Editor’s Note: A ‘hot career path’

Article

With this being Insurance Journal’s “Salute to Independent Agents” issue, I got to thinking about what it means to be an independent agent. I’m not an agent of course so I can’t speak from experience. It must be pretty cool, though, because I don’t think I can count the number of times I’ve heard agents say things like, “I love what I do, I have the best job in the world” or “insurance has been very, very good to me.”

On the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers’ Web site, www.iiaba.net, it defines independent insurance agents and insurance brokers as those who represent “more than one insurance company, so they can offer clients a wider choice of auto, home, business, life, health coverages as well as retirement and employee-benefit products.

“IIABA agents and brokers not only advise clients about insurance, they recommend loss-prevention ideas that can cut costs. If a loss occurs, the independent insurance agent or broker stands with the client until the claim is settled.”

That’s a pretty good description, but I wanted something more.

I could have picked up the phone and called some agents and asked them what it means to be independent. But of course I waited until a deadline was upon me (as usual) to write this column. It’s been a while, so I decided to visit Googlism, www.googlism.com, a Web site that will do a “Google” search for words or phrases and usually comes back with some fairly interesting responses. Here are some of the things I discovered when I typed in “independent.” (Comments in italics are mine.)

• Independent is a reality — Okay, but which one?

• Independent is a state of mind — Certainly.

• Independent is a great way to live — It must be.

• Independent is about making choices — That’s true.

• Independent is our team — Go team!

• Independent is the best — By far.

• Independent is someone — You bet.

• Independent is always there because independent is better — Enough said.

• Independent is — Definitely.

• Independent is “not” an escort agency — That’s a relief.

Perhaps the best response I got was when I typed in “agent:”

• Agent is a hot career path — Cool. Spread the word!