Greetings, I am new to the P and C world, just passed my test last week. And I am confused about where to get started. I already have my Life, health, and Sickness License and I really dont want to go captive with Allstate, Statefarm, etc because I still want to be able to serve my LHS(life, health and sickness) clients. I am in Ga, by the way. MY question is how do I start off as an Independent agent?, how profitable will it be to be an independent P&C agent working from home? I heard its better to be in a office vs. working from home in the PC world. I have been scouting independent agencys but have not had any luck. I am signed up with AFLAC but they meet more then a cult, is it worth it? Where would I start as far getting companies that are independent? I have been selling LHS for 2 yrs now, and its ok but the FMO I was with were basicly scam artists that allmost put a bad taste in my mouth for insurance period. If anyone could offer advice, know off anyone that they could refer me to, or even be a mentor it would be GREATLY appreciated.....Please help!!!!!!
Congratulations on passing the exam, here in Pa that seems to be the toughest part of becoming an agent.
Finding someone who will allow you to represent them is the second hardest.
I'd venture a guess that talking to some of the captive companies would be your best bet. St Farm, Allstate, etc. They'll give you supporting life, health lines to companion your P & C clients with and field support when you need it.
Its hard to find a company that will appoint you without a storefront, a book of business, and a solid lead source. I'd check with someone like SmartChoice, Iroquois Group, or SIAA
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Half the people you know are below average.
I have checked with state farm, and allstate and they both wont start up capital up front of $50,000. (don't have ) I went online to Iroquois group and you have to be established already. I emailed SIAA, and will call Smart Choice tommorrow. Thanks for the advice so far. SO now I passed the test but have no one to fill out the sponsership!!!!!!! This is so frustrating, I thought I was making the right decision but now????
50K up front money $ Obviously, they have a pretty high opinion of themselves. Years ago, we had some small agent "cluster" groups around who would sign independants on and let them write business. Maybe SIAA and Smart Choice are the clusters of today ? Really don't know about that.
50K up front money $ Obviously, they have a pretty high opinion of themselves. Years ago, we had some small agent "cluster" groups around who would sign independants on and let them write business. Maybe SIAA and Smart Choice are the clusters of today ? Really don't know about that.
I'm not familiar with the $50K requirement, but with State Farm I'm sure that is to get your office up and running (i.e., you are investing in your own company, not in State Farm). They seem to like offices that have their name on it to have a certain professional appearance.
In addition, they tend to provide a book of business. Now its theirs, not yours, but you get the income from it, so it makes this investment a bit more worthwhile.
All that said, there are some other threads that imply that while StateFarm is a great company with solid insurance products, may not be the place to be as a new agent, due to some additional onnerous requirements.
Its me again, thanks for the info...FYI:
I went on the farmers website and beleive it or not they are not in GA...Go figure? So how really good is SIAA and SmartChoice? I have contacted SmartChoice 3 weeks ago and still no call backs...
I have checked with state farm, and allstate and they both wont start up capital up front of $50,000. (don't have ) I went online to Iroquois group and you have to be established already. I emailed SIAA, and will call Smart Choice tommorrow. Thanks for the advice so far. SO now I passed the test but have no one to fill out the sponsership!!!!!!! This is so frustrating, I thought I was making the right decision but now????
Smart Choice will give you 6 months from home. I signed with them, and to satisfy their office requirement, I purchased month to month space in a real estate office. (Tons of space in those offices right now) Desk, Lights, Internet, Conference Room, Break Room, and Signage for $500 a month.
Smart Choice will give you 6 months from home. I signed with them, and to satisfy their office requirement, I purchased month to month space in a real estate office. (Tons of space in those offices right now) Desk, Lights, Internet, Conference Room, Break Room, and Signage for $500 a month.
So how are you doing with them? Did you sign a franchise agreement or agent?
So how are you doing with them? Did you sign a franchise agreement or agent?
I signed an agency agreement. The franchise agreement didn't make sense. Lack of brand name, and I did not want to spend my money promoting their name. My pervious life I was a financial advisor, so the P&C angle is great for me to go after the other financial business. I believe the P&C intro is a lot easier to make a relationship with someone. Its a lot easier then talking someone into giving you 1 million dollars to invest. I am starting within a week or so, still waiting for some of my appointments. So far they have been very helpful, and they haven't "managed" me at all... They dont make money unless I do.. so I like the relationship, we are both on the same side of the commissions. Since they take some of my commission on the first 50k, my objective is to get them to activate as many appointments in my state as possible. That way I believe they earn their money. As a start up agent I can have access to many carriers without quotas.
I signed an agency agreement. The franchise agreement didn't make sense. Lack of brand name, and I did not want to spend my money promoting their name. My pervious life I was a financial advisor, so the P&C angle is great for me to go after the other financial business. I believe the P&C intro is a lot easier to make a relationship with someone. Its a lot easier then talking someone into giving you 1 million dollars to invest. I am starting within a week or so, still waiting for some of my appointments. So far they have been very helpful, and they haven't "managed" me at all... They dont make money unless I do.. so I like the relationship, we are both on the same side of the commissions. Since they take some of my commission on the first 50k, my objective is to get them to activate as many appointments in my state as possible. That way I believe they earn their money. As a start up agent I can have access to many carriers without quotas.
Thank you I hope your successful. I've had a P&C license for 4 years and have nothing to show for it. I am a captive life and health agent thinking of going independent, but after reading quite a few of the p&c posts and knowing it takes sometime to build anything I'm dragging my feet. I'm quite a bit older and don't know if I have the motivation anymore.
Superior Access is a decent suggestion, as someone above noted. Be aware that if you ever quit paying them you lose your future commissons. That is my understanding, anyway.
Go to www.iiaba.com and search for independents in your area. Call and visit with the owner, or personally stop by. Quiz them. Ask questions. Maybe they bring on newbies and do a fair commission split.
If those two suggestions do not work, the captive route may be the alternative.
With Superior Access you would not lose your future commission. This is how it works while the agent is a subscriber. 100% of the standard carrier commission on personal lines business and up to 80% of the standard carrier commission on commercial lines business. Once the service is cancelled the agent is paid 50% of commission on policies left with Superior Access. Hope this clears this up.
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