Talk:World Financial Group

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Semi-protected edit request on 1 July 2023

Requesting these changes:

1. Rename the section 'Regulatory issues' to 'Regulatory and legal issues'

2. Add the following text to that section:

In 2014, WFG Securities of Canada Inc. agreed to pay $250,000 to settle a case against it by the Manitoba Securities Commission.

In 2022, WFG terminated an agent’s membership agreement after he was served two administrative monetary penalties for making false and misleading statements and representations in the solicitation or registration of five life insurance policies, and for providing the FSRA with false and misleading information.

In April 2023, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) issued a notice of proposal against World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Canada Inc., alleging gaps in WFG’s operation and ongoing proceedings by another regulator against WFG. Smtree (talk) 13:22, 1 July 2023 (UTC)

References

 Not done: all three of these proposed sentences are either directly copied from their respective sources, or are phrases directly copied from the source, then slightly rearranged with one or two interjecting or changed words. Basically, these would be plagiarism and WP:COPYVIO. -- Pinchme123 (talk) 23:02, 12 October 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 27 November 2023

Requesting the following change:

- Remove recent edit expanding on a 2008 article: "It has been criticized by customers who claim to have lost significant sums due to WFG agents selling them "inappropriate investments".

There are already references to the regulatory and legal actions, most of which are minor and outdated, the referenced article is from 2008 and most of the issues raised were previous to the current business ownership and management. The Wiki update is written to appear as if current and is clearly biased. 2A0D:6FC2:40C0:E800:60B3:52B5:C8FB:E6BF (talk) 15:57, 27 November 2023 (UTC)

Added tag for you. 331dot (talk) 16:05, 27 November 2023 (UTC)

Partly done: The information is an important part of the company's history so cannot be removed. I have however moved it to the history section and changed it to past tense to refer to the 2008 article as there's currently no references claiming the issue is still ongoing. Lewcm Talk to me! 10:51, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 2 February 2024

Hello, I would like to make some changes on this article. thanks Labaseshop (talk) 02:09, 2 February 2024 (UTC)

 Not done: this is not the right page to request additional user rights. You may reopen this request with the specific changes to be made and someone may add them for you, or if you have an account, you can wait until you are autoconfirmed and edit the page yourself. Grayfell (talk) 02:17, 2 February 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 6 May 2024

After the sentence in beginning paragraph "It is wholly owned by Dutch life insurance multinational Aegon and operates primarily under the Transamerica brand in the United States" add:

"The headquarters of World Financial Group in Canada are situated in Toronto, Ontario. Both World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Canada Inc. and WFG Securities of Canada Inc. maintain their home offices within the Transamerica Tower, located at 5000 Yonge Street in Toronto." 2604:3D09:6C7E:6300:ECAD:2865:598D:EF1E (talk) 16:30, 6 May 2024 (UTC)

 Done - Lordseriouspig 20:28, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

I've reverted. These primary sources do not indicate that this belongs in the article at all, much less in the lead. Grayfell (talk) 23:34, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

References

Semi-protected edit request on 3 September 2024

WFG is not a MLM so this page is spreading wrong information, please check your facts 199.83.161.170 (talk) 05:11, 3 September 2024 (UTC)

•  Not done An edit request is to ask for a specific edit in a "change X to Y" format. You did not do this. I did check the sources, and they use that terminology to refer to this company. If you have sources that use different terminology, please offer them. If you are associated with this company, that needs to be disclosed, see WP:COI and WP:PAID. 331dot (talk) 08:05, 3 September 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 1 October 2024

Change: "World Financial Group (WFG) is a multi-level marketing[4] financial and insurance services company based in Johns Creek, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, which sells investment, insurance, and various other financial products through a network of distributors in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.[5][6] It is wholly owned by Dutch life insurance multinational Aegon and operates primarily under the Transamerica brand in the United States.[7]"

To: "World Financial Group (WFG) is a financial and insurance distribution network owned by multinational insurance company Aegon, and is headquartered in Johns Creek, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. WFG primarily operates under the Transamerica brand in the United States, and also has a presence in Canada and Puerto Rico. This network comprises nearly 74,000 independent agents who offer various financial and insurance products from Transamerica and other insurance companies."

