r/InsuranceAgent

I currently work at State Farm and are in there aspirant program. However with new contract they are rolling out, seems like a good time to leave. Took away health benefits,the retirement and lowered base for agents.

Is it still worth staying? With all of these agents retiring there’s a good chance I could land my own office but should I take it if I get the offer?

My next move would be independent or commercial. Thoughts?

I have my state exam coming up Friday morning, I was hired on Monday morning.

Going through ExamFX. Still failing the quizzes.

Any tips I can use to help better my chances of passing the exam and not losing my job?

TIA!

how many calls on average does it take when you close a deal? for me usually it’s 2-3. you either 1cc or you gotta call them back because they’re driving and can’t give you their bank info over the phone or something. they say it takes 6 calls on averagr but I don’t think that applies to us. especially if you’re working with data leads, you got lost as a needle in the haystack after the 50 other producers who’ve called to quote them. curious to see how you alls experience might be similar or contrast though

So I was speaking with my manager and he suggested that I hit up business complexes/office buildings and door knock (when I have time). He also mentioned I could go door to door in certain areas and see what the response is. It costs me nothing except my time.

Background: New agent, also providing wealth management services in addition to insurance. Not being supplied any leads and it's eat what you kill.

At the moment, I am working my network. I am keeping a little busy but there are some days where I have nothing planned, (no events, no meetings) and I am spending those days trying to book meetings or research events. Has anyone had success with door knocking in the past 5 years? I feel like it's such a low yield strategy, but maybe I am wrong. Does anyone have any experience with it or anecdotal stories?

P&C agency owner here. Curious how many of you guys' charge agency fees on home, auto and commercial new business application? I know some states don't allow it and some do.

For producers handling a decent-sized commercial book, how do you stay organized across all your accounts?

Do you feel like it’s manageable to remember client details, follow-ups, open issues, and the small things clients mention, or does that get harder as the book grows?

Curious how others handle this.

Hi everyone,

I recently started working with Symmetry Financial Group / Cornerstone about a month ago. I got hired and started studying for my Life and Health Insurance state exam. I had to pay for the exam prep/practice material myself, and I just passed the state exam yesterday on my first try, which I’m really happy about because I studied hard for about a month.

The part that has made me uncomfortable is that I felt pressured from the beginning to move faster than I was ready for. Some of the people there kept saying that “successful agents” usually finish the course and take the state exam within about 14 days, and that if I wanted to be successful, I needed to do the same. My husband encouraged me not to let that pressure get to me and to just study at my own pace, especially because I know I am not the fastest learner. I’m glad I listened because I passed when I felt ready.

Now that I passed the exam, I was told the next step is something called a “game plan,” where we would go over how to get started, make sales, get leads, and move forward after applying for my license. But this morning around 7:30 AM, someone texted me saying I need to buy tickets for an out-of-state conference, and that going to this conference is a requirement in order to do the game plan.

This is the first time I was told I would need to fly to another state for this. The flights I found were around $800, and the conference tickets are about $200 each. So now I’m being asked to spend around $1,000 or more just to attend a one-day event, after already spending around $500 getting trained, licensed, and prepared.

What bothers me is that I got into this because I wanted to make money, not keep paying money to them before I have even started making sales. I understand investing in yourself, but this feels like a lot right away. I also feel like the same pressure tactic is being used again, where they say things like, “If you want to be successful, you need to be there,” or that it is “required.”

Has anyone here worked with Symmetry Financial Group or Cornerstone? Is attending these conferences actually required, or is this more of a pressure/sales tactic? Did you have to pay for travel, tickets, training, leads, and everything else before making any money?

I’m not trying to be negative, I’m just trying to understand if this is normal in the insurance industry or if I should be concerned. I feel pressured and a little manipulated, and I would really appreciate hearing from people who have experience with this company or similar insurance agencies.

Hi all,

I currently work at a captive carrier and have been interested in switching over to the independent side of things.

I spoke to a guy who runs an agency in which he said his producers are more like mini agents. It's remote, you own your own book with 70/30 commission on NB and 50/50 on renewals (these splits are based on agency revenue from a policy not total premium). It's a commission only role and leads are self generated, no provided leads. This is a huge change for me coming from a captive salary plus commission role. I asked him what the average book size was with all of his producers/agents and he said 100k in premium but I'm not sure if he was really meaning 100k in renewal revenue or if he really meant only 100k in premium.

Regardless, I'm a bit concerned with the self generated leads and need tips on if I do take this position, what's the most consistent way for me to generate myself new business? He mentioned he's had some of his agents in the past purchase leads to some avail. Also, would it be a good idea to do something else full time and focus on this on the side for now until I build a decent book? I have currently written a little over 200k in premium at my current captive agency in 5 months, but that's with leads provided.

