What Do You Know About Working for Shelter Insurance?

[Guest]

I have been a Life/Health agent for a while now and with the way things are going in the healthcare arena I'm looking to expand my horizons and get into P&C. I have a family member with an established independent insurance agency and she has planted the seed in my mind that I could follow her lead and set up my own agency. The tough decision I'm trying to make is whether I should go independent or captive.

That brings me to my question... Shelter is looking for an agent in my area to open an office. The down side.... You're a captive agent... The upside... You have the backing of a corporation and they help you get started.

Now I've read all kinds of bad things on these forums about SF, Farmers, and Allstate, but I haven't found anything negative (or positive) about Shelter.

Can anyone give me their thoughts on Shelter?

 

[NMFNMDRT]

They have a niche market in some rural areas. It would be difficult to get started with a company with very little name recognition if it's a new area. Unless you are taking over an existing business, this is going to be a very long process.

 

[lakeloveroktx]

I worked with them for a while. I will try to work with them again as soon as I get some credit issues fixed. They are a good company with a very good retirement plan for career agents.

I have 3 good friends that do very well with them.

PS I only left because my wife became very ill and we had to move to be near her family.

 

[xrac]

I worked with them for a while. I will try to work with them again as soon as I get some credit issues fixed. They are a good company with a very good retirement plan for career agents.

I have 3 good friends that do very well with them.

PS I only left because my wife became very ill and we had to move to be near her family.

How competitive are they and do they allow you to write any other business?

 

[lakeloveroktx]

They are competitive depending on your area. I think they are very good now. They don't insure the coastal states any more. So they didn't lose any money on the hurricanes.

They are captive. It is one of those jobs that if you work hard for a few years you can sit back and ride the wave. My friend that works for them put it this way: "For the first 5 years I was pushing a rock up a hill. Then for a couple I was coasting and now I am trying to hold on."

 

[magagent]

From the customer point of view, we have Shelter for our car/home insurance and have never had any problems with them. If you live in a rural area and can handle a few rough years I say go for it.

 

[Itworks]

I interviewed with Shelter 2 weeks ago. I asked why the agent left and was told "good guy-just not a salesman". I think he had office for 3 years. Everything sounded good- $2200 monthly base plus commission. I think had to sell like 5 p/c first month and 10 life second month or something like that. Got 125 leads every other month. They pay for office expenses. The goal is for you to be bringing enough money in to eventually no commission. Once you are established the office is yours. She said it takes about 4/5 years. It would be door knocking and whatever else you needed to do to get the business. 2 weeks training in MO for p/c and then few months later 2 weeks in mo for life/health training.

I was asked back for 2nd interview, but I decided not to move forward. I am just starting in this business and jumping into owning my own place was just overwhelming. If running your own brick and mortar is a dream than I say go for it...

 

[lakeloveroktx]

They pay all expenses plus a salary until you are up and running. They do now believe in throwing agents to the wolves.

My friends daughter took over an office and they are giving her $3,000 per month until her commission are higher than that. They are expecting that to be somewhere between 18 and 30 months. Keep in mind this is her first real job out of college.

 

[xrac]

Sounds like a better place to be than SF, Allstate, or Farmers.

 

[magagent]

Sounds like a good deal to me, If I was brand new in this industry I would have taken it.