Question for New Agents

[WinoBlues]

Over the last year or so there have been a ton of new agent post asking about getting into or starting in the Insurance business.
Commissions, Contracting, Training, Leads etc......

My questions are:

Why did you look at this business?
What is your work back ground?
Did you look at other careers as well? Sales?

Thanks,

Wino wit da Blues

 

[catowned]

Re: Question for New Agents.

One of the companies I contract with sent me a message about getting my 2-15 licence and contracting with them for an insurance line. My backround is a call center rep for six years. Before that I was a certified nursing assistant/student. Due to family needs I had to find a work at home job so I started doing call center work.

 

[Davis]

Re: Question for New Agents.

I recruited agents for a company that offered AIG and Allianz products. I also generated leads for health insurance agents. They thought I would do great in this industry.

I have over 10 years marketing and sales experience. I like to help people and wanted a business I could work from home that offered a service with integrity. I worked for years in the mortgage industry before everything changed but I was careful to work with companies that cared about their clients.

 

[WinoBlues]

Re: Question for New Agents.

Thanks.

Seems like a lot of people are coming to this industry by way of a lot of diverse fields.

 

[fdahl82]

Re: Question for New Agents.

My first experience ever with life insurance was when a childhood friend of mine passed away and left me as beneficiary on his policy. I had thoughts then of "hmm, i wonder how you become an agent" but didn't know ANYTHING about how to do it. A couple months later when we moved our new landlord was in the process of becoming licensed and said hey you should look into this. Majority of my 'jobs' have been waitress or barista and direct sales. I found out how to get my license and struggled getting it (due to moving out of state) for 2 years. So now, 2 years later I am finally licensed! =)

 

[MrMack]

Re: Question for New Agents.

I got out of college and I became a manager at PetSmart. Hated the hours. Noon to 10PM. I got 1 weekend off in 1 1/2 yrs and had to work 13 days in a row at Christmas.

I quit and got a job selling commercial loans to people. The company paid me to get my insurance license so I could sell credit life. I quit that job in 90 days and I decided I already had my insurance license, I might as well give it a shot!

I found out I love having myself as the boss! I got to be independent so I could steer my career in what interests me and can adapt to changing insurance markets.

 

[Fastest H-Town L&H Agent]

Re: Question for New Agents.

My background is real estate and realty finance. I am still very active in the investment market and prior client servicing. The reason I got my H&L license, is that my wife has worked CSR/ presenter for a few insurance companies, and the last company she worked for, the owner shared with me his business plan. I was very impressed with what could be achieved.

Due to my wife having to stay home to care for my 89 y/o M-i-L, and my 90 y/o g-ma, she could not work outside the home 8 hours a day anymore, but is still active. So, I am the face-man for the company, and she is the CSR. I enjoy the personal interaction, have no fear of the phone, nor first contacts, and she is the best organizer/ customer support person I have ever known. Thats my story, and I'm sticking to it....

 

[Mike Shaw]

Re: Question for New Agents.

I'm not new, I'm returning. The housing crash in Sandy Eggo killed my mortgage business. The insurance/investments were a side-line and not really pursued.

Now? Mortgages are tougher'n ever to get but you still need financial planning/insurance. Right?! Rollovers at the min.

I'm just debating how I wanna go about it: captive and take their training $$ (either NW Life or Mass Mutual) or stay independent and have a jerk as my boss. Good thing he's VERY understanding of the need to get out into the mountains!

M

 

[elitemind]

Re: Question for New Agents.

Over the last year or so there have been a ton of new agent post asking about getting into or starting in the Insurance business.
Commissions, Contracting, Training, Leads etc......

My questions are:

Why did you look at this business?
What is your work back ground?
Did you look at other careers as well? Sales?

Thanks,

Wino wit da Blues

Question #1 Good up front commission, and renewals so that I can build a client base. The heck with selling for a company getting paid one shot commission or them nagging you about how many sells I got for the week..

Question #2 After college all I could get was sales and retail management jobs..

Question #3 Sure did look at other careers, I either had to go back to school or didn't have enough experience for a decent paying position.

I have been selling insurance on and off for the past five years, but only recently the past year I have sink my teeth in..

 

[maine.michael]

Re: Question for New Agents.

Like several others here I have a background in the mortgage industry, worked the last 6 years as a loan officer. I thought many of the skills I've learned in that line of work would translate well into the insurance business, so I'm not starting from scratch completely. I like the idea of helping people find a product/service they need and will improve their lives. I also find the idea of getting renewals attractive, as no matter how good a job I did for my real estate clients there was no "lock" they would come to me next time they needed financing. Insurance also pays well if you work hard and can do a good job and I like the freedom of being self-employed.