This is a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't. If you don't give them the advice that you did and they took a rate increase or non-renewal they would complain that you didn't inform them of that possibility. I would have handled the situation in exactly the same way. I know it's tough to s...

There are other things to consider that may or may not matter to you. Will you be licensed directly with the carrier or as a sub producer for the aggregator? Will your agency name be on the dec pages or the aggregator? Are you paid directly by the companies, or is the aggregator repsonsible for proc...

First question is what do you like to do and what do you see yourself doing? What is you skill set that you would like to use and what would you like to learn? There are a multitude of options within the industry. From accounting to marketing. From sales to training. From underwriting to product dev...

I send a thank you letter to each new household. Simple letter that really works. I believe that a large percentage of new customers WANT to tell somebody how much they just saved and how my agency helped them get a better policy for less premium. In case anybody cares, here's the letter. Feel free ...

Love, LOVE, SIAA. They were a God send when setting up my IA after 17 years with FIG. Helped me determine what carriers were competitive in my area and then got me appointed. Helped with obtaining new E&O & EZLynz. Got me started on the right path, then got out of my way and let run the agen...

Lonestar is 100% accurate in his assessment of the "opportunity" with Farmers. Sure, there are successful agents and new hires can make it. However, the odds are stacked against you. There are other factors that are beyond your control that will play a large part in your ability to meet th...

This was discussed here a few months ago. There will always be two types of insurance buyer. Those that only care about having the minimum coverage required to be legal at the absolute lowest premiums or those that are concerned that they are properly covered. The strong majority of people know noth...

In my state, State Farm and AmFam have a combined personal lines market share of about 45%. The next highest company is 4%, and Allstate is 2%. So even though those two companies have a large market share, there is a LOT of business available to the personal lines agent in both the standard and non-...

I've got a customer who is buying a second home in Laredo TX.

Any IA's in that neck of the woods.

Let me know how to contact you.

Thanks,

Didn't that happen in Beverly Hills Cop 2 ?

pontiac-

what's your story?

Are you considering getting into the insurance industry or are you already licensed and working for someone and looking for advice to open up your own shop?

D's- Although I understand why you don't continue to do the "touchy feely" customer service, I don't think it was stupid of you to do so. You should never apologize for offer that level of service. I also did many of those things, probably not to the same extent as you, and quickly learned...

Danlman- A true professional WILL inform the customer and pass on business when he/she cannot help instead of force feeding a sale. I have explained to many people over the years the coverages of their policies and informed them that at this time I cannot help them and that my recommendation is to s...

I learned everything I know on how to operate a insurance agency by being a Farmers agent, I will always appreciate what I learned during my tenure. However, 90% of it was learned by trial and error. My DM was an ex-agent that helped with product knowledge and rating/uw procedures but I received ver...

d's ins- Not that I question you results or others you know, but it is odd that we have such different experiences. Maybe its regional, maybe because most of the ones I know that went IA are Farmers agents and they are not a household name in my area. Not sure. I am aware of several agents that left...