Anyone here with Farmers?

SJinaki · 04-03-2008, 01:21 PM

Wow! This is what I have been looking for. I was recently approved by Farmers and am wanting to know more about what really goes on and why they are so willing it seems to start agents. I wanted to know about Farmers as a company.

Thank you everyone for your posts!

Shani
Lansing, MI area

norcalinsurance · 04-07-2008, 10:50 PM

Hey SJinaki,

Happy to meet you.

Are you frustrated with the Dashboard yet?

norcalinsurance · 04-09-2008, 03:37 PM

Any of you Farmers Agents use Field Data?

I do, but I'm thinking of getting rid of it. Does anybody have any opinions on Field Data. Seems pretty useless, since the Dashboard is what we end up having to use. And for $37/mo. , I know it's not a lot of money, but $37 here and there adds up quick.

Any Farmers Agents have an opinion about Field Data they would like to share?

briankoe · 04-11-2008, 02:30 PM

I have never heard of Field Data. I really don't mind using the Dashboard. I know they are constantly working out different bugs, but I enjoy all of the resources it provides us with. (Marketing campaings, B.O.B., quoting, etc.)

Is Field Data some kind of agency development software?

norcalinsurance · 04-14-2008, 03:31 PM

Field Data is an off-line rating system, with a CRM system built into it too. It's a neat piece of software, since you can give pretty accurate quotes even when you do not have access to the internet. And it has B-day triggers, and other customer retention triggers too.

I'm surprised your DM never told you about it. It's good for Agents who are starting out, but really, it's a bit cumbersome, since you enter all of a clients info into Field Data, then you have to re-enter all of the info into the Dashboard, so you have to enter in everything twice, but it is nice to have that off-line quoting feature.

Ask your DM about it. You may like it.

norcalinsurance · 04-15-2008, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briankoe

I have never heard of Field Data. I really don't mind using the Dashboard. I know they are constantly working out different bugs, but I enjoy all of the resources it provides us with. (Marketing campaings, B.O.B., quoting, etc.)

Is Field Data some kind of agency development software?

B.o.b is an amazing online CRM! I didn't utilize my first few months, but now, it's one of the only icons I click on when I first log on to the Dashboard. From there, I go to the Image Center, Print Center, etc...

One thing I've thought about recently is that BoB, and the CRM is completely online, in the Farmers system, if I ever wanted to go independent, or move company's, it may be difficult to get my book of business. I keep paper copies, but it would be a BIG drawback to not have everything in digital format!

I'm not thinking of moving company's or going independent, but I've been thinking a lot about how relationship driven this industry is, and to lose files would sink you. I'm gonna go download my book right now...and do a backup...

chickenfarmer · 05-18-2008, 01:50 PM

Great information Norcal & BK! I'm nearing the threshold to enter the industry. I'm currently in the real estate industry and would like to remain active in the industry as well as leverage my existing contacts in the industry. I have been in the state farm program and am approved to apply for an agency. I haven't considered farmers up to this point but am somewhat interested as state farm doesn't have an available position where I live and I am not sure I want to move.

Can one work in the real estate industry and have a farmer's agency? How do you feel the farmers opportunity stacks up vs. state farm?

Thanks...

aspiringwealth · 05-19-2008, 11:05 AM

I also talekd with Farmers... One of the key advantages was that they would let me continue to do mortgages while I was with them. They are also much less restrictive as far as offering products from other insurers is Farmers does not have that product. The disadvantage compared to what I am hearing about State Farm is the support system and training. I have read some nasty things about Farmers on the web. Taken with a grain of salt, but they do seem eager to hire. The District was talking to me 30 minutes in about making me his 'partner' etc.. He was a typical salesman. State Farm has not come across like that. I'm sure both have pros and cons, but Farmers does not seem like a fit for me...

Catman · 05-19-2008, 01:30 PM

Norcal,

Since you seem to be the resident Farmer's agent, could you give some of us aspiring agents some insight into what it's like working for Farmer's in your area? I was wondering about things like leads and training that we will get from Farmers and the extent of support from them.

Any information is appreciated

chickenfarmer · 05-19-2008, 09:51 PM

Aspiringwealth:

I am in a similar situation. I am not sure I want to completely give up Real Estate and State Farm will not allow any activity at all. Farmer's does? The State Farm people seem like a class act and I have a couple of friends and family who have been really successful so i think I am going that direction.

xrac · 05-19-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenfarmer

Aspiringwealth:

I am in a similar situation. I am not sure I want to completely give up Real Estate and State Farm will not allow any activity at all. Farmer's does? The State Farm people seem like a class act and I have a couple of friends and family who have been really successful so i think I am going that direction.

