I continue to watch commercials where the insurance companies are telling the consumer they have the "cheapest" rates of any company out there. The consumer is eating this up and then going with the assumption they have to find the policy with the cheapest rate or they are a complete idiot. However, they are not being told what the difference in the coverage is and when I try to explain it to the client, they don't care anymore they just go and look for a lower rate because they think I am trying to throw the wool over their eyes.
I also let him know the commercials are telling the client to go to the companies website or to give the 800 number a call to get a quote. Basically, they want to bypass the agent all together but then tell us we are not doing our job when our policy count has not increased.
I as an agent took a long class to learn the information to pass a very difficult test. I also have taken countless hours of continuing education as well as attending their rah rah seminars about the products, invested thousands of dollars into advertisement, staff, technology and so much more all to be replaced by a website. Now, how can someone who does not even know the basics of insurance become a total freaking expert by being told which is Good, Better and Best?
I then went on to let him know that we are not able to get to the client like we once use to. These days real estate offices, mortgage brokers, banks and car dealerships all have insurance offices located directly inside of them. The offices even tell the client they will give them a discount if they use their insurance agent. How I am suppose to compete with this? If I have a client and they are selling their house and buying a new one the realtor and mortgage person are in the same office, they are offering my client the same product and at a discount "in a way" and I can't do this. Who are they going to go with? That is right, their new insurance agent and they will cut me out. So, there goes the client I spent time and money procuring and taking care of. Does the insurance company care, nope. They have the client and they don't care how they got them.
After we went through all of this I then went on to explain how in my building we have a TWFG agent who is brand new. Now, she may have experience in insurance but she was just recently licensed. The reason I think she has experience is because her husband is a State Farm Agent down the street and she now has an office here. So, clients he can't write are now going to go to her thus cutting the client from coming down the street and seeing my sign. How is this fair if a guy decided to be a captive agent but figures out he can make even more money by breaking the rules and having his wife be an agent under her maiden name? It is not but it is the way one part of the industry is going.
My wife tried to explain to me and I would not listen, how the industry is going to be a second thought. It use to be where insurance was important to have and now it is nothing but a thing we are required to have but don't really think about it until they need it. Then, when they need it and it is not what was expected they come and sue the agent because we tried to explain but they did not want to listen. Or what is even worse, they went to an agent and he/she did not care and just sold them what they wanted. And since it is getting better for the client, they can also get screwed directly from the insuring company because the phone representative sold them what they wanted or they chose good, better or best on-line.
I keep asking myself, why do I still want to be an agent. I will be honest, I love selling insurance. I love being able to assist my clients who want the proper direction to get it. I want the clients who feel it is necessary to have an agent to have one. But, these clients are becoming fewer and far between. Why? Because the art of conversation is going away quickly. Many individuals do not want to make eye contact while they could just as easily make the decision they as the "educated" consumer can make while online. Oh well, will I continue to be an insurance agent? Honestly, I don't know it is becoming so difficult to get and keep the business. We will see what will happen in the near future and how the world of insurance will turn.
Thanks for letting me vent. I hope you enjoyed it.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)