Any insight at all would be greatly appreciated!

Recently I heard that GOAT leads are the latest greatest. I have tried so many but all seem to be so difficult these days with clients screening their calls. I've had a little success with a lead source company but the battle is still getting the client to answer calls, text, or emails.

Does anyone have suggestions on strategies to get in touch with the prospective clients or better lead sources?

I’m fully licensed in NC, started in sales then moved to an underwriting career about 6 year ago. I’m looking to get back into it part time without a captive agency. Any recs for commissions and passive part time income? Really looking for something I can start building a book of business on while working full time as well.

Thanks for the time and input!

EDIT: fully licensed but looking to focus on ACA, Life, Ancillaries etc. Both to avoid conflict of interest and maximize commission.

So I actually recently just started my own agency and am looking to add agents, but I was curious on what agents are looking for specifically? I feel like we check a lot of boxes but I’m sure there are things we aren’t thinking about. It is an agency for independent brokers and provides them with top street level comp as well as thousands based on monthly, yearly, and career bonuses and incentives. We offer full training for life and health sales, build you out a website page, provide personalized content for your socials, cover your dialer/signup software, crm software, and google workspace. We have a compliance department, marketing department, and have people who specialize in working with specific carriers to make sure any issues are taken care of. There is a 6 month 50/50 marketing split for any new agents and we reimburse yearly on AHIP/E&O. The first priority is our agents building their book of business and helping clients NOT RECRUITING and we don’t have any sort of MLM setup. All leads or marketing would be outsourced to a 3rd party company. Me and my partner both had bad experiences with that with companies we have worked with and we wanted to make a legit company that is strictly focused on the business. I would appreciate any additional insight on what else agents would be looking for from an agency that I didn’t mention. All suggestions are appreciated!

I’ve been with State Farm for 2 years as a top producer in my region. I have done a lot of research and planning with the goal of opening my own independent agency this August.

With that being said, is there a waiting period from the time that I leave my current State Farm agent, to when I can open my own agency? My ideal scenario would be to open up agency no later than 2 weeks after I leave State Farm so that I don’t lose my edge, however I’m not sure if there are any laws/rules that prohibit me from doing so.

Thank you for your input!

Insurance agents are you fully commissioned if you don’t mind me asking I’m considering switching careers from accounting to being an insurance agent. Would you recommend it? What do you guys think about the business equitable advisors?

I have interviews with both. State Farm position is an Account manager looks like it’s going to be a customer service / sales position.

AAA is as a sales representative. They seem to offer way more benefits but it seems like a really stressful environment. But they offer a 5-8 week trading course that’s all paid for hourly and health insurance.

I have a kid now he’s 1 month old and I just need something solid and reliable. I’ve worked in insurance for awhile and I just don’t know if I have the energy to pound out 200 calls a day and go to every networking event in a 30 mile radius.

Any thoughts?

Studying for Life and Health. My company gave me Kaplan

I know some of this stuff from my CFP, but are the questions really this nuanced?

I feel like I’ve read a lot about people who crammed 2 weeks for this and passed.

Am I overthinking this? I feel like I’m either struggling a bit with the material or need a supplemental provider to get me over the passing point (currently in that 65ish range)

Hello, I had an interview over webcam today for Farmer’s and had a few questions. Everything sounded good to me, base + commission but they said they don’t pay for your P&C license. She told me they would send a study guide, then once I get my license she would set me up with an agency near me that’s hiring. I’m highly interested, just wondering if this is normal. Thanks!

I’m pitching moving a friend’s coverage from State Farm to Pure for Home, Auto, Umbrella and Collections. It’s a high value home with a $10m umbrella and Pure is a better fit for several reasons.

The one issue is there is a secondary residence that is also insured by State Farm. Pure will cover it, but the premium is $5k with State Farm and would go to close to $10k with Pure due to fire response issues.

He’s wanting to leave the secondary residence with State Farm and move everything else to Pure.

State Farm agents - will State Farm continue to insure the secondary residence only? I don’t want him being non renewed.

Appreciate any insight…

Hey guys I really need advice, so a few months ago I was offered a job at freeway insurance by the manager, i went ahead and did all the exams and passed the personal lines.
I sat down with her today to discuss the role, and pay. Ive worked at wells fargo, a loan office and now at a credit union so Im not nervous about how Ill do really. More its the pay, she said im going to start off at minimum wage, I make 24 at my current job. Of course theres commission but realistically how long will it take until im able to make commission? I feel like stuck in a rock and a hard place, i want a career and i want to make more money, but im nervous about leaving my current job and potentially earning way less right now especially with bills and how expensive everything is right now. Any questions I should as the manager, should I look at another insurance company?

There are a few local offices I'm interested in working at. Should I go introduce myself in person?