Scroll down for a discussion on Becoming a State Farm Agent within the Getting Started Selling Insurance.
Greenman, good post. I'm curious, in your opinion, what's the main reason or reasons that people fail in the business ? StateFarm or otherwise.
The ...
Greenman, good post. I'm curious, in your opinion, what's the main reason or reasons that people fail in the business ? StateFarm or otherwise.
The reasons are many:
- Unrealistic expectations
- Want a job, not a business
- Suddenly need to pay bills (aka didn't have the capital to start)
- Was told they could make $X a year, didn't realize they would have to work at it.
Etc....
I'm not a State Farm agent, but I doubt in the end, the core reasons State Farm agents don't make it vary much from other agents. They are screened a bit better up front, which is good. They are still sent into the lion's den.
I've recently spoke with a State Farm recruiter. I am planning on trying to pursue the opportunity that State Farm has to offer...
What should I expect from this? Is there anyone that has had experience with this process? Does anyone have any advice regarding anything to do with becoming a State Farm agent such as likely hood of success, are the products competitive enough to sell without having to beg people, etc etc.
Sorry I'm so vague, I'm just kind of looking to find out anything and everything about this before I jump into this career change.
I've taken their first level exam and was told that I am not State Farm material. Not sure what they're looking for.
Hello all, new to the forums and first time posting. I have read this thread in its entirty on my blackberry so I have not been able to distinguish all the states the different posters are posting from because the flag sizes are very small.
TO QUOTE GREENMAN:
3. Don't rely on what the company tells you - on paper (income "projections") or verbally. Worst case for you? Waste a minimum of two years of your career, potentially go in debt, a big F for failin at the job permanently on your resume, may have a home to sell in a community you don't belong in. [COLOR=red]Worst case for SF? Um, next applicant - we've got a great opportunity for you....[/COLOR]
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Funny how people think SF has no investment in this or anything to lose.
Paying someone between 50k-150k during training, licensing the agents staff and paying their salary for 90 days while they train, giving a signing bonus, etc. is not much at stake I guess.
Bottom line: SF doesnt' make money by having agents not succeed. It wouldn't reach the Fortune 50 that way...just saying.
PS...Don't respond by saying I'm just a recruiter supporting SF. I'm just providing some balanced information.
28, MBA, not married - I say go for it.
After you get out from under their thumb, it's a good deal - not a great deal like it was 20 or 30 years ago, but a good deal.
This is where im at, (plenty of successful sales and Management skills, . Hate my JOB or JOBS that are out there to be had and wanting to settle into a career and nothing else would be condusive to my personality then having my own business/office.
I figure I have nothing to lose except credit if it all falls south. If It were easy then I guess everyone else would be doing it right? In life have to take risks, but granted i will be very weary of the contract when that time comes.
Funny how people think SF has no investment in this or anything to lose.
Paying someone between 50k-150k during training, licensing the agents staff and paying their salary for 90 days while they train, giving a signing bonus, etc. is not much at stake I guess.
Okay, I'm not with State Farm, so I might be speaking out of turn. Heck, I am speaking out of turn, but why would that stop me????
State Farm DOES have a commitment into an agent, as most P&C carriers do. The difference is the outcome when the agent doesn't make it. State Farm grew some policies at a very expensive rate. It does not threaten State Farms credit rating, status as a company, or the family of the owner of State Farm.
On the other hand, when an agent fails, it usually costs him a reasonable amount of money, threatens his credit rating, his livlihood and definitely has an impact on his (or her) family.
What's at stake for the 2 parties is drastically different.
I will say when I talked with State Farm about the 'opportunity', I was impressed with the support and training they offered. I did not get to see how that transacted into reality, but even thinking back on it, with all colored glasses removed, it appears they do a lot to get their agents started. At least as much, if not more, than other carriers. I have no real insite what happens after that step of getting the doors open.
I think state farm is looking for the manager type... not true entrepeneurs... managers to do it "their way good". if you are the employee type then state farm would be a good fit for you. if you are a free thinking entrepeneur then go independent.
Just my opinion
Greed IS good. But only in moderation. If greed is not the problem at State Farm then the problem no doubt, is mismanagement. Regardless, the problem comes from corporate and not its current or past agents.
Your post seems to summarize and be in line with alot of the other posts about selling life and the afe's not being out to get you but not necessarily being there to help you. (in a concise 1 post manner)
As a literaly an external candidate and figuretively an internal canidate that is doing my due diligence I appreciate the post above to not be a deterrence from trying to break into this business but an eye opener and beware of the dog sign making sure I know what im getting myself into.
