I’m a new insurance agent currently working in a very hands-on role at a small agency (4 people total). I’m essentially running most of the day-to-day operations while also producing new business.(one-man army to be totally honest)
The agency owner is involved in multiple businesses, and our focus has primarily been personal lines. So far, I’ve mostly been writing landlord insurance (DP3) as an extension of the owner’s other ventures.
On a daily basis, I’m responsible for managing agency licensing, my own licenses, E&O coverage, carrier appointments and relationships, and trying to build out systems that actually make sense (still a work in progress). I also handle servicing policies, working leads, and generating new business.
It has been a steep learning curve, but I am building things as I go. I have about a month of experience, and I have been wondering what experienced agents or agency owners do to stay organized and make sure no insured or applicant falls through the cracks.
Specifically:
- If you do not have a carrier willing to take on a risk, how do you communicate that clearly to the client?
- How do you stay up to date on carrier underwriting guidelines so you can confidently know whether a risk fits without second guessing yourself?
My biggest worry is telling someone I can at least get them a quote. I want to be able to at least fulfill that promise (and quickly)
Right now, we are working with fairly minimal systems:
- EZLynx (basic subscription)
- Outlook
For those with more experience, how do you stay organized while juggling quoting, servicing, carrier communication, and lead follow-up? What systems or habits made the biggest difference for you early on?