This is great news. I have been in this business 35 years and I still love it. Is there a way we can get this out to the public so we can attract more young people into careers in Insurance.
I have worked with our local Project InVest but it is hard to convince the young that this is a great career.
I don’t understand how anyone can love this business. I’ve done it for 20 years and it gets worse with every passing year…cut-throat agents lying to clients (from other agencies), working for days on a submission – just to not get the business at all….the list goes on and on.
If you love it, you have got to be a glutten for punishment! No fun AT ALL!
Sorry to hear you hate your job InsGirl. Maybe you work for the wrong broker. I have been doing this 19 years and still enjoy coming to work everyday. Sure, there are clients who are deadbeats and others who are blindly faithful and will do whatever you say, but overall, it is very enjoyable to make a new sale and see the customer happy. Maybe you are not cut out for this line of work. After all of these years, I can pretty much make the call on anybody looking for new coverage if they are really interested or just using me as leverage. I am a third generation broker and am actively encouraging my two sons to keep an open mind about insurance. Right now they want to be a Vetrinarian and a Pro Baseball player. Plus, being a broker means you can control your own pay, based on how hard you want to work.
I must be working for the wrong company or as you say, maybe not cut out for this business. I’m very glad to hear you still enjoy coming into work after 19years :o)
I wish I could say the same.
If I had known then, what I know now……
Yea it sucks. Interesting that most of those great quotes are from people in their late 30’s. Thats not young. PLus they were all in more leadership positions or they were thier own boss or worked in family businesses.
Hey Derrick, do you want some cheese to go with that whine? Sorry kiddo, you have to work your way up the ladder. Most of us don’t start out on the top. I started as a CSR and worked my way up. If you have sales talent, then selling is not a bad job. But not everybody has that inborn talent. Just like I know I could never teach art or music because I have no god given talent in those areas.
Sorry Derrick to burst your bubble. I have NEVER worked for the family agency. My dad was an a##hole. I would never have worked for him as if I had, I would still be a CSR.
Derrick, first I would like to know when being in your 30s became old. I am in my mid-30s & have worked in the insurance industry for 18 years & still love my job. I have had to work my way up to a management position after starting as a data entry person. Trust me it has not been an easy road especially as a woman in a male dominated field, but it has been worth every bit of effort I have been willing to put into it. The problem with most people beginning a career today is that they expect everything to be easy & to get it all with no effort or hard work. The world doesn’t work that way.
Insurance is all I’ve ever done since high school. I have had been through so much humiliation and work so hard and have always done my best. I went through hell. I now have great experience. I love doing what I do now because of all the experience I have aquired through the hard times. The work is so rewarding. The only time it gets bad for me is when I have to deal with inexperinced agents. I wonder how they got where they are and I feel bad for their clients.
I started out in 1980 as a CSR trainee at a small SoCal agency. At the time, my dad had taken ill, I had to quit college and be the breadwinner.
From 1980 to 1990 I worked at several agencies, continuously taking courses to increase my knowledge of coverages, underwriting, and client presentation.
In 1990, I flipped to the company side as a W/C underwriter. I loved the analytical part of determining what the exposures were, what controls were in place, and properly pricing an account. Life as an underwriter was good until open rating hit in 1995 and almost every W/C carrier got greedy and underpriced everything, and agents became…anal and always demanded more.
From 1990 to 2001, the two carriers I worked for were ceased by the CA DOI and subsequently liquidated.
From there, I went back to the brokerage side working for one of the largest international brokerages in the world. After going through multiple restructurings (read layoffs, downsizings, moves) and being relocated from CA to TX, in 2007 this brokerage announced they were closing down their service center in TX (that should give you a hint of who I worked for) and moved everything to Glenview and…India.
I now work for a large, non-profit healthcare provider in their risk management department.
My assessment of the industry – up until the mid 1990’s, it was great. But things started to change. Everyone got greedy, stupid and didn’t give a rats pajama’s about support staff. Many “sold their soul” just to make a sale.
If someone was to ask me if going into insurance as a career was a good choice, I’d say NO WAY.
Red, I completely agree with you. I made it through the first few years in insurance because I had to. I went home every day very frustrated and angry, because I started from the very bottom, and because I hated the learning curve. Now, things are much easier, the money’s far better, and I know that one day I’ll own the agency. I love the job because I don’t have someone over my shoulder, I control what I do. The only problem is, getting those under me to do what they’re supposed to do.
worked for a life agency. Secretary for three brand new life agents.
