Reviews of WFG a Subdivision of Transamerica Life and Protection (Financial Consultant)

Charla ST

I found an event advertised online as being “hosted by entrepreneurs”, and titled “Financial Literacy 101”. What I attended was one of the most uncomfortable and inappropriate Sales Pitches ever. Some highlights: —I seemed to be the only non WFG person in attendance. —Several people insisted to know who invited me. The course was advertised on Facebook. My name tag was made out as “Charla Facebook”. I got the distinct impression they needed to know who had “recruited” me. —I was given a sticky name tag and told that I must “put it on the RIGHT” in two separate exchanges with different people. Does this really matter? Right, left ... who cares? —There was loud music playing at the back of the offices, and everyone else was walking Past the lobby to that room. So did I. Apparently that was the wrong thing to do. —I didn’t put my name tag on right away as I was waiting to take off my jacket and put it on my chair. Apparently this was an issue. —I was directed to the room where the event would take place, and I sat down and opened my notebook: Ready to Learn!! I put my name tag on the Left. I wasn’t being intentionally spiteful, but I feel it’s more intuitive to wear name tags on the left. Again, who cares? —They wanted to introduce me to ALL of the Company People (8 other attendees). This seemed weird, so I asked if this event was more focussed on being a Sales Pitch. I could not get a direct answer, so I played along with their awkward Meet and Greet. —I was asked so many consecutive inappropriate questions that I felt compelled to set some boundaries. And that is unlike me ... I normally speak quite freely, and can carry conversation with almost anyone. A woman asked if “I had kids, or was single”. When I replied “I’m married, without children”. She told me “oh. That’s ok that you don’t have children”. Ummm. Gee. I wasn’t really asking for permission to *not* have children. Then another gentleman piped about about my Non-Kids with “maybe someday” or something. Ummm. Nope. Then the lady spoke up that her “sister doesn’t have kids”. Umm. Don’t know why that’s relevant. I suppose if I had said I was gay, someone would have piped up that they “knew a gay a high school”. It was bizarre. —Someone insisted that they really wanted me to meet some guy. So I go through another awkward introduction, and I clarify again: “This event was advertised as a learning opportunity. Is that the focus of this event?” And got repeated roundabout Non Answers. I rephrased and asked again, stating that I did not want to waste my time, nor theirs. I got another Non Answer about them wanting to introduce me to their company. —I felt it was important feedback for them to have: that their events should be accurately portrayed so that attendees aren’t off put. This fell on deaf ears. Everyone just had this really fake smile and vacant stare. I felt like I was two minutes from being offered a glass of tainted KookAid (if you know what I mean). No one seemed to care that they had collectively managed to alienate their only attendee in less than 8 minutes. —I finally felt so uncomfortable that I said this “wasn’t the event for me”. I grabbed my jacket, and got in my car. I thought that would be the end, but it wasn’t. —I had been offered a bottle of water, which I left inside the boardroom. Someone felt the need to follow me out to the Parking Lot to tell me that they “couldn’t use my water”. Ummm. Then dump it out ... don’t creepily follow someone out to their car!?! The whole thing was beyond weird. I spent the remainder of my evening shaking my head, and trying to figure out what the hell just happened. But their complete inability to answer a direct question about the event would make me be very cautious about investing with this group. If I ever hear that someone I know has invested with WFG, I am going to give them the side-eye. Yes — I understand that is quite an unkind review, but I felt that I had a duty to speak up. Either so that WFG can know that their tactics are off putting, or to save an attendee from this experience.