Simmon to Lead Michigan’s Agents

Says Independence, Flexibility Still Key in Serving Policyholders

Dale Simmon of the Simmon Insurance Agency in Lansing was recently named president of the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). The Michigan Association of Insurance Agents is a statewide trade group that represents approximately 10,000 independent agents and industry employees. As president, Simmon will work with the MAIA board of directors and staff to implement policies in the areas of legislation, public relations, technology, marketing and education.

Simmon says he will push to add more independent agents from the life and financial services side of the business because the majority of agents are from the property/casualty side of the business. His agency offers property/casualty and life and financial products. The new president discussed the industry and the role of the independent agent in the following interview with Insurance Journal.

Insurance Journal: How did you get started in the industry?
Dale Simmon: I started in the captive area of the industry. I worked as a life insurance salesman in my father’s business for seven-and-half years. In the first six months I was the top life insurance salesmen in the office and I was hooked.

I wanted to go into the insurance business because whenever I went to an event with my dad, all the people seemed friendly, happy and well-dressed. They seemed to be very successful … and that is what I wanted out of life too.

IJ: What is unique about your agency?
Simmon: I consider our agency a little boutique that has flexibility and can offer a life plan for our clients to live by. I consider our mission to approach clients from a holistic perspective. I want to help them in every aspect of their lives.

In terms of a short description, I am obviously the owner and principal. I just hired my son-in-law and along with the receptionist — there are now three of us. In 2007 we generated $480,000 in revenue. Half of the business is on the property/casualty side and the other life and financial planning side.

We are flexible and able to respond to our customers quickly. We stopped writing construction because we saw what was coming three or four years ago. We were able to make that decision with no interference from anybody.

IJ: Why do you think that it is important to remain an independent agent and privately owned?
Simmon: The power and freedom to sell and make the decisions I make as an agent are most important. The flexibility to assess the market and make changes quickly is another plus for the independent agent and agency. I am a single owner so all of these factors are critical to my success.

I am passionate about the independence to write all lines of business without pressure from one company to push one product or another. As someone who worked as a captive agent, I know how companies have agents and employees promote certain products at different times of the year.

On the life and financial planning side of the business I am the agent who helps families plan for multi-generational wealth. I want to protect assets and help families stick to a workable plan for the future. That plan would include auto and homeowners insurance as well as life and financial planning.

IJ: What advice would you give to young people seeking careers in the insurance industry?
Simmon: First, I would say that this is an excellent time to make insurance your choice as a career.

Baby boomers are retiring in record numbers with their books of business available to young people who hopefully will service their clients in the same way as those retiring. Because of the large numbers retiring, there are more opportunities than ever to get in on the ground floor of an agency.

For anyone making plans to become an insurance agent I would advise that they start by reading insurance-related material several hours a week. Reading is critical to staying on top of what is going on in the industry, as well as keeping up with the market and with products that could be sold on the property/casualty or life and financial planning side of the business.

IJ: Your reign as president of the Michigan Association of Independent Agents begins September 1. What are your priorities?
Simmon: One of my top priorities is to grow the business particularly on the life and financial planning side.

As I have said MAIA has a majority of members from the property/casualty side of the business. I want to work with our board and others in the organization to develop a strategic plan to recruit more members across the state generally but in particular target the life agents.

In addition, a big issue for me is the development of a national level “errors and omissions” product for the life and financial services agents. We need to look at ways to protect these agents in the face of moronic legislative initiatives that put agents at risk.

Finally, I would also like to promote the free enterprise system which is alive and well, and work with lobbyists and others to nix the socializing of many of our systems — including the proposals on health care.

Topics Agencies Michigan Property Property Casualty Casualty