Worked my way up thru the ranks over the next 25 years. Ended up laid off; had the most seniority so, it was I who got the boot.
No loyalty in the biz anymore. Fine when you’re young. Expect to be looking for a new job when you’re in your fifties.
I feel there is always good opportunity in the business, it is a matter of finding the right home. Property and Casualty and Employee Benefits Producers are my specialty as a head hunter working with the best agencies and brokerages in the business. Feel free to call (954)343-5990 to discuss, or check us out at http://www.globalrec.com.
If you aren’t happy in this profession, find something or someplace that will make you happy. I have found the people I have worked with and the work I have done for the past 31 years to be very satisfying. Sorry for those of you who work in less satisfying positions.
I am a fourth generation insurance broker and was brought in through a family business. I worked more hours for less payroll, started at the bottom and stayed at the lower levels longer than other employees. BUT, I know how every employee does their job and can do it anyday. Most employees respect that I can and will do their work although I no longer have to do so.
Family businesses are not always an advantage and in most cases are the hard way to get into this business. I did not make any decent money until I left the family business…
Wow! I feel really sorry for the majority of you. I took a job with Farmers Insurance when I was 21, as an owner and self employed agent (not a family business, I started scratch). I have worked for myself, with Farmers for 32 years and continue to LOVE MY JOB! I have always loved my job, through the ups and downs of the industry, but still loved it! If you don’t, find one you do.
Patricia Whippert of Young America Ins. is a cut throat,stab in the back and take Claim to S.I.U. fame after she threw a S.I.U.investigator who is FAR more experienced and less deceptive at Investigations. Ms.Whippert is a nieve,no talent manager who is way over her head in investigations and should be removed……… The fierce Red Head from her office is way better at this job than Ms.Whipperts best day…………
The insurance industry is cut throat, I got my license at 18 and I currently am 18 and I am working in a brokerage agency, but dispute everything that happens I love what I do and wouldn’t trade it for the world. And I’m sure many agree with me.
These young agents haven’t been around long enough to hate it yet!! Give ’em time!
This is great news. I have been in this business 35 years and I still love it. Is there a way we can get this out to the public so we can attract more young people into careers in Insurance.
I have worked with our local Project InVest but it is hard to convince the young that this is a great career.
I don’t understand how anyone can love this business. I’ve done it for 20 years and it gets worse with every passing year…cut-throat agents lying to clients (from other agencies), working for days on a submission – just to not get the business at all….the list goes on and on.
If you love it, you have got to be a glutten for punishment! No fun AT ALL!
Sorry to hear you hate your job InsGirl. Maybe you work for the wrong broker. I have been doing this 19 years and still enjoy coming to work everyday. Sure, there are clients who are deadbeats and others who are blindly faithful and will do whatever you say, but overall, it is very enjoyable to make a new sale and see the customer happy. Maybe you are not cut out for this line of work. After all of these years, I can pretty much make the call on anybody looking for new coverage if they are really interested or just using me as leverage. I am a third generation broker and am actively encouraging my two sons to keep an open mind about insurance. Right now they want to be a Vetrinarian and a Pro Baseball player. Plus, being a broker means you can control your own pay, based on how hard you want to work.
Hi Compman,
I must be working for the wrong company or as you say, maybe not cut out for this business. I’m very glad to hear you still enjoy coming into work after 19years :o)
I wish I could say the same.
If I had known then, what I know now……
Yea it sucks. Interesting that most of those great quotes are from people in their late 30’s. Thats not young. PLus they were all in more leadership positions or they were thier own boss or worked in family businesses.
Nobody likes sales jobs.
Hey Derrick, do you want some cheese to go with that whine? Sorry kiddo, you have to work your way up the ladder. Most of us don’t start out on the top. I started as a CSR and worked my way up. If you have sales talent, then selling is not a bad job. But not everybody has that inborn talent. Just like I know I could never teach art or music because I have no god given talent in those areas.
So workers Compman, you moved your way up huh? In a family agency where your dad was your boss!
WOW, im impressed!!
Sorry Derrick to burst your bubble. I have NEVER worked for the family agency. My dad was an a##hole. I would never have worked for him as if I had, I would still be a CSR.
