hmberter, I was a Farmers agent for over 10 years until I left in 2010. Since you asked for only positive comments, I don't have any for you. But if you want factual feedback, let us know. There are several current and ex Farmers agents out there that will be more than willing to give you the facts....

Might be tough to obtain direct appointments without experience. The market is very tight right now. Your best bet would most likely be to seek out an MGA so that you can get access to the companies you need.

cali-dude, on designations: Nothing against the agents that have them, and nothing against the idea of obtaining a designation. But in my 14 years experience of being an agency owner, focusing primarily on personal lines, I have yet to have one client ask me about what designations I have, or had a ...

Anyone have experience with an SEO firm called Imprezzio? Are they good at what they do for SEO?
Are their prices reasonable compared with what other SEO firms charge? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

by Farmers loosening their agent hiring practices, this can only be indicative that they are having trouble filling their recruiting goals. I hope that anyone considering a career as an agent with Farmers, would read these posts, and ask themselves a question: Why is it so difficult to be a Farmers ...

rodgwag, I am calm. If you read my previous post, all I did was ask you for your source or study that would substantiate your opinion that the cost of insurance company advertising and inhouse service greatly exceeds or equals the cost to pay insurance agents their full commissions. My opinion, and ...

Mr. Ladner, thank you for taking the time to post here. Hopefully, the issues with claims we have seen in Texas are the result of State Auto's growing pains.

"Insurance companies cut the service part of your commissions a long time ago. Companies like Priceline.com are the future and commissions will remain high or go higher if we can increase sales. Insurance companies don't need you for service because they can do that with better controls in hou...

Or how about this one: You quote a client a home insurance policy for a home purchase. They go with you, you send them apps, they sign and send back, you issue the policy, and send the binder over to the mortgage company for the closing. (Standard coverage, standard 1% deductible, which is the norm ...

In 2009, CEO Paul Hopkins went on record at the stockholders meeting, that out of the roughly 10,000 persons interested in becoming a Farmers agent each year, that only about 250-350 actually make it to a storefront 2 years later. So, by my math, that is about a 2.5% to 3.5% chance of making it 2 ye...

I have had claims problems as well. They are the slowest in claims response / followup and communication with my clients. I cringe the most whenever I find out that one of my client is filing a claim with them. I am located in Texas, FYI.

agreed. About 99% of all my accounts are on full pay, or EFT monthly. So I do not experience this type of service work. If a monthly direct bill client does not pay the monthly bill, that is their problem. Mastercard, Discover, AT&T, the cable company, electric company: you name it. These compan...

rodgwag, I am with you, as far as I wish I did not have to do any service work. Keep in mind carriers do not like to pay agents anyway, and certainly I believe they are constantly looking at the bottom dollar cost they are paying agents for renewal service commissions as it is. But by heaping more a...

rod, do you think it is advantageous to conditon clients to deal directly with insurance companies / call centers? By encouraging this behavior, you are speeding up the mindset of the clients to be: "Why deal with an agent when you can deal direct?"

If this nonrenewal is due to the client filing an excessive amount of non weather claims, the client may by S.O.L. as far as finding coverage in the standard market. Might have to go to the insurer of last resort in your particular state.