Hello Everyone !

I

InsAgent8

New Member
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Hello Everyone !

I'm Kim from NC. I've been reading this forum for a while and finally decided to become "official" today (smile). I've been licensed in P&C and L&H since about 2003. Started out as a Producer with Farmers Insurance where I worked in an Agency owned by a friend. After a while, I started feeling some pressure to become a "Farmers Agency Owner" and just wasn't feeling it due to all the politics and pressure I observed in the office, so...I've decided to branch out on my own and build my own business as an "Independent".

I was the main Life Producer in the Farmers office I was in, so that's where most of my experience has been although I wrote policies in all lines of business while I was there. From reading through the forum, I've developed an interest in making Final Expense and Med Supps my primary market as many of you seem to indicate it is a better market to be in vs. just selling Life.

I know this will be a big change for me, but I'm ready for the change. I'm hoping to secure some independent contracts in Final Expense and Medd Supps, and I'll be reading through the Forum to learn which carriers I should pick up that will allow me to offer the best coverage for my clients.

Glad to be here ! Looking forward to making some new friends ! ;)
 
Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of information here and a lot of genuinely helpful people and a few jerks.
 
Hello Kim
Having read your introduction, I could not have failed to see the depths of your thoughts and the obvious professionalism, in addition to your experiences. You have my regards.

What was it like when you first started,please? I recently got my P&C, hence no experience. My background is all I have for the presentation of any worthwhile credential for this undertaking. I have many years in teaching in the West Indies and over 10 years in the UK Civil Service. I am fluent in oral and written forms of English and good in customer care. I am better off as an employee where my past performances have been excellent. But because of the current economic climate here in Georgia, I am unable to put my experiences to work. An experienced agent from my Insurer suggested that I do the P&C and that he would give me a place in his office. Apparently the background check is in a delay mode.
At my age I would prefer to work from home as an Independent, but I do not know how to go about this. What could you please draw from your past that would be of any encouragement for me?
Could I become and Independent at this stage,please?

Thanks.

Shiv.
[email protected]
 
pancham said:
What was it like when you first started please?
What could you please draw from your past that would be of any encouragement for me?
Could I become and Independent at this stage please ?
Click to expand...

Hi Pancham,
Thanks for the complements.
When I first got started I worked in an Agency office. In addition to writing new Auto, Home and Life Insurance business, I was also responsible for assisting walk-in and call-in customers with questions, quotes and premium payments. I also went out to view properties, take pictures, and report any obvious risks I could see from the outside of the property. That's pretty standard stuff for a P&C Agency. Writing Life Insurance was my primary responsibility, so I had to bring in a certain amount of "new" Life Insurance business each month too.

I think that being in a structured environment like an Agency is a very good starting point and learning ground for a newly licensed Agent. You will get some training, some office support, and you'll have other Agents there in the office with you if you need help on something.

And YES ! You can go Independent at any point in your career that you choose to do so. But just realize that "usually" going Independent means just that - you are going to be responsible for building your own book of business on your own, and you won't have much office support, or that guy or girl sitting in the next cube to help you if you need to ask a quick question about something. Being Independent means it's your business that you're building - not someone else's - and you will get out of it what you put into it. I think that going Independent (and having immediate success) would be difficult for a newly licensed Agent, because most new Agents are going to need "some" training and support to get started on the right track; but I've also learned that being Independent doesn't have to mean that you are alone. I know that there are quite a few IMOs out there that do provide training, back office support, and lead sources - but you'll "usually" have to pay for those leads either by taking a lower commission percentage, or by paying the "per lead" cost of the leads. After you learn how to prospect on your own you may choose not to purchase leads at all, but in the beginning, buying leads may be the only way a new Agent can get in front of enough people to make a living.

So it's really up to you and which path you want to take.

I hope that helped ! Have a great day !

--- Kim
 
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