Reason for the change: World Financial Group (WFG) is categorized as an insurance & brokerage company with a US tax code of 524210[2]. Multi-level marketing company on the other hand, based on Investopedia[1], refers to a strategy used by some direct-sales companies to sell products and services. These companies are typically assigned a different US tax code, such as 454390[2].

Source: [1]https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/multi-level-marketing.asp [2]https://www.ctcresources.com/uploads/3/1/6/2/31622795/complete_list_of_schedule_c_business_codes.pdf Linlindada (talk) 04:22, 1 October 2024 (UTC)

 Not done: Investopedia is not a reliable source (as explained at WP:INVESTOPEDIA) and Wikipedia doesn't publish original research. Per reliable, independent sources, World Financial Group is an MLM. Grayfell (talk) 04:50, 1 October 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 2 January 2024

Request of the following changed:

World Financial Group (WFG) is a multi-level marketing^[4] financial and insurance services company based in Johns Creek, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, which sells investment, insurance, and various other financial products through a network of distributors in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.^[5][6] It is wholly owned by Dutch life insurance multinational Aegon and operates primarily under the Transamerica brand in the United States.^[7]

To the following below:

"World Financial Group (WFG) is a financial and insurance services company based in Johns Creek, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, which sells investment, insurance, and various other financial products through a network of distributors in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.^[5][6] It is wholly owned by Dutch life insurance multinational Aegon and operates primarily under the Transamerica brand in the United States.^[7]

As for reason:

Only one source is claiming it to be an MLM and has been removed, and is considered biased, the article does not provide context as to what makes it a "pyramid scheme", it only refers to as being "Pyramid shaped" and does not make any mention of it being an MLM for the matter, until further research can be done and provided this is not inline with Wikipedia's reliable source and perhaps the Neutral point of view NonToxicCereal (talk) 23:44, 2 January 2025 (UTC)

You created your account six months ago and this is your first edit; you're also very familiar with wikicode. Are you associated with this company? 331dot (talk) 00:45, 3 January 2025 (UTC)

Googling "World Financial Group multi level marketing" brings up many results. 331dot (talk) 00:47, 3 January 2025 (UTC)

 Not done: @User:331dot raises reasonable concerns. (3OpenEyes's talk page. Say hi!) | (PS: Have a good day) 20:22, 7 January 2025 (UTC)

Biased

The information here is lacking, misleading and bias compare to other insurance company. 2001:569:7F1F:200:1008:22AD:AA0E:26E4 (talk) 16:18, 26 February 2025 (UTC)

It is difficult to respond to a general grievance like this. Please detail the specific content you find problematic and how you feel the sources provided are not accurately summarized, or if you have relevant sources.

Articles are not judged based upon other articles, but on their own merits, see other stuff exists. 331dot (talk) 17:53, 26 February 2025 (UTC)

Remove MLM from the article.

Hi, I'm working in WFG since an year and I confirm that it is not an MLM. This information in the article is misleading. It's model might seem similar to MLM at first to people because they have no knowledge about it's compensation model which is definitely not at all resembling MLM or Pyramid. Wikipedia is a trusted cite by people and misleading information like this is causing loss of people. 209.171.85.172 (talk) 17:13, 29 April 2025 (UTC)

We follow the cited sources on this, and they support the present text. See WP:V and WP:NOR for details. That we follow reliable sources and not comments by individuals on talk pages is largely why Wikipedia is trusted. MrOllie (talk) 17:18, 29 April 2025 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not concerned with employee or customer retention. If the sources used in this article are in error, you need to take that up with them first, and/or offer sources not yet present that describe the company differently. 331dot (talk) 17:40, 29 April 2025 (UTC)

"It's model might seem similar to MLM at first to people because they have no knowledge about it's compensation model which is definitely not at all resembling MLM or Pyramid."

Care to explain why? I've looked at the compensation model and it's very much like a pyramid scheme/MLM. Leewilliam236 (talk) 05:49, 6 February 2026 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 20 July 2025

"World Financial Group (WFG) is a multi-level marketing[4] financial and insurance services company based in Johns Creek, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, which sells investment, insurance, and various other financial products through a network of distributors in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico."