Legion - while what you say is mostly true, it's also tired, tired general information in the agency force. Stop with the dramatics about getting fired - there's nothing in your post that's either new and certainly not anything that isn't true in all of corporate America. Let's see, your four uber-secrets are - drum roll -
1. You have to be able to sell the company's most profitable product - in our case life insurance.
2. It's who you are and who you know.
3. It's always going to be who you are and who you know.
And the final shocker.....
4. People employed by the company preach the company gospel.
If you are currently inside of a paper bag trying to figure out how to escape, the enlightment from Legion's post may well blind you. If, on the other hand, you have an IQ of 45 or higher, everything should be self-evident.
Sorry bud, but you are a few decades late with your "news" - and if you think you can get fired for actually putting into words what is being discussed in operations centers, AFO's and agent meetings all over the country - you should go shopping for extra nice panties this weekend, because it sounds like you are someone's beeeotch!
...and grab a towel for behind your ears - seems a little wet back there.
Have a good one.
Greenman, I am not a SF agent and have no interest in becoming one but your response to Legion seems a bit testy. Did he touch a nerve or is in my imagination?
Here are the things that some people don't realize when they first become a TICA State Farm agent. I could literally be fired for revealing this small facts, but I feel it is important for agency candidates to know the "rules" of the game so they are in the best position to succeed. It is best for the company, and better for the candidates.
1) Sell lots and lots of life insurance or you are fired. Minimum of 80 apps issued your first year, with enough premium to travel. No matter what other positive things you do, if you DON'T qualify to "travel." You are fired--next contestant please. (Don't say no one told you.)
2) There are two unwritten tracks into agency. Those candidates who come from INSIDE the company (internal candidates) and those who come from OUTSIDE the company (external candidates). The best books of business will never be posted--they go to managers who are "returning to service" to enjoy the sweet life of huge renewal checks of the fattest and biggest books in town. The rich do get richer. (This is neither fair, nor unfair. It is just the way it is.) The good to moderate books, even if they are posted, will go to those on an inside track. Somebody from a mid-level Fire Company management job. Somebody whose daddy is a big agent. Somebody who works in an AFO. Lastly, what remains are the picked over books from some crummy agents who let their books deteriorate over time and finally hung up their spurs. OR sometimes, there will be a book like that, only a previous new agent worked it so hard and squeezed every life policy out of it so he or she could then jump into management that there is not much left for the next newbie.
Of the new agents who fail, they are almost exclusively and always external candidates. (Probably because they don't know the things in this posting.)
3) Don't count on any more "assignments". Don't suck up to try to get more assignments. Don't complain when you don't get assignments. Just know that assignments go to the chosen ones--normally buddies of the AFE from "back in the day" or someone who has dirt on the AFE that the E wants to keep quiet or someone the E owes a big favor to for getting the E on an exotic trip. Don't delude yourself into thinking, "Gosh, if I work real hard, and drink the kool-aide, and travel now and then, my E will like me and give me a good chunk of policies." You will be disappointed and bitter. You could get lucky and get some assignments of policies, but if you start doing tricks thinking you are owed policies, you will be very bitter when they don't come (because they won't).
4) Your managers (AFC and AFE) are not there to be your business consultants. If you want business advice (and you should) go pay a small fee and get it independently from a third party. Your C and E are there to get you to sell whatever upper management tells them to get you to sell. (First of all, Life). Many managers are nice people. Many were agents at one time (however, it is startling how more and more new managers jumped out of agency after only one or two years). Be nice to your manager--he or she has a family and is a more good than bad. But if you think that your nice manager is there to truly help you with your business, and you rely on your manager for help with your business, you will be very disappointed when their answer to every problem you have is "Sell more life insurance" or "Hire more people to sell more life insurance".
That's it. Four simple truths that would get me fired if my name was found out.
If you are an internal candidate, you already know all this and are pissed off that I put it on the table. Too bad. Call me a liar if you can. BUT if you are an EXTERNAL candidate, or are thinking of becoming and EXTERNAL candidate, you now have no excuses for failure. You know the game. You know the rules. You know the truth. If you can take on a mediocre book of business that people on the inside did not want, and if you can push a LOT of life insurance (and win some trips) WHILE you also try to grow your business, you will be just fine. In fact, you will be a much tougher and smarter SOB than many of the internals who walked into a book of business twice the size of yours and just had to turn the lights on. Take pride in that.
