Final Expense Leads: The Real Math Behind $15 vs $500 Per Sale

Most agents think final expense leads cost $15-50 each. They're wrong.

The real cost is $500-2,500 per sale. Here's why the math matters more than the price tag.

Final expense leads are prospects who want burial insurance. Companies sell them as shared leads ($15-50) or exclusive leads ($75-150). But the advertised price hides the real cost. Most agents lose money because they don't understand the conversion math.

The advertised price is just the beginning. The real cost comes from low conversion rates.

The $15 Lead That Costs $500

Here's what companies don't tell you.

You buy a $15 shared lead. Sounds cheap. But three other agents also bought that same lead. You're competing with them.

The Math:

• Contact rate: 30-40% (most numbers are disconnected or wrong)
• Show rate: 35-45% (prospects don't remember filling out the form)
• Close rate: 5-15% (they're cold and don't trust you)

The Real Cost:

• 100 leads × $15 = $1,500
• 100 leads × 35% contact = 35 contacts
• 35 contacts × 40% show = 14 appointments
• 14 appointments × 10% close = 1.4 sales

True cost per sale: $1,071

That $15 lead just cost you $1,071 per sale. And that's if you're good at closing.

Why Exclusive Leads Still Fail

Companies charge $75-150 for "exclusive" final expense leads. You're the only agent who gets it. Sounds better.

It's not.

The Problem:

• The prospect still doesn't know you
• They filled out a generic form
• You're still cold calling a stranger
• They ask: "Who are you? I didn't fill that out."

The Math:

• 100 leads × $100 = $10,000
• 100 leads × 40% contact = 40 contacts
• 40 contacts × 45% show = 18 appointments
• 18 appointments × 12% close = 2.16 sales

True cost per sale: $4,630

Exclusive doesn't mean warm. It just means expensive.

The Branded Lead Difference

Branded leads work differently. Prospects watch your video content 10-15 times before booking. They know your name. They trust you. They're warm.

The Math:

• 100 leads × $50-150 = $5,000-15,000
• 100 leads × 85-95% show = 85-95 appointments
• 85-95 appointments × 40-60% close = 34-57 sales

True cost per sale: $88-441

That's 5-10x better than shared leads. And 10-50x better than exclusive leads.

Why Companies Can't Deliver Warm Leads

Lead companies can't create branded leads for you. Here's why:

1. They don't know your style. Your personality. Your approach. Your story.
2. They can't build trust. Trust comes from repeated exposure to your content.
3. They sell volume. Their model requires selling the same lead to multiple agents.

Branded leads require your face. Your voice. Your content. Companies can't replicate that.

The Three Types of Final Expense Leads (Ranked by ROI)

1. Branded Leads (Best ROI)

How it works: You create video ads. Prospects watch them 10-15 times. They book appointments. They already know and trust you.

Cost: $50-150 per sale Show rate: 85-95% Close rate: 40-60% ROI: 5-10x better than shared leads

Best for: Agents who want predictable income and high conversion rates.

2. Exclusive Leads (Medium ROI)

How it works: Companies sell you leads that no other agent gets. You still cold call strangers.

Cost: $500-2,500 per sale Show rate: 35-45% Close rate: 5-15% ROI: Better than shared, but still expensive

Best for: Agents who need leads immediately and can't wait to build a system.

3. Shared Leads (Worst ROI)

How it works: Companies sell the same lead to 3-5 agents. You compete for the same prospect.

Cost: $500-2,500 per sale Show rate: 30-40% Close rate: 5-10% ROI: Lowest of all options

Best for: Agents testing the market or learning the business.

The Real Problem With Lead Companies

Most final expense lead companies use the same broken model:

1. Facebook ads with generic forms
2. Sell leads to multiple agents
3. No relationship building before the call
4. Cold prospects who don't remember filling out the form

This model works for companies. It doesn't work for agents.

Companies profit from volume. They need to sell leads to multiple agents to make money. This creates competition. Low show rates. Low close rates.

Agents need quality. Warm prospects. High conversion rates. The company model conflicts with agent needs.

How to Generate Your Own Final Expense Leads

You don't need to buy leads. You can generate them yourself.

Step 1: Create Educational Content

Make short videos (30-60 seconds) about final expense insurance. Answer common questions. Show your personality. Build trust.

Step 2: Run Facebook Ads

Target seniors 50-85. Show your videos. Let prospects watch them 10-15 times. They'll remember your face and name.

Step 3: Automated Booking Funnel

When prospects are ready, they book an appointment. They already know you. They trust you. They're warm.

Step 4: High Conversion Appointments

Show rates: 85-95%. Close rates: 40-60%. Cost per sale: $50-150.

This system works because prospects choose you. They're not cold. They're warm.

The Math That Matters

Stop focusing on cost per lead. Focus on cost per sale.

Shared Leads:

• $15 per lead
• $1,071 per sale
• 1.4% conversion rate

Exclusive Leads:

• $100 per lead
• $4,630 per sale
• 2.16% conversion rate

Branded Leads:

• $50-150 per lead
• $88-441 per sale
• 34-57% conversion rate

The math is clear. Branded leads win.

What Most Agents Get Wrong

They focus on the wrong metrics:

Wrong: "I need cheaper leads." Right: "I need leads that convert."

Wrong: "I need more leads." Right: "I need warmer leads."

Wrong: "I need exclusive leads." Right: "I need branded leads."

The cheapest lead that doesn't convert is expensive. The expensive lead that converts is cheap.

The Bottom Line

Final expense leads aren't about the price tag. They're about the math.

Companies sell $15 leads that cost $1,071 per sale. They sell $100 exclusive leads that cost $4,630 per sale. They profit. You lose.

Branded leads cost $50-150 per sale. Prospects are warm. Show rates are high. Close rates are high. You profit.

The choice is simple: keep buying expensive leads that don't convert, or build a system that generates warm leads that do.

Ready to stop losing money on cold leads? Get instant final expense leads that are pre-branded and warm. Or learn to generate your own with our proven system.

The math doesn't lie. It's time to change your approach.