by veterans and veterans advocacy groups for charging veterans to help them appeal their VA disability ratings—a service they can get for free from a veteran service officer. A representative with the American Legion refereed to Veterans Guardian as a “a pack of vultures.”
While exact data on NAA participants does not appear to be readily available, statistically, less than 1% of MLM participants make a profit, with most beneficiaries being those at the top of the organization or those who joined early. By comparison, 39% of small businesses are profitable during their lifetime. This means anyone participating in MLM operations are extremely unlikely to see a return on their investment.
While MLMs are legal businesses, in 1974, the Federal Trade Commission declared MLMs as having “an intolerable potential to deceive.”
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