I was recently approaced by a representative of Primerica to "help" me get out of debt, learn how to invest my money, diversify my 401(k), and buy better life insurance. All of that sounded like things I'd be interested in so I agreed to have the intial meeting.
Well as the meeting progressed and more information was presented about Primerica I had questions. I was told on several occassions of how "they" only wanted to help me and how "they" are a trillion dollar a year company and how this guy named Sany Weills started the company, etc., etc. The more this person talked the more questions I had. And seeing the "they" were a part of Citigroup as they claimed then how could "they" help me get of out debt when the very people I owed (CitiBank) were they very people "they" were a part of.
Eventually the meeting turned to a question of what type of employment I'd rather have; my own business (which is the answer I was suppose to want), work for an employer, be self employed, or be an investor. Well I chose neither because I am a stay at home mom and would like to keep it that way. My husband chose "work for an employer" because he's had his own business and did the self employed thing. My husband and I were still interested in the investment opportunities and how to invest our money but since we didn't pick "have our own business" which is the SOLE purpose of Primerica Financial and how other people make their money (basically the more people you hustle to bring in and sign up under YOU the more money you get because you then receive a profit from their profits) we were told "oohh you know what I would love to stay and answer all of your question and help you with your investments but I have to go. . . "
Long story short. I went to Citigroup.com and found for myself the actual subsidiary companies that actually are a part of Citigroup and not to my suprise Primerica WAS NOT on Citigroups website. The other companies that Primerica mentions like Smith Barney and Travelers Life & Annuity are listed but Primerica is NOT. I also took the liberty to go and check out Citigroups board of directors (which I have listed below) and the Sandy or rather Standford Weills who Primerica has posted pictures of on their brochure is chairman of the board for CITIGROUP and it says nothing about him being on or working for or with Primerica.
These are the men who actually run Primerica (it's listed on Primerica's website. Also, these gentlement are NOT listed on the board of Citigroup's website. Smith and Barney and Travelers Life and Annuity have managing members on Citigroup's board, yet Primerica does NOT. Hmmmmmm. . . .
http://ww3.primerica.com/public/who/leadership.html
John A. Addison, Jr.
Co-CEO and President
Mr. Addison has almost two decades of solid experience with Primerica. Beginning in 1982 as a business systems analyst, he assumed positions of leadership in many areas of the company, including marketing support for insurance products, securities, the $.M.A.R.T. Loan program, sales education, field support, and promotions. In 1991, he joined the marketing division as Executive Vice President of Field Support, moving up to Group Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing in 1993 and President in 1996. Mr. Addison's enthusiasm and leadership, combined with total mastery of the Primerica business, make him invaluable to the overall direction and success of the company.
D. Richard Williams
Co-CEO and
Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Williams joined American Can Company, a predecessor company to Citigroup, in 1979. He began in their strategic planning department, after which he headed the Acquisition and Development area of the company's financial services unit. In 1988, Mr. Williams was promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Primerica Financial Services. His career has included consistent promotions and expanded responsibilities, including being named President of Primerica Life Insurance Company in 1994, Chief Operating Officer of Primerica in 1996 and Co-Chief Executive Officer in 1999. His leadership for more than 20 years has been integral to Primerica's strategic development and financial growth, and his knowledge, expertise and proven abilities promise continued success in the future.
Basically it just all felt like a big marketing scheme to me to get me and my family to "buy" what they were selling with no benefit or gain for me.
Check out Citigroup.com and see for yourselves.
Board Memebers of Citigroup
C. Michael Armstrong
Chairman, Comcast Corporation
Alain J.P. Belda
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alcoa Inc.
George David
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, United Technologies Corporation
Kenneth T. Derr
Chairman, Retired, ChevronTexaco Corporation
John M. Deutch
Institute Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Roberto Hernndez Ramrez
Chairman, Banco Nacional de Mexico
Ann Dibble Jordan
Consultant
Dudley C. Mecum
Managing Director, Capricorn Holdings LLC
Richard D. Parsons
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc.
Andrall E. Pearson
Founding Chairman, Yum!Brands, Inc.
Charles Prince
Chief Executive Officer, Citigroup Inc.
Robert E. Rubin
Chairman of the Executive Committee and Member of the Office of the Chairman, Citigroup Inc.
Franklin A. Thomas
Consultant, TFF Study Group
Sanford I. Weill
Chairman, Citigroup Inc.
Robert B. Willumstad
President & Chief Operating Officer, Citigroup Inc.
