Geeze- I have 4 of the best producers in SC. And when I say producers I mean agents that know what they sell, and know they better do whats best for the client or they can hit the road. I just had one today send out a refund of over a $1000 on a homeowners policy after we did an agent of record on the policy. We inspected the home and gave the guy discounts his prior agent of 6 years didn’t give him. When you do the right thing like that Geeze, business tends to find you! Thats why I don’t have to advertise. $0 spent on advertising in over 5 years…..$0. It’s called paying it forward. I bet I could ask your agent 3 questions about you home and/or flood policies and he would have to look up the answers.
Ah, the old exit interview – anyone here actually had one of these?
Brings back not so fond memories of an old boss – told us outright – “There’s the front door. Don’t let it hit you in the (you know what)on the way out.” Charming gent!
I have to wonder if this article pertains more to the support staff (you know…the CSR’s that do the bulk of the work and help retain the clients) rather than just the producers.
CSR’s and related support staff leave for two primary reasons –
1. They’re underpaid and overworked
2. Management and producers treat them like crap
I’ll never forget when one agency principle told me “you meet my needs in the position you’re in. I’m not interested in giving you other opportunities.”. Needless to say, I quickly found employment elsewhere.
Some Guy- I saw that early on when i worked for another agent and said i would never do that. I solved the problem by paying comm only, the producers get 75% of the comm on the new business and their renewals. They do ALL the work for a client. You can make $30k if you work for me or $100k. You eat what you kill.
At least you didn’t sit there and whine about what he “should” pay you.
Wow. That’s astounding. What do you provide for the other 25%? Has it ever occurred to you that good salesmen are not always good detail folks? Or that bogging down good sales people with service work only hampers them from being able to sell? Or that when a producer’s book gets to a certain size they can no longer sell and only service? Or that team selling is what cements your client to the agency? Or that when the producer is out selling, he is unable to respond to and service his clients? Sounds like you just write a bunch of personal lines or BOP business that churns and burns.
Pay them comm only and let them eat what they kill. PERIOD
What commission rate do you pay?
Please tell me you’re not my agent!!!!
Geeze- I have 4 of the best producers in SC. And when I say producers I mean agents that know what they sell, and know they better do whats best for the client or they can hit the road. I just had one today send out a refund of over a $1000 on a homeowners policy after we did an agent of record on the policy. We inspected the home and gave the guy discounts his prior agent of 6 years didn’t give him. When you do the right thing like that Geeze, business tends to find you! Thats why I don’t have to advertise. $0 spent on advertising in over 5 years…..$0. It’s called paying it forward. I bet I could ask your agent 3 questions about you home and/or flood policies and he would have to look up the answers.
There’s no shame in paying producers to produce. The fact that there are people in this forum complaining about it scares me for our future as agents.
Did you get the BOR before or after you pointed out the $1,000 in discounts?
Ah, the old exit interview – anyone here actually had one of these?
Brings back not so fond memories of an old boss – told us outright – “There’s the front door. Don’t let it hit you in the (you know what)on the way out.” Charming gent!
Yeah, I had one. You can’t tell the truth in them or it will haunt your career for the rest of your life.
I have to wonder if this article pertains more to the support staff (you know…the CSR’s that do the bulk of the work and help retain the clients) rather than just the producers.
CSR’s and related support staff leave for two primary reasons –
1. They’re underpaid and overworked
2. Management and producers treat them like crap
I’ll never forget when one agency principle told me “you meet my needs in the position you’re in. I’m not interested in giving you other opportunities.”. Needless to say, I quickly found employment elsewhere.
Some Guy- I saw that early on when i worked for another agent and said i would never do that. I solved the problem by paying comm only, the producers get 75% of the comm on the new business and their renewals. They do ALL the work for a client. You can make $30k if you work for me or $100k. You eat what you kill.
At least you didn’t sit there and whine about what he “should” pay you.
Wow. That’s astounding. What do you provide for the other 25%? Has it ever occurred to you that good salesmen are not always good detail folks? Or that bogging down good sales people with service work only hampers them from being able to sell? Or that when a producer’s book gets to a certain size they can no longer sell and only service? Or that team selling is what cements your client to the agency? Or that when the producer is out selling, he is unable to respond to and service his clients? Sounds like you just write a bunch of personal lines or BOP business that churns and burns.