However, if you DON'T think you can deal with items 1-4 above, or you don't think it's "fair", then you will be miserable if you become a new agent and will likely fail. And if for some reason you didn't fail in your first year, you will spend all your following days whining about how "unfair" the company is. Either way, now you now have no excuses.
Please post replies if you think I am correct, or incorrect. If you know who I am, because there are a lot of lurkers on this site, don't "out" me or in any way recognize me.
What you said is very true, not just for State Farm, but probably every captive company around. You complete the core 'training' phase of your career, then tend to sit back. Then realize, oops, need to keep going at full speed.
Actually, this tends to be true in life. Hit a major milestone, you want to catch your breath.
Based upon the information contained in this thread why would anyone want to be a State Farm agent under the current set up???? I would much prefer to start with an INDY agency, learn the business, and then go Indy. Based upon what little I know isn't working with American Family or Nationwide a better deal?
Here are the things that some people don't realize when they first become a TICA State Farm agent. I could literally be fired for revealing this small facts, but I feel it is important for agency candidates to know the "rules" of the game so they are in the best position to succeed. It is best for the company, and better for the candidates.
1) Sell lots and lots of life insurance or you are fired. Minimum of 80 apps issued your first year, with enough premium to travel. No matter what other positive things you do, if you DON'T qualify to "travel." You are fired--next contestant please. (Don't say no one told you.)
2) There are two unwritten tracks into agency. Those candidates who come from INSIDE the company (internal candidates) and those who come from OUTSIDE the company (external candidates). The best books of business will never be posted--they go to managers who are "returning to service" to enjoy the sweet life of huge renewal checks of the fattest and biggest books in town. The rich do get richer. (This is neither fair, nor unfair. It is just the way it is.) The good to moderate books, even if they are posted, will go to those on an inside track. Somebody from a mid-level Fire Company management job. Somebody whose daddy is a big agent. Somebody who works in an AFO. Lastly, what remains are the picked over books from some crummy agents who let their books deteriorate over time and finally hung up their spurs. OR sometimes, there will be a book like that, only a previous new agent worked it so hard and squeezed every life policy out of it so he or she could then jump into management that there is not much left for the next newbie.
Of the new agents who fail, they are almost exclusively and always external candidates. (Probably because they don't know the things in this posting.)
3) Don't count on any more "assignments". Don't suck up to try to get more assignments. Don't complain when you don't get assignments. Just know that assignments go to the chosen ones--normally buddies of the AFE from "back in the day" or someone who has dirt on the AFE that the E wants to keep quiet or someone the E owes a big favor to for getting the E on an exotic trip. Don't delude yourself into thinking, "Gosh, if I work real hard, and drink the kool-aide, and travel now and then, my E will like me and give me a good chunk of policies." You will be disappointed and bitter. You could get lucky and get some assignments of policies, but if you start doing tricks thinking you are owed policies, you will be very bitter when they don't come (because they won't).
4) Your managers (AFC and AFE) are not there to be your business consultants. If you want business advice (and you should) go pay a small fee and get it independently from a third party. Your C and E are there to get you to sell whatever upper management tells them to get you to sell. (First of all, Life). Many managers are nice people. Many were agents at one time (however, it is startling how more and more new managers jumped out of agency after only one or two years). Be nice to your manager--he or she has a family and is a more good than bad. But if you think that your nice manager is there to truly help you with your business, and you rely on your manager for help with your business, you will be very disappointed when their answer to every problem you have is "Sell more life insurance" or "Hire more people to sell more life insurance".
That's it. Four simple truths that would get me fired if my name was found out.
If you are an internal candidate, you already know all this and are pissed off that I put it on the table. Too bad. Call me a liar if you can. BUT if you are an EXTERNAL candidate, or are thinking of becoming and EXTERNAL candidate, you now have no excuses for failure. You know the game. You know the rules. You know the truth. If you can take on a mediocre book of business that people on the inside did not want, and if you can push a LOT of life insurance (and win some trips) WHILE you also try to grow your business, you will be just fine. In fact, you will be a much tougher and smarter SOB than many of the internals who walked into a book of business twice the size of yours and just had to turn the lights on. Take pride in that.
However, if you DON'T think you can deal with items 1-4 above, or you don't think it's "fair", then you will be miserable if you become a new agent and will likely fail. And if for some reason you didn't fail in your first year, you will spend all your following days whining about how "unfair" the company is. Either way, now you now have no excuses.
Please post replies if you think I am correct, or incorrect. If you know who I am, because there are a lot of lurkers on this site, don't "out" me or in any way recognize me.
You are stating the obvious and are not going to get fired for it.
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Re: Becoming a State Farm Agent
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