Posted On: December 20, 2004, 5:02 pm CST

Posted By: another Farmers alum

After reading the tenor of all the posted comments, I'm sad for all the good people left in the agency force who've invested their lives working to further the Company, only to see it turn into what it has, especially since Zurich took over. The first 28 of my 30+ years with FIG went well for me and the Company I worked hard for, in order to have it prosper. Marty Feinstein's take-no-prisoners personality and style of approach didn't create much respect for him among the agents trying to sell his brand. But I don't wholly blame him since things took a distinctively ugly turn with Zurich's entry. Obviously, the big Z loved his style and thus encouraged him to doing even more name-taking and butt-kicking than he did under BAT, all at the expense of frontline morale among agents and claims staff.
It remains to be seen whether Mr. Hopkins has the vision and courage to turn the Queen Mary midcourse, or whether he'll simply emulate his predecessor. Naturally, being now a successful independent agent and enjoying this business as never before (enjoying the insurance business is a concept FIG doesn't want to have its agents experience lest they become complacent), I hope Farmers doesn't change one thing as my files grow every month taking back my old clients.
I should have made my recent move away from Farmers 20 years ago (too soon old, too late smart) but back then the company was being operated in a fashion that most agents agreed with, as well as the Board of Directors at annual meeting time.