There are successful agents at Farmer's. If anyone is considering working there the best idea may be to talk with one or more of those agents. It seems to be getting harder for the captive companies to hold onto agents though.
http://www.nationwidedr.com

I left a captive and went independent. It's not a cake walk but I am not that far from replacing my income. On top of that there are no managers or VP pressuring your to sell products you don't want.
http://www.lowcostaffordableinsurance.com

Keep your wife's plans completely quiet with those around you. I know a captive insurer who fired an agent after his wife got her license. Sounds illegal or unfair but it happened. The captive has lost lots of agents to the independent side and is really watching that carefully. It's a no tolerance ...

You can also buy the Cole Directory online. Simply type in a zipcode and it brings up a list of everyone who bought a home by month by zipcode. That usually coincides with the renewal of their home policy - though some people refinance and it changes. But that is fairly inexpensive. And you can do y...