For the above sentence, please consider removing "multi-level marketing" in the sentence as the cited reference [4] is no longer valid. Guangyuanzhao2022 (talk) 00:50, 20 July 2025 (UTC)

 Not done. The citation has a working archive link. - MrOllie (talk) 00:52, 20 July 2025 (UTC)

If you are an employee of this company, that must be disclosed, see WP:PAID. 331dot (talk) 07:59, 20 July 2025 (UTC)

Should we create Redirect Pages to include companies/entities that run on the WFG system?

Based on my research into WFG, there are entities that run the WFG system:

• Axianta Financial Partners
• Dynamic Expansion
• The Miliare Group
• Managed Wealth Financial
• Revolution Financial Management
• WealthWave
• World System Builder
• The Tax Advisors
• Virtuity Financial Partners

What all of these companies/entities have in common is that they provide the same following disclaimer:

<COMPANY> is an organization that is comprised of individuals associated with World Financial Group Insurance Agency, LLC and World Financial Group, Inc., but it is not an affiliated company of World Financial Group, Inc., WFGIA, (In California dba World Financial Insurance Agency, LLC.), World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Hawaii, Inc., World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, Inc. nor WFG Insurance Agency of Puerto Rico, Inc. (collectively referred to as “WFG”). These agents offer insurance products through World Financial Group Insurance Agency, Inc., World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Hawaii, Inc., World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, Inc., (In California dba World Financial Insurance Agency, LLC) and/or WFG Insurance Agency of Puerto Rico, Inc. – collectively WFGIA.

In other words, WFG agents/brokers have affiliation with these companies and are likely led and run by one of the bigger names in WFG, but the company itself isn't a subsidiary of WFG. Although, they may not be direct affiliates, these agents use WFG to conduct their everyday business.

When World System Builder attempted to recruit me, they didn't mention World Financial Group at all until I had to do my due diligence on what they are all about. The point I'm trying to make here is: I want others know that these people are World Financial Group agents and often use World Financial Group services to conduct their day-to-day business. Leewilliam236 (talk) 18:10, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

That sounds like a reasonable reason for redirects. 331dot (talk) 18:27, 5 August 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 11 November 2025

Hello,

I am posting on behalf of World Financial Group (WFG) as part of a third-party communications team. In accordance with Wikipedia’s conflict of interest guideline, I will not edit the article directly and am instead submitting this request for review and feedback from independent editors.

Issue

The current article describes WFG as a "multi-level marketing company." This classification oversimplifies its business model and does not reflect the regulatory and licensing standards agents must meet in order to operate. Insurance agencies and MLM organizations generally both involve selling products or services and optional team building. However, unlike a typical MLM organization where income is dependent on the ability to resell an inventory of products purchased from the MLM company, WFG agents (like most life insurance agents) earn sales commissions from the sale of life insurance and annuities issued by licensed and regulated third-party insurance companies. WFG agents do not purchase products or services for inventory or resale.

Proposed revision to first sentence

I propose the following wording for the first two sentences of the lead:

World Financial Group (WFG) is a financial services organization whose licensed, independent agents offer life insurance, investment products, and retirement planning services through affiliated providers and carriers. Agents operate independent businesses and are individually licensed and regulated by the relevant authorities in the United States and Canada.

The below sources demonstrate that licensed WFG agents are cited by reputable, independent news organizations on matters related to financial policy. This third-party coverage provides secondary sourcing that supports neutral, verifiable updates to the article in line with Wikipedia’s guidance on reliable sourcing Wikipedia’s guidance on reliable sources, and may help address areas of undue weight in the current version of the article.

Supporting sources

1. USA Today: "Social Security 2026 COLA is 2.8%, but seniors will still fall into poverty. Here's why." – features commentary from Kim Scouller, a financial professional with World Financial Group.
2. Newsweek: "Social Security 2026 COLA Increase for 75 Million Seniors Released"
3. AARP: "History of Social Security COLA increases by year"

Request

In accordance with Wikipedia’s guidance on conflicts of interest, I respectfully ask that editors consider incorporating the proposed neutral wording, or alternative language that achieves the same outcome of balanced, policy-aligned representation. I am happy to provide any additional context that may be helpful.

