Lauren Levesque is the first to admit she started this job with "very thick rose-colored glasses on." She thought it might be a side hustle. Two and a half years later, she knows exactly what to ask an agency, and she shares it freely with other advisors who are struggling. This minisode is that list, along with a look at the team that helped her learn it.
Meet the Advisors
A Team That Knows Who to Call
Goofy Getaways replaced its old team structure with a Strategic Council, where each leader owns one part of the business, from communications to onboarding to advisor success. Jess admits she was terrified at first ("I'm gonna have no one to tell my million things to"). As a self-described type A, she now loves knowing exactly who handles what. Lauren, who calls herself "very type C," says the change made her a stronger advisor.
The advisors lean on each other too. Jess goes to Bree with Royal Caribbean questions and to Rachel or Lauren for families with little ones. Lauren passes along trips that fall outside her niche, confident the guest will be well cared for. As Amy puts it, the real competition is anyone booking direct with a vendor. When the monthly top five comes out, Lauren messages anyone new on the list to say she's proud of them.
Follow the Money
Amy is clear that any agency should explain its fees and what they pay for, and that charging fees is normal. What matters is understanding how commissions are paid, and what happens when one is missing after travel. Lauren remembers Greg sitting down with her on his own time to show her how to pull reports and file lost commissions. When Lauren's ADHD made the original SOP hard to follow, Noddea and Greg sent her a fillable version within two days.
Ask about exit plans, too. Amy says canceling your bookings on the way out is bad practice, but your client relationships belong to your clients. And don't pick an agency just for a few extra commission points if the support isn't there.
The Red Flags
If your income depends on recruiting other advisors, Amy calls that a red flag. Lauren agreed: guests ask her about becoming an advisor all the time, and building a downline from them would be easy, "but it's not honest." Jess added that her own interviewer asked how she planned to find clients, which made it clear from day one that this was a business she'd have to build.
What They Wish They'd Known
Jess wishes she'd known how much time she'd spend on email, and how important setting business hours would be. Lauren didn't expect her guests to become friends who text about new babies and new homes.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you want an agency that's honest about the hard parts, learn more at goofygetaways.com/join-our-team. For the full conversation, [listen to the full episode]([FULL EPISODE LINK]).
If you're not looking to become an advisor but you are looking for one, meet our Travel Advisors and find the right fit for your next trip.
