Are You Willing to Learn Spanish?

[Jerard]

Correcto moondo* on the Rosetta Stone not doing the job for some people. I even had a Spanish girl friend for 7 years and only learned how to cuss. Fond memories....now I watch the Spanish channel with the sound off.




* Yea...that's probably not spelled right.

 

[lsberrios1]

I think learning any language is well worth it and Spanish is becoming a must in some big cities around the US. I speak better Spanish than English but that is because I am a native Spanish. Learning Italian at the moment since my fiancee is Italian and I would like to get along with her family.

The more languages you know the better. Not knowing Spanish nowadays is missing on sales I'd think.

 

[DHK]

Since no one brought up the potential liability issues... I will.

Unless there is a way to prove or certify you are fluent in a language in a court of law... I wouldn't bother learning a language and trying to sell something as complex as insurance in that language.

In securities, you HAVE to have a family related translator in order to sell to someone who doesn't speak English. Unless your carrier has specific literature and forms in Spanish (or whatever other language), all of the forms and prospectuses are in English. You also don't have control over what is being said by the 'translator'. I've had to deal with this a few times... and it wasn't fun.

Would your E&O cover sales to those who don't speak the language, and you cannot prove or certify that you are fluent in that language?

I don't know how it would go for fixed insurance business... but I'm sticking to the languages my carriers print their materials in... English.

It's only your license and livelihood on the line should you be sued.

Maybe I am paranoid... but what if they really ARE out to get you?

 

[WinoBlues]

I think learning any language is well worth it and Spanish is becoming a must in some big cities around the US. I speak better Spanish than English but that is because I am a native Spanish. Learning Italian at the moment since my fiancee is Italian and I would like to get along with her family.

The more languages you know the better. Not knowing Spanish nowadays is missing on sales I'd think.

That is going to depend on your market I believe.

 

[lsberrios1]

That is going to depend on your market I believe.

True, I'd see it as pretty much mandatory in the FL market and very beneficial in NY, GA, TX and CA.

 

[WinoBlues]

True, I see it as pretty much mandatory in the FL market and very beneficial in NY, GA, TX and CA.

It has helped me more on the FE side than the traditional side.

----------

Really good point. On the FE side there is some cover being that the PHI is done in their native language.

Since no one brought up the potential liability issues... I will.

Unless there is a way to prove or certify you are fluent in a language in a court of law... I wouldn't bother learning a language and trying to sell something as complex as insurance in that language.

In securities, you HAVE to have a family related translator in order to sell to someone who doesn't speak English. Unless your carrier has specific literature and forms in Spanish (or whatever other language), all of the forms and prospectuses are in English. You also don't have control over what is being said by the 'translator'. I've had to deal with this a few times... and it wasn't fun.

Would your E&O cover sales to those who don't speak the language, and you cannot prove or certify that you are fluent in that language?

I don't know how it would go for fixed insurance business... but I'm sticking to the languages my carriers print their materials in... English.

It's only your license and livelihood on the line should you be sued.

Maybe I am paranoid... but what if they really ARE out to get you?

 

[roychapman]

Spanish is certainly a plus. I have Rosetta Stone. I found it on eBay -- Royrogers

 

[Stephen]

I don't personally see the value in learning Spanish purely for business reasons when there are plenty from the 2nd generation here that grew up speaking both languages, have college degrees, and can serve the community better than I could by trying to do a presentation with an illustration in one hand, and my translation book in the other.