LegalShield Income Disclosure
LAST MODIFIED: SEPTEMBER 5, 2024
WHAT IS A PPLSI INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATE?
Members who subscribe to a PPLSI plan can sign up to become a PPLSI Independent Associate (“Associate”). Associates are eligible to earn commissions and bonuses/incentives from selling LegalShield and IDShield memberships.
HOW CAN ASSOCIATES EARN COMPENSATION WITH PPLSI?
- Selling LegalShield and IDShield Memberships: Associates earn a commission on each LegalShield or IDShield membership they sell. The specific percentages vary based on memberships sold. In 2023, the commissions ranged from 8.4% to 44.8% on plans costing $12.95 to $169. Each person, including Associates, can purchase / subscribe to only one personal LegalShield and IDShield membership.
- Earning Commissions on Team Sales: When Associates refer others to join as Associates, they can earn commissions on sales made by their referrals. However, Associates do not earn any compensation simply because a referral becomes an Associate. In 2023, team sales commissions ranged from 0.24% to 36.3% on plans costing $12.95 to $169.
- Membership Renewals: When a membership for which an Associate earned a commission is renewed, the Associate can earn a commission for each month the membership remains active. In 2023, renewal commissions ranged from 10% to 20% on plans costing $12.95 to $169.
- Performance Club Bonuses: Associates who are also LegalShield Advantage Plus subscribers can earn special bonuses and incentive payments (e.g., when they sell a certain number of memberships over a specific time period). Terms and conditions apply to Performance Club Bonus incentives. A LegalShield Advantage Plus subscription cost $24.95/month in 2023 for new subscribers.
HOW MUCH COMPENSATION DID TYPICAL PPLSI ASSOCIATES EARN IN 2023?
- An active Associate earned an average $2,647.89 and a median of $118.43 in 2023 before expenses.
- 31% of active Associates earned no compensation in 2023.
- 17% of active Associates qualified for Performance Club Bonuses in 2023.
In 2023, Associates were considered “active” if they either (1) sold at least one LegalShield or IDShield Membership or(2) used Prospect* at least once in 2023. For example, if someone signed up to become an Associate in 2015, but, in 2023, did not (1) sell at least one LegalShield or IDShield membership; nor (2) use Prospect* at least once, that Associate would not be considered “active” in 2023.
*Prospect is an app-based tool available to LegalShield Advantage subscribers that gives Associates access to a suite of tools for growing their business with PPLSI.
| ACTIVE ASSOCIATE COMPENSATION SUMMARY | |||
| Percentile of Active Independent Associates | Average Time to Reach Percentile | Average 2023 Compensation** | Median 2023 Compensation** |
| 99th Percentile (Top 1%) | 3.2 years | $140,443 | $96,457 |
| 90th Percentile (Top 10%) | 2.1 years | $25,013 | $8,673 |
| 50th Percentile | 1.5 years | $2,824.75 | $122.71 |
**Compensation includes all commissions, bonuses, incentive payments paid by PPLSI to
Associates in 2023.
Ring Levels: Top-performing Associates are eligible to achieve recognition though PPLSI’s Ring Program. Qualification is based on reaching specific income levels and meeting other requirements during a calendar year. Achieving such recognition can take months of hard work, and only a small number of Associates reach these levels. For example, the chart above shows that it took active Associates an average of approximately 1.5 years to reach the 50th percentile in compensation, 2.1 years to reach the 90th percentile, and 3.2 years to reach the 99th percentile.
WHAT EXPENSES DID TYPICAL ASSOCIATES INCUR IN 2023
- $49 One-Time Registration Fee: The only mandatory fee that all Associates must pay is a one-time fee to become an Associate. There are no annual renewal fees required to remain an Associate after paying this one-time fee.
- For example, if an individual became an Associate in 2023 and received $100 in commissions (and assuming no other expenses), his or her net profit would be $51 for 2023. If the same individual had joined in 2022 or earlier, his or her net profit for 2023 would be $100.
- LegalShield Advantage Plus: As an optional service, Associates may enroll in LegalShield Advantage Plus for $24.95/month and may cancel at any time. A LegalShield Advantage Plus subscription gives Associates access to various tools to help them increase their compensation from PPLSI. A LegalShield Advantage Plus subscription is not required in order to earn commissions on sales, but only LegalShield Advantage Plus subscribers are eligible to earn Performance Club Bonus incentives. Most Associates with compensation in 2023 that met or exceeded $2,824.75 were also LegalShield Advantage Plus subscribers for at least 11.4 months in 2023.
- State Licenses and Registrations: Associates selling in certain jurisdictions (e.g., AK, MA, NJ, SC, VA) may be required to obtain licenses and/or registrations with fees payable to the relevant state authorities. Fee amounts and requirements are not determined by PPLSI and subject to change without notice. In 2023, state-specific fees license/registration ranged from approx. $40 (SC) to $370 (MA).
Other Expenses: There are opportunities each year for Associates to network and grow their businesses by attending optional events, such as conventions, incentive trips, and other events. In 2023, typical convention registration fees ranged from $49 (early bird pricing) to $125 for onsite registration. Approximately 1.1% of active Associates qualified for incentive trips in 2023, with airfare and hotel costs covered by PPLSI, and all other personal expenses (e.g., food and ground transportation) paid out-of-pocket by the Associates in attendance.