I agree with your comments on this article. I must confess that insurance was far from my first thought as a career. In fact, I was an educator for about 25 years. After I retired, it was just easier to help my husband in his agency. Education was my thing, and insurance was his. But as I got deeper into this field, I was amazed how complicated it can be. I had to familiarize myself with the terminology, and laws. It was like learning a different language. But the most rewarding feeling I got was when I could help a customer get the right insurance for the right price. I guess I should have acknowledged that we have an independent agency. So we do have several companies to choose from.
I felt the same satisfaction that a teacher does when she helps her students succeed in difficult skill. I felt the say way when I help explain the insurance coverages to our customers.
So I guess I didn’t leave my teaching skills behind, but incorporated them with the insurance skills I have now. I think many people get the wrong idea about insurance. There are many different roads in insurance, and only of them is selling a policy. Sincerely, Ange
I like your comment here because it highlights how many of us found our way into insurance. You are right. You can’t leave that teacher in the past. She can really help her customers to understand what they’re buying and why!
Quick Points I would make to those considering insurance as a carrier:
1) Insurance may not be glamorous, but no two days are alike. You will be challenged with something and learn something new each and every week.
2)You are solving and fulfilling a need. Everyone needs insurance. Most do not want to understand insurance. Therefore if you are honest and behave with integrity you will earn peoples trust, confidence, and their business.
3) You will be well compensated for your hard work and for doing the right thing (putting clients needs above your own).
4) For the time being, insurance is a carrier where a college degree may not be required (it will not hurt). Insurance can be an 8-5 job Monday through Friday for many. Insurance is a family friendly job. If you move you can take your insurance skills with you anywhere and use this experience in
5)There is great variety of job positions and opportunity to grow and progress as an individual: Client service, sales, underwriting, claims, marketing, Technology and IT, administration, personal, commercial, life accident and health
Having been in the industry for over 30 years I’ve noticed the following:
a) Many youngsters are impatient and do not want to invest time educating themselves and want gratification in the form of compensation immediately.
b) Insurance is one of the few industries where you learn a lot about many different types of businesses and industries from finance and manufacturing to agriculture.
c) The industry is sometimes stuck in the “good old boy network” and is very challenging trying to place business and compete with the “big boys” (large agencies/brokers). Unfortunately there are a few who like to play dirty disparaging one’s reputation and being in collusion with large Ag employers and other industries with strong arm tactics to require that you provide insurance paper from a specific broker and his carriers. If you have access to the same market they have the power to block you from access to their programs and some insurance companies are just fine being in collusion with this tactic also. You may have requested a quote first, which they will deny citing the risk and low and behold the customer is able to get a proposal through the big agency when their agent calls them to let them know “he” has their quote.
You’re right. There are challenges at times, but you also hit it right on. There’s so much variety available in what we do. I spent last week studying home-sharing endorsements and this week, I’m looking at commercial property. What’s next week? I’m not sure, but I look forward to whatever I get to get my hands into.
Hey Patrick,
I agree with your comments on this article. I must confess that insurance was far from my first thought as a career. In fact, I was an educator for about 25 years. After I retired, it was just easier to help my husband in his agency. Education was my thing, and insurance was his. But as I got deeper into this field, I was amazed how complicated it can be. I had to familiarize myself with the terminology, and laws. It was like learning a different language. But the most rewarding feeling I got was when I could help a customer get the right insurance for the right price. I guess I should have acknowledged that we have an independent agency. So we do have several companies to choose from.
I felt the same satisfaction that a teacher does when she helps her students succeed in difficult skill. I felt the say way when I help explain the insurance coverages to our customers.
So I guess I didn’t leave my teaching skills behind, but incorporated them with the insurance skills I have now. I think many people get the wrong idea about insurance. There are many different roads in insurance, and only of them is selling a policy. Sincerely, Ange
I like your comment here because it highlights how many of us found our way into insurance. You are right. You can’t leave that teacher in the past. She can really help her customers to understand what they’re buying and why!
Quick Points I would make to those considering insurance as a carrier:
1) Insurance may not be glamorous, but no two days are alike. You will be challenged with something and learn something new each and every week.
2)You are solving and fulfilling a need. Everyone needs insurance. Most do not want to understand insurance. Therefore if you are honest and behave with integrity you will earn peoples trust, confidence, and their business.
3) You will be well compensated for your hard work and for doing the right thing (putting clients needs above your own).
4) For the time being, insurance is a carrier where a college degree may not be required (it will not hurt). Insurance can be an 8-5 job Monday through Friday for many. Insurance is a family friendly job. If you move you can take your insurance skills with you anywhere and use this experience in
5)There is great variety of job positions and opportunity to grow and progress as an individual: Client service, sales, underwriting, claims, marketing, Technology and IT, administration, personal, commercial, life accident and health
Bravo! Thanks for the comment.
Having been in the industry for over 30 years I’ve noticed the following:
a) Many youngsters are impatient and do not want to invest time educating themselves and want gratification in the form of compensation immediately.
b) Insurance is one of the few industries where you learn a lot about many different types of businesses and industries from finance and manufacturing to agriculture.
c) The industry is sometimes stuck in the “good old boy network” and is very challenging trying to place business and compete with the “big boys” (large agencies/brokers). Unfortunately there are a few who like to play dirty disparaging one’s reputation and being in collusion with large Ag employers and other industries with strong arm tactics to require that you provide insurance paper from a specific broker and his carriers. If you have access to the same market they have the power to block you from access to their programs and some insurance companies are just fine being in collusion with this tactic also. You may have requested a quote first, which they will deny citing the risk and low and behold the customer is able to get a proposal through the big agency when their agent calls them to let them know “he” has their quote.
Wonderful industry sometimes isn’t it?
You’re right. There are challenges at times, but you also hit it right on. There’s so much variety available in what we do. I spent last week studying home-sharing endorsements and this week, I’m looking at commercial property. What’s next week? I’m not sure, but I look forward to whatever I get to get my hands into.