Thrivent marketing model resembles pyramid scheme and MLM, Basic “quid pro quo”, “Thrivent gives “grants” to the church in exchange for the privelege of marketing to church members”
From the FTC.
“Are you considering a business opportunity that involves selling products to family and friends and recruiting other people to do the same? That kind of business is called multi-level marketing (MLM) or network marketing. Some MLMs are illegal pyramid schemes.”
“MLM companies sell their products or services through person-to-person sales. That means you’re selling directly to other people, maybe from your home, a customer’s home, or online.”
Read more:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0065-multi-level-marketing-businesses-and-pyramid-schemes
Thrivent’s marketing plan in the past has been directed at members of Lutheran Churches.
From a comment by a policy holder April 6, 2020.
“So we have been trying since December 2019 to get Thrivent to honor their commitment to pay on a LTC policy. My MIL is in a properly licensed facility and has rapidly increasing cognitive impairment. No, she is not in a coma and can still open her eyes…but seemingly this will be the requirement to “qualify”. Oh but once you hit the coma stage there is a still a 90 day wait so you will be dead before you get a dime. Sweet business model! This immoral approach is apparently condoned by the leadership of the Lutheran church (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America). It looks to me like Thrivent gives “grants” to the church in exchange for the privelege of marketing to church members. No doubt some of this money goes to good causes but is it also a basic “quid pro quo”? My in laws have been life long Lutherans. They trusted their sales rep. I am sure he didn’t TELL them that the policy would restrict payment to a set of unattainable conditions.”
https://www.yelp.com/biz/thrivent-financial-minneapolis-mn
Former employee.
“An Endless Game of “Who do you Know” in a Glorified Pyramid Scheme”
“I worked at Thrivent full-time for more than a year”
“No leads are given to you, you will be calling your friends and family and networking.”
What has happened to their marketing strategy since the Covid-19 lockdowns?
Thrivent new ad campaign.
“The first of the ads released in the $35 million campaign, put together when the pandemic was already making it difficult to film live actors for advertising, was an animation that asked simply “What are you invested in?”
If the answer is “mutual funds,” maybe there’s a different way to think about your money.
This campaign is not a radical departure for Thrivent, more of a refinement in message, although one thing that’s new is that there is a big ad campaign at all. Rasmussen said Thrivent’s financial advisers have been asking for advertising at least since she joined the company 15 years ago.”