Honorary Director
The Honorable Gerald R. Ford
Former President of the United States
Managing Committee of Citigroup
Ellen Alemany
EVP, Commercial Businesses Group
President & CEO, CitiCapital
Suneel Bakhshi
Global Head of EM Local Finance
Ajay Banga
EVP, Global Consumer Group
President, Retail Banking North America
Randolph H. Barker
Managing Director
Co-Head, Global Fixed Income
Sir Win Bischoff
Chairman, Citigroup Europe
Frank Bisignano
Senior EVP and CAO, Global Corporate and Investment Banking Group
David C. Bushnell
Senior Risk Officer
Citigroup Inc.
Nicholas E. Calio
SVP, Global Government Affairs
Michael A. Carpenter
Chairman & CEO, Citigroup Global Investments
Geoffrey O. Coley
Managing Director
Co-Head, Global Fixed Income
Michael L. Corbat
Managing Director, Global Corporate and Investment Banking Group
Head, Global Relationship Bank
Robert Druskin
President and CEO, Global Corporate and Investment Banking Group
Stanley Fischer
Vice Chairman, Citigroup
President, Citigroup International
Head, Public Sector Client Group
James A. Forese
Head of Citigroup Global Equities
Steven Freiberg
Chairman & CEO, Citi Cards N.A.
William P. Hannon
Controller
Chief Accounting Officer
Michael Helfer
General Counsel
Corporate Secretary
Deborah Hopkins
Chief Operations and Technology Officer, Citigroup Inc.
Bonnie Howard
Chief Auditor, Citigroup Inc.
Thomas W. Jones
Chairman & CEO, Global Investment Management and Chairman & CEO, Citigroup Asset Management
William Kennedy
Director, Global Equity Research
Kevin Kessinger
EVP, Global Consumer Group
President, Consumer Finance North America
Michael Klein
Chief Executive Officer, Global Banking, Citigroup Inc.
Vice Chairman, Citigroup International PLC
Toshiharu Kojima
CEO & Chairman of the Executive Committee, Nikko Citigroup
George Kokulis
Chairman, President & CEO, Travelers Life and Annuity
Sallie L. Krawcheck
Chairman and CEO, Smith Barney
Stephen Long
Chief Operating Officer
Citigroup International
Dave Lowman
President & CEO, CitiFinancial International
Alan S. MacDonald
COO, Global Banking
Marjorie Magner
Chairman & CEO, Global Consumer Group
Thomas G. Maheras
CEO, Global Capital Markets
Global Corporate and Investment Banking Group
W. Thomas Matthews
President and CEO, Global Private Client Division
Sir Deryck C. Maughan
Vice Chairman, Citigroup
Chairman & CEO, Citigroup International
Manuel Medina-Mora
Chairman & CEO, Latin America and Mexico
CEO, Banamex
William J. Mills
CEO, Europe, Middle East and Africa
Global Corporate and Investment Bank
Robert Morse
Managing Director and CEO
Asia Pacific Corporate and Investment Bank
Doug Peterson
CEO, Citigroup Japan
Chairman and CEO, Citibank Japan
Charles Prince
Chief Executive Officer, Citigroup Inc.
Sheri Ptashek
Director, Investor Relations
Ray Quinlan
Head, M&A Execution
Citigroup Inc.
William R. Rhodes
Senior Vice Chairman, Senior International Officer
Saul M. Rosen
Chief Tax Officer
Citigroup Inc.
Robert E. Rubin
Chairman of the Executive Committee and Member of the Office of the Chairman, Citigroup Inc.
Peter K. Scaturro
Chief Executive Officer, The Citigroup Private Bank
Michael Schlein
SVP, Global Corporate Affairs, Human Resources, and Business Practices
Frits Seegers
EVP, International Cards and International Retail Banking
Global Consumer Group
Zion Shohet
Head of Strategy and Business Development
Citigroup Inc.
Todd S. Thomson
EVP Finance, Operations & Strategy and Chief Financial Officer
Citigroup Inc.
Ashok Vaswani
CEO, Citigroup Asia Pacific Consumer Banking
Alberto J. Verme
Global Head of Investment Banking
Global Corporate and Investment Banking Group
Jean-Paul Votron
CEO, Consumer Group
Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
Guy Whittaker
Treasurer
Citigroup Inc.
Simon Williams
Head, Global Consumer Group Risk Management
Robert B. Willumstad
President & Chief Operating Officer, Citigroup Inc.
Paco Ybarra
Global Head of EM Sales & Trading
Capital Markets
A
Barstow, California
U.S.A.
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