Derrick, first I would like to know when being in your 30s became old. I am in my mid-30s & have worked in the insurance industry for 18 years & still love my job. I have had to work my way up to a management position after starting as a data entry person. Trust me it has not been an easy road especially as a woman in a male dominated field, but it has been worth every bit of effort I have been willing to put into it. The problem with most people beginning a career today is that they expect everything to be easy & to get it all with no effort or hard work. The world doesn’t work that way.
Insurance is all I’ve ever done since high school. I have had been through so much humiliation and work so hard and have always done my best. I went through hell. I now have great experience. I love doing what I do now because of all the experience I have aquired through the hard times. The work is so rewarding. The only time it gets bad for me is when I have to deal with inexperinced agents. I wonder how they got where they are and I feel bad for their clients.
I started out in 1980 as a CSR trainee at a small SoCal agency. At the time, my dad had taken ill, I had to quit college and be the breadwinner.
From 1980 to 1990 I worked at several agencies, continuously taking courses to increase my knowledge of coverages, underwriting, and client presentation.
In 1990, I flipped to the company side as a W/C underwriter. I loved the analytical part of determining what the exposures were, what controls were in place, and properly pricing an account. Life as an underwriter was good until open rating hit in 1995 and almost every W/C carrier got greedy and underpriced everything, and agents became…anal and always demanded more.
From 1990 to 2001, the two carriers I worked for were ceased by the CA DOI and subsequently liquidated.
From there, I went back to the brokerage side working for one of the largest international brokerages in the world. After going through multiple restructurings (read layoffs, downsizings, moves) and being relocated from CA to TX, in 2007 this brokerage announced they were closing down their service center in TX (that should give you a hint of who I worked for) and moved everything to Glenview and…India.
I now work for a large, non-profit healthcare provider in their risk management department.
My assessment of the industry – up until the mid 1990’s, it was great. But things started to change. Everyone got greedy, stupid and didn’t give a rats pajama’s about support staff. Many “sold their soul” just to make a sale.
If someone was to ask me if going into insurance as a career was a good choice, I’d say NO WAY.
Red, I completely agree with you. I made it through the first few years in insurance because I had to. I went home every day very frustrated and angry, because I started from the very bottom, and because I hated the learning curve. Now, things are much easier, the money’s far better, and I know that one day I’ll own the agency. I love the job because I don’t have someone over my shoulder, I control what I do. The only problem is, getting those under me to do what they’re supposed to do.
worked for a life agency. Secretary for three brand new life agents.
Worked my way up thru the ranks over the next 25 years. Ended up laid off; had the most seniority so, it was I who got the boot.
No loyalty in the biz anymore. Fine when you’re young. Expect to be looking for a new job when you’re in your fifties.
I feel there is always good opportunity in the business, it is a matter of finding the right home. Property and Casualty and Employee Benefits Producers are my specialty as a head hunter working with the best agencies and brokerages in the business. Feel free to call (954)343-5990 to discuss, or check us out at http://www.globalrec.com.
If you aren’t happy in this profession, find something or someplace that will make you happy. I have found the people I have worked with and the work I have done for the past 31 years to be very satisfying. Sorry for those of you who work in less satisfying positions.
I am a fourth generation insurance broker and was brought in through a family business. I worked more hours for less payroll, started at the bottom and stayed at the lower levels longer than other employees. BUT, I know how every employee does their job and can do it anyday. Most employees respect that I can and will do their work although I no longer have to do so.
Family businesses are not always an advantage and in most cases are the hard way to get into this business. I did not make any decent money until I left the family business…
Wow! I feel really sorry for the majority of you. I took a job with Farmers Insurance when I was 21, as an owner and self employed agent (not a family business, I started scratch). I have worked for myself, with Farmers for 32 years and continue to LOVE MY JOB! I have always loved my job, through the ups and downs of the industry, but still loved it! If you don’t, find one you do.
Patricia Whippert of Young America Ins. is a cut throat,stab in the back and take Claim to S.I.U. fame after she threw a S.I.U.investigator who is FAR more experienced and less deceptive at Investigations. Ms.Whippert is a nieve,no talent manager who is way over her head in investigations and should be removed……… The fierce Red Head from her office is way better at this job than Ms.Whipperts best day…………
The insurance industry is cut throat, I got my license at 18 and I currently am 18 and I am working in a brokerage agency, but dispute everything that happens I love what I do and wouldn’t trade it for the world. And I’m sure many agree with me.