Thank you for your time and consideration. – Communications Director, on behalf of World Financial Group

MeganMertes (talk) 22:39, 11 November 2025 (UTC) MeganMertes (talk) 22:39, 11 November 2025 (UTC)

None of those sources are reliable for disputing that WFG is a multi-level marketing group, nor do they even mention anything at all about the company's business model. Further, the proposed wording is too verbose and too subtly promotional to be neutral, and is therefore inappropriate. Grayfell (talk) 23:50, 11 November 2025 (UTC)

I agree with Grayfell that we should not grant your edit request.

I do not see how the label is not true. Your argument seems to be that just because they market services, as opposed to physical objects (see Amway) that they have to procure from the parent company, they cannot be MLMs and should be called "independent agents" using your company label (cf. Amway's "Independent Business Owner"), or maybe franchisees. This also appears your company's communication strategy (then again, if you have to explain why you are not a multi-level marketing company, you have to ask the question why people around you think you are in the first place)

However, Ontario regulators found two years ago that the revenue of the "independent agents" depends on how many new agents/sub-agents they recruit, which is a hallmark of multi-level marketing. In fact, all MLMs do this at least in some way. The linked article calls you one of the MLMs.

You can find out more for example here here (The Brandon Sun, Manitoba) or Mark L. Rawlins, Understanding Multi-Level Commissions: and Their Role in a Successful Company (2008), where you are mentioned as an example of a "network marketing" company - which appears to be an alias for MLM. For a source that we would not be that eager to use but looks very good, see this Berkeley student paper article.

When writing articles, we have to rely on what reliable, third-party and secondary sources (the latter basically means that it has to be detached from the article subject at least to some extent and provide novel analysis) say about the company. The more in-depth the coverage in the article, the better. Even though all of the sources you provided confirm the first three criteria, they only mention your company in passing, and they do not in any way disprove or even challenge the notion. They just cite a person who has some sort of connection with WFG (and even if they were to make a podcast debunking that notion it would not be good enough because due to his financial connection with you - that's a case of "Well he would, wouldn't he?")

If you have problems with this label (pyramid scheme, MLM or other labels), contact each of the sources who mention you in context of an objectionable label instead of Wikipedia editors, and return if you succeeded to convince them that's not true. Our job is to report what the good sources say, not what your company wants others to believe you are.

Regards, Szmenderowiecki (talk · contribs) 23:58, 11 November 2025 (UTC)

References

I agree with the previous two comments. Wikipedia simply summarizes what independent reliable sources choose to say about a topic. If your client does not like how independent sources describe them, they should take that up with them. 331dot (talk) 00:19, 12 November 2025 (UTC)

I see that part of your duties include "reputation management". That means that you're here to write what the company wants you to write, not to summarize what independent reliable sources choose to say about a topic. 331dot (talk) 00:27, 12 November 2025 (UTC)

Request to Update President Name and Address

Hello, I am posting on behalf of World Financial Group (WFG) as part of a third-party communications team. In accordance with Wikipedia’s Conflict of Interest guidelines, I will not edit the article directly. Instead, I am submitting this edit request for review and feedback from independent editors.

Issue

The current article lists "Todd Buchanan" as "the president of WFG" and shows the address of the company as "11315 Johns Creek Parkway, Johns Creek, Georgia." Both pieces of information are currently outdated and should be updated to reflect the most current, verifiable details.

Proposed Revision

I propose the following changes for the President and the address: President: Michael Brodeur Address: 6400 C Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52499.

Supporting Sources

https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/01/12/transamerica-to-put-mike-brodeur-in-charge-of-92000-agent-network/

https://www.worldfinancialgroup.com/contact-us

Rationale

These sources indicate that the current article’s information is no longer accurate. Updating these details will improve the article’s accuracy and ensure it reflects the most recent publicly available information. MeganMertes (talk) 21:42, 23 February 2026 (UTC)

MeganMertes I've marked this as a formal edit request so that it will attract attention; see edit requests as that would be a good thing for you to know. 331dot (talk) 21:47, 23 February 2026 (UTC)

Note that you don't just have a COI, you are a paid editor under our rules; your disclosures have been sufficient, I think, but please see WP:PAID for additional guidance. 331dot (talk) 21:49, 23 February 2026 (UTC)

Thank you! ~2026-12173-79 (talk) 13:31, 24 February 2026 (UTC)

Done Encoded  Talk 💬 21:53, 25 February 2026 (UTC)