Becoming a State Farm Agent

[SteveFlintstone]

Unfortunately these guys are right. I was an Allstate agent for 6 years and have a family member current with SF. Only the top 20 % make money period. 100 apps or more a month just to make a profit. The companies require too much overhead. Keep your expense LOW. Get out of that high price office and get a virtual or cheap hole in the whole.....then open an indy in your wife/brother/cousin name. Dont focus on the scorecard.... You lose

 

[jmancuso]

I totally agree with you and I say your are one of the smart ones by not allowing these companies to lure you in with their song and dance. These companies are victimizing a lot of new agents and their families in my opinion.

Thanks Xrac. Farmers did lure me in with the song and dance but I decided to start as a producer before I went the "career" path. I found an agent and asked him if I could come sell for him. I did it for 30 days, sold 15 policies, and decided..."Hey, I can do this but why do it with all these limitations and requirements"

Honestly I have had nothing but great dealings with Progressive and would love to sell their products. I can't say the same for the other guys...

 

[Turz]

XRAC are you questioning my integrity? How dare you! Kidding...

Anyway, I got the DVD packet and it is not what I expected. I thought it would be more specific about the opportunity. Turns out is is a recruiting DVD with a bunch of agents saying how great it is to work at State Farm. Oh yeah, and more paperwork of course...

Haha, just the tip of the iceberg.

I'm not an SF Agent, but I'm very familiar with their processes. I went through a lot of their training years ago...

 

[xrac]

I am glad this thread exists because I think it has save a few people from making a decision based upon one sided information.

 

[jmancuso]

I am glad this thread exists because I think it has save a few people from making a decision based upon one sided information.

"LIKE"

Oh wait...this isn't Facebook....

 

[insuringlv]

If State Farm agents could sell their book of business, there would be thousands for sale but State Farm agents can't sell it because State Farm owns it all.

 

[Praeter]

I am not a SF agent, but a team member and after being with a scratch agent for 3 months I will be looking for a new job and would never recommend being a team member let alone an agent for this company.

SF is just too conservative. I don't know if it's because I work in a TICA office, which I've never even had that explained what a TICA means, but I swear underwriting is keeping score on how many policies they can either deny or cancel on a daily basis.

I don't know if it's because I'm new to insurance, or my previous job at Quicken Loans(mortgage banker) was that great of an opportunity(that i left), but the training I've received has been attrocious and the expectation level is ridiculous. This company is nothing but one gigantic pyramid scheme.

I've been told October, November, and December are the slowest months in producing sales. We missed our premium builder last month so my agent has now changed our pay schedule and threatened to take away our little salary if we don't hit his numbers.

It would be one thing if they told us all of this up front but they don't. After hiring in my agent asked me my 1st year goal. I said $36k, which I think is low. He looked at me like I'm crazy. After being told about the salary change, I cannot work for a company that will change my pay based on how my boss feels that day.

 

[togatown]

TICA is an acronym for "dance sucker dance until we give you a permanent contract". Those poor guys starting scratch are under the gun to try to grow fast enough to make money before they go broke. They are pressured to over staff and spend huge amounts of money on marketing to try to sell Financial Services products over P&C. It is a very difficult scenario in many markets. You are right to be discouraged working in that environment.

 

[Praeter]

TICA is an acronym for "dance sucker dance until we give you a permanent contract". Those poor guys starting scratch are under the gun to try to grow fast enough to make money before they go broke. They are pressured to over staff and spend huge amounts of money on marketing to try to sell Financial Services products over P&C. It is a very difficult scenario in many markets. You are right to be discouraged working in that environment.

Since us team members do not get residuals, we're told to only concentrate on p&c right now while our agent handles life&health. We're told to set up an IFR following a p&c sale so he can handle the rest. I feel like we're getting cheated out of the possibility of a life sale. I know there are ways around it, but it's the principle. I have heard his uppers give him a hard time about financial products.

It's unfortunate because I do think at it's core, SF is a great company, but they need to get with the times a bit as far as their methods of doing business, technology, and other random smaller things. The technology is a personal pet peave. Windows XP in 2011? Really?

 

[Mark]

What does the avg State Farm agent make?