My advice is give up real estate and go with State Farm if you are offered a position. Farmers seems to have a lot of agent turn over and are always cycling between cutting rates to gain market share or raising rates to regain profitablility. A friend of mine was with Farmers and would advise against going with them. He is now independent. I have saw no turn over among the SF people except by death or retirement.

chickenfarmer · 05-20-2008, 11:53 AM

Yeah thats good advice. Its been a good road but all good things must come to an end I guess. Also I told the wifey that she will have to get her broker's license so I can still meddle haha.

xrac · 05-20-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenfarmer

Yeah thats good advice. Its been a good road but all good things must come to an end I guess. Also I told the wifey that she will have to get her broker's license so I can still meddle haha.

Yea that works!

In fact I know a few guys who are either captive or with broker dealers who get around selling away by having a wife who is licensed.

norcalinsurance · 05-21-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catman

Norcal,

Since you seem to be the resident Farmer's agent, could you give some of us aspiring agents some insight into what it's like working for Farmer's in your area? I was wondering about things like leads and training that we will get from Farmers and the extent of support from them.

Any information is appreciated

I'm sorry I haven't posted lately. Life gets in the way too much!

Leads & training depends 100% upon your District Manager, so shop around for a DM that has a plan for new agents, and call around to a few Farmers agents in the area you plan to target & ask them 'what their opinion is of some of the different DM's in the area'. Just make sure to ask them in a positive way, since you probably will not get any useful information if the Agent thinks he's throwing a DM under the bus.

As far as leads, my DM provides me Homeowner Leads, but for the most part, you need to target yourself:

1. Friends/Family
2. Past co-workers/clients/acquaintances
3. Referrals from the above two
4. Then begin targeting Strangers, & referrals

That's a pretty common way I've seen many agents start out with growing their book.

Also, the computer system that Farmers Agents use is called the Dashboard. It's frustrating as hell the first few months you begin using it, so make sure that your DM has resources to teach you the Dashboard hands-on. As with anything in life, the Dashboard is not hard once you learn to use it, but in the beginning, it's very difficult to juggle marketing, obtaining clients, satisfying them and entering in information on the Dashboard. It's just time consuming at first, but you pick it up soon.

Best of luck to you!

RayGroupInsurance · 05-22-2008, 10:04 PM

Farmers is not the only company that subsidizes you during your first couple of years. I started with Farmers but I didn't have the money to quit my day job and sell insurance full time. After a few months of selling insurance only 1-2 hours a day I started looking at other options. That is when I found out that Allstate will let you purchase an existing agency. For me this was a better option because I was able to purchase a couple hundred policies and kind of bypass that first year or two of starving. I didn't have any problems with Farmers, I just wasn't able to quit my full time job and do insurance. Buying an Allstate agency gave me enough money in renewals that I could afford to quit my job. Allstate also gives you some pretty big commissions during your first three years to help you get up and going (as much as 45%.) If you haven't made up your mind yet I would at least look into it. You might also speak with some agents (farmers, allstate, state farm, independent) in your area and see if they are hiring sales producers. That is another way to get into the business and see if it is right for you.

Good Luck

cainsurance · 12-11-2008, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayGroupInsurance

Farmers is not the only company that subsidizes you during your first couple of years. I started with Farmers but I didn't have the money to quit my day job and sell insurance full time. After a few months of selling insurance only 1-2 hours a day I started looking at other options. That is when I found out that Allstate will let you purchase an existing agency. For me this was a better option because I was able to purchase a couple hundred policies and kind of bypass that first year or two of starving. I didn't have any problems with Farmers, I just wasn't able to quit my full time job and do insurance. Buying an Allstate agency gave me enough money in renewals that I could afford to quit my job. Allstate also gives you some pretty big commissions during your first three years to help you get up and going (as much as 45%.) If you haven't made up your mind yet I would at least look into it. You might also speak with some agents (farmers, allstate, state farm, independent) in your area and see if they are hiring sales producers. That is another way to get into the business and see if it is right for you.

Good Luck

How much does it cost to buy into Allstate?

Matrix · 12-12-2008, 08:47 PM

I have been with Farmers for 10 years. My advice is to talk with 3 or 4 other Farmers agents in your area that have been with Farmers for 5 years or longer. And choose the agents you talk to on your own. If you ask your prospective "DM" for recommendations, he will only point you to the agents that will paint a rosey picture. You need to hear the whole picture, the good and the bad. It is not always rosey, believe me. The reason Farmers seem so eager to hire agents is because they have such a huge turnover. Out of 10 agents recruited, only about 3 make it two years into the program. That's about a 70% washout. So, be very careful, ask a lot of questions, and do your research. If it was such a great deal to be a Farmers agent, there would not be such a high dropout ratio. Also, ask the other Farmers agents you talk to how competitve Farmers rates are in your area. If they are not competitive, you will find yourself in a miserable situation 1 year down the road. Just my two cents. Right now, Farmers is in a cycle of not being competitive in many states, so it may not be the best time to start with them if you find this is the case in your area. Good luck in your research. BTW, I would stay away from Allstate. They pay the lowest commission in the business.