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 Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:30 am Post subject: I want a career change, is insurance sales the answer? |
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After leaving a 15 year career in sales i want to move in a new direction and have decided to sell insurance. In the last month I have passed the state (Texas) exam and now hold my P&C as well as Life Accident & Health license. Now I dont know what to do with them!
Im 40 years old and can get by on a modest income for a few years if it means a brighter future. I just dont know anybody in the business and dont know where to turn. I have a meeting with Farmers but it sounds like they want to sell me a agency. After reading the website "Farmers Sucks" im a little leary of them.
Do I just walk into every agency up and down the street and ask if their hiring agents? Is there district offices to call? Any advice would be great!
What can i person expect to make starting out working for someone else? I really need to make a salary plus commission. Is this possible?
Im really looking for a mentor who doesnt mind me asking a lot of questions.
Any help out there?  |
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tjlwolf
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Joined: 23 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:24 am Post subject: |
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Hi tjlwolf,
| Quote: | | I really need to make a salary plus commission. |
Why don't you work as a captive agent for sometime? Once you have some experience as a captive insurance agent, you'd be able to make good use of your client base. You could then look forward to your opportunities as an independent agent. Roddick |
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roddick
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Joined: 05 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:19 am Post subject: |
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I guess you'll come across such feedback for most of our major carriers online. Don't just rely on that!
Now, why do you wish to shift after spending 15 years in another industry? Is there any specific reason?
Tx, Purpleheaded08
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Purpleheaded08
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| Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:28 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | I have a meeting with Farmers but it sounds like they want to sell me a agency. |
So you want to work as a captive agent rather then owing an agency of your own. Any particular reason for that? |
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simon
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| Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:28 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | So you want to work as a captive agent rather then owing an agency of your own. |
May be he just wants to gain some experience prior to owning an agency. Assurance of a fixed sum of money as 'salary' could also be a factor.
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anonymous00
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:16 am Post subject: |
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Hi TJ,
Made the same move 3 years ago. Here's what you do:
First, pick a type of insurance you want to focus on (trying to start out doing everything is kind of difficult, it is better to get good at selling each type of insurance one at a time.)
2. Find several brokers nearby to call. Ask them about how long they have been in business. (You will find a lot of fly by nighters in the business so find someone who has been doing it for awhile...)
3. See if one of them would be willing to mentor you and show you the ropes. A lot of them recruit agents and get an override from their sales anyway.
4. Learn to market your products and generate leads, or buy some.
5. Learn a good sales process to be able to close sales on your lines of insurance.
If you prefer to work and learn on your own, you can get contracts from FMOs (Field Marketing Orgs.) they work as middlemen between independent agents and carriers.
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beatuplunchbox
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:35 am Post subject: |
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Hi beatup..
| Quote: | | If you prefer to work and learn on your own, you can get contracts from FMOs (Field Marketing Orgs.) they work as middlemen between independent agents and carriers. |
Are these FMOs really effective in your opinion?
A newcomer would surely need good guidance, even though he might possess years of sales experience.
Pinkfloydfan
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Pinkfloydfan
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 8:57 am Post subject: |
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Just depends on the FMO. To me, working with a mentor is the best option for someone new to the biz but some people like to do their own thing...
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beatuplunchbox
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