new agent advise

by murph » Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:26 pm
Posts: 53
Joined: 18 Jul 2008

Does anybody have some good advise for a new agent?

Total Comments: 16

Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 05:57 am Post Subject:

I guess that answers my question from the other post.

Best Advice?
Work hard, Learn how to sell, do the right thing for your customers, and dont give up.

Also ask all the questions you want here. You will find all sorts of answers and points of veiws here to help you out.

This is not the easiest business to get started in but if you are willing to put in the effort to get good at it it is very rewarding.

Also check out my ampminsure blog for new agents and you might pick up a few ideas you can use.

Mac

Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 08:52 am Post Subject:

As an agent you're required to sell the products. Hence, the product knowledge is very important. Understand the market for the particular line of insurance you want to sell.....analysis of the market demand and customer requirements are important factors to determine your success as an agents.

Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 09:20 am Post Subject:

If you're starting as a captive agent then you may face fewer hardships in business than an independent agent.

Starting and managing an independent agency may put up some difficulties before a novice of this trade, since you'll have no book of business to start with. And in addition to this, you'll be required to maintain an office, manage all the paper works and also have to generate sufficient business to carry-on with the agency.

On the other hand, the captive agent may receive the infrastructural supports and qualified leads from the insurance company to start with.

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:45 pm Post Subject:

My guess is that most of the agents who stay in the business long-term and are successful start with a captive agent situation. A lot will leave and become independent.

I started with MetLife and worked for Mutual of Omaha for a while. I couldn't have worked on my own without the skills and knowledge I acquired working for those companies.

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 04:23 am Post Subject:

I couldn't have worked on my own without the skills and knowledge I acquired working for those companies.



Yeah, you're right. Its important to learn the survival skills to stay in the market. An independent business may sound attractive to many, but starting an agency without any prior experience in the trade may put forward difficulties to the agent.

In my experience I've seen agents to go down in debt when they fail to generate enough business to keep their heads up.

hence, my advice to you murph, that learn the tricks of the business first, get your license and get associated with an insurance company. Being an insurance agent is certainly an attractive career, but it also involves loads of toils.

Regards,
Juanita

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 03:30 pm Post Subject:

If I had to give only one piece of advice to an agent starting out, I think I'd say don't get discouraged. It's a tough business to get started in, but can also be very lucrative if you keep at it. You'll learn something new from every agent you speak with and from every prospect you meet. Be creative with your marketing strategies and keep learning about your product. Also, try your best to do good by your clients. Unfortunately, there are those agents out there that give us a bad name. Those with staying power and those that build the best reputations are the ones who try to do the right thing.

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 03:49 pm Post Subject:

Insurance is a great business to be in. However, too many people fail at it.

Some people have a personality that makes it difficult. Most of this can be overcome. Shyness can be overcome, but a lack of integrity and an inability to persevere is harder to overcome.

You will need to have discipline to make it in a competitive field. You will need to have confidence in yourself as well. You don't need to have confidence in your sales skills as a neophyte; you need to have the confidence that you can acquire the skills you will need.

if you work as hard as you can and learn as much as you can you will be successful.

Good luck,

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 07:13 pm Post Subject:

Alston said it well:

if you work as hard as you can and learn as much as you can you will be successful.



I would add work smart to that. But that comes from learning and experience.

Murph, what would you like to know specifically?

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