Advice on switching to independent
Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 9:34 am
Hey everyone, would greatly value any advice from the industry veterans here.
I've been working as licensed staff for captives (state farm, allstate) for over 10 years. I'm seriously considering the switch to an independent, but I don't really know where to begin. I've been making decent money the last few years ($55-65k), but corporate is continuously putting the screws to their agents, who then do the same to their staff. Even writing $30k+ of new premium every month, I never truly feel like my job is safe, and I've got a family to support. There's also way too many underwriting games we have to play to hit production goals, since we obviously don't have the ability to shop multiple carriers. I'd like to be out of that situation.
My issue is that I don't know what I'm even looking for in terms of an independent. Most of the brokerages I'm aware of in the area cater to low-income people and bad drivers. The couple I've been inside of also seem extremely slow. Allstate or State Farm are sort of known sums- how would you suggest I find the brokers worth actually sitting down and interviewing with?
Other than that, how well (honestly) do you imagine the skills from a sales person in a captive environment transfer to an independent? We purchase a lot of warm transfer leads and draw a good bit of interest from people who find us online through the corporate website. I realize this might not be the case in the new environment.
Like I said, any thoughts are greatly appreciated.
I've been working as licensed staff for captives (state farm, allstate) for over 10 years. I'm seriously considering the switch to an independent, but I don't really know where to begin. I've been making decent money the last few years ($55-65k), but corporate is continuously putting the screws to their agents, who then do the same to their staff. Even writing $30k+ of new premium every month, I never truly feel like my job is safe, and I've got a family to support. There's also way too many underwriting games we have to play to hit production goals, since we obviously don't have the ability to shop multiple carriers. I'd like to be out of that situation.
My issue is that I don't know what I'm even looking for in terms of an independent. Most of the brokerages I'm aware of in the area cater to low-income people and bad drivers. The couple I've been inside of also seem extremely slow. Allstate or State Farm are sort of known sums- how would you suggest I find the brokers worth actually sitting down and interviewing with?
Other than that, how well (honestly) do you imagine the skills from a sales person in a captive environment transfer to an independent? We purchase a lot of warm transfer leads and draw a good bit of interest from people who find us online through the corporate website. I realize this might not be the case in the new environment.
Like I said, any thoughts are greatly appreciated.