New Producer/Agent in TX....HELP!!!

[fgogg]

Hello,

Let me first start by saying that this is the BEST WEBSITE I have found to be of use when you are starting out. After reading through the many threads for several days, I decided to just go for it and register.

I was in the Medical field for almost 20 yrs when I decided to make a career change. I know how a Health insurance policy works from benefits to payment of claim, so I was thinking Life and Health ins Sales would be an easy move for me. So I got my General Lines LIFE, HEALTH, ACCIDENT & HMO license.

I was offered a position with a new State Farm agent as his Life and Health specialist, but would need to now also get my P&C license. Done now I have both my LIFE and HEALTH and P&C. The agency opened up on April 1st.

To date I have not sold one Life policy, other than my own.... And last month was the first time I was paid any of my commissions, as I finally met the "Bonus and Commission" quota.

I took his offer as I am new to the industry and don't know anything about being on my own, plus when you earn a salary for 20+ yrs commission only can be scary!

We had a difference of opinion, meaning I was not or am not a team player, and we decided that maybe his agency is not the best fit for me.

So here I am back at square 1. I applied to several different companies on Ziprecruiter and now I am getting job offers left and right from IMO's, FMO's ect.....

I am pretty good about researching a company and looking at the employee reviews however I am just as confused now as I was almost a yr ago when I got my license.

Any advice would be appreciated!!!!

Thank you

 

[fgogg]

I'm in San Antonio.

 

[shawnmwalker]

Open your own P&C agency....go all in.

 

[rbadoux]

Agreed with Shawnmwalker, start your own. If you need help writing commercial business accounts in Texas. Pm me

 

[Martilyo]

Open your own P&C agency....go all in.

Other than obtaining proper licensing, how does a military vet with a passion for helping people and 0 insurance experience go independent? I pull 6 figures at my current job, but something is telling me to pursue this. What advice would you have for me? Thanks.

 

[shawnmwalker]

Well you have a decision tree here. I'll lead you down one path, but it is biased.

"Begin with the end in mind"- 7 habits of Highly effective people.

Decision #1:

What end of the Ins Spectrum do you want? if you answered P&C keep reading. If ''Other" wait for the others to respond

Decision #2: Captive or Independent.

Captive:
Pro: They will teach you a lot but inevitably you will go Indy at some point in your career. Another Pro, they will subsidize your life for a time.
Con: The District Manager will push too hard or force life on you or cut your commissions or change your contract, or, ext, ext. Your Captive will take rate increases and kill your production and you will have one price point while others dissect your book one policy at a time.

Independent: :
Pro: Control expenses. Get higher commission. Higher conversion. Higher retention. All of those factors equal more money.
Con: Starting out. Getting knowledge. Your personality type could sink yourself.

Decision #3:

Once you decide Indy is for you, in the next week or 22 yrs from now. The question will be how to do it. Your options include:

Buy an agency.
Join a group.
Become a producer for an agency.
Get direct appointments.
Get an agency that provides the back end service so you can hunt full time.

You decide which one is best for you.


Decision #4: What group should I join?

There are a lot. Consider the following. NOT ALL GROUPS ARE CREATED EQUAL! They range from good, better and best.

Any group claiming to be best of class should provide the following:
1. Transparency
2. Training and support
3. Carrier Alignment
4. and a great Contract

Some groups will not talk with you because of your lack of experience, limiting your options. (You will still have good options, you just might not be able to get 100% exactly what you want.)

Give me a call, shoot me am IM. Good luck and have fun with your choices.

I have been in Insurance for 14+ years and the great thing in this industry is you can choose to never stop learning. Your learning curve is never ending. Meaning you will never get board.