Hi All - Another Possible Career Changer Here

argyle · 11-08-2009, 10:12 PM

Wanted to introduce myself to all of you! I have been reading through forums for the past few hours (it's addicting!) and am really impressed by this site. Here's why I am lurking this site:

I am currently in Real Estate sales but have become a bit disillusioned given the current market. Have recently been shopping for new auto and health insurance and have been talking with several agents and I became interested in exploring selling insurance as a new career. Several of my colleagues have become licensed and seem excited about the industry as a whole. That's refreshing considering the amount of negativity that is surrounding us in this Real Estate market on a daily basis (from buyers, sellers and agents!).

What are the skills you need to be successful in this business? How do choose your area of specialty? If you are working at it full time, how long does it take to make a decent income ($50K)?

I am looking forward to reading more and getting to know all of you!

Oh, and I am in Orange County, CA. If there is anyone who can recommend a great insurance agent for auto and health, please let me know!
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Also, is your job fulfilling? Do you like what you are doing? What do you like about it?

argyle · 11-09-2009, 11:38 PM

Can I get a welcome?

wstcst1 · 11-09-2009, 11:45 PM

Welcome to the forum--- I am sure you will find all your answers here--- read and read

xrac · 11-10-2009, 05:37 AM

Welcome! Join the other 1,000 realtors on this forum who have went into insurance. 90% of them were in California!

argyle · 11-10-2009, 07:32 PM

@xrac: LOL. I knew they were many but 1000? That's gotta be more than the number who went into doing loan mods.

How did you select what area of insurance to get into?

GAHEALTH · 11-10-2009, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by argyle

Wanted to introduce myself to all of you! I have been reading through forums for the past few hours (it's addicting!) and am really impressed by this site. Here's why I am lurking this site:

I am currently in Real Estate sales but have become a bit disillusioned given the current market. Have recently been shopping for new auto and health insurance and have been talking with several agents and I became interested in exploring selling insurance as a new career. Several of my colleagues have become licensed and seem excited about the industry as a whole. That's refreshing considering the amount of negativity that is surrounding us in this Real Estate market on a daily basis (from buyers, sellers and agents!).

What are the skills you need to be successful in this business? How do choose your area of specialty? If you are working at it full time, how long does it take to make a decent income ($50K)?

I am looking forward to reading more and getting to know all of you!

Oh, and I am in Orange County, CA. If there is anyone who can recommend a great insurance agent for auto and health, please let me know!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Also, is your job fulfilling? Do you like what you are doing? What do you like about it?

What is your passion? Do you have a specific area you would want to focus on? I would think if you have a large network of past clients that you could reach out to them with Life insurance to help cover the asset you sold them..

xrac · 11-10-2009, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by argyle

@xrac: LOL. I knew they were many but 1000? That's gotta be more than the number who went into doing loan mods.

How did you select what area of insurance to get into?

Maybe 1,000 is an exaggeration but there are a lot. Like most people I have stumbled around and made a lot of mistakes. I think the fastest market to make inroads in is seniors.

arnguy · 11-10-2009, 08:33 PM

Just what we need----another insurance agent. However, welcome!

argyle · 11-10-2009, 10:14 PM

@arnguy: i'm not an agent yet. just researching to see what i would be getting into.

@xrac: i don't know many seniors. are you talking about inroads selling life insurance?

I would love to know that my work is actually helping people. whether it's by saving them money, educating them or helping them move closer to reaching their financial goals.

The frustrating thing about real estate is everyone says that everyone is your client. but if only 25% of those you prospect can actually buy (and 25% is being generous) and out of that 25% the banks may not even do the loan when you get to the end of the deal... well, your chances of making an income are pretty slim at the end of the day.

And beyond that the actual job satisfaction isn't so high. i can't remember a day when i actually said, "i love my job."

I've been reading and reading as wstcst1 said. for a new agent would you recommend getting trained at bigger company (met, mass mutual, etc.) first?

So here i am, looking at career change. thanks for welcome everyone!