Insurance brokers and agents sell insurance to clients so that their cars,
property and even lives will be insured in the event of an accident or natural
disaster. Insurance means you will be financially compensated if something
awful happens.
"Insurance is designed to identify and protect assets. I get an opportunity
to help people secure their future and achieve their goals," says insurance
agent David Creighton.
Insurance agents and brokers help people and businesses insure themselves.
The agent or broker helps clients select the type of insurance that provides
the best protection for their lives, health and property.
They sell many different types of insurance. There is a type of insurance
for just about everything. Some of the more common types of insurance are
automobile, fire, health, property, casualty, travel, household and life insurance.
Agents may work for an insurance company or they may work as an independent
agent who sells for several companies. Brokers don't work for any particular
company. They are independent and work more directly for their clients. They
place insurance policies for their clients with the company that offers the
best rate and coverage.
How does an agent or broker know what kind of insurance is needed? They
discuss a client's needs with a client. This involves asking questions and
listening carefully to the answers. It may also involve assessing the financial
status of the client.
After this process, the agent or broker does some research into the different
types of policies available. Then the agent or broker meets with the client
again to give information about the policies. They may recommend a policy
or suggest how much insurance a client should have.
Agents and brokers also prepare reports, maintain records and assist their
clients in filing claims.
The most important skill for success in this field is excellent sales ability.
Your job will depend on it, say agents. They suggest you try out your sales
abilities in a retail job first to see if you enjoy sales work.
An insurance agent or broker's livelihood depends on their ability to make
contact with people. Therefore, you must be good at networking and working
with people.
"If you're able to master this part, companies and branch offices will
bend over backwards to help a new agent," says Diana Kiengersky. She is a
broker.
Employers want professional people as their agents.
"People don't buy insurance, they have to be sold on it. Trust is very
important," says agent Brian Moir.
Insurance brokers and agents work from a "home base" in an office. Yet
they spend a lot of time traveling to the homes and businesses of their clients.
They must arrange their working hours around the schedules of their customers.
That means a lot of evening and weekend appointments. Many agents work 40
to 60 hours a week.
Most brokers and agents work in large cities. While some work in the headquarters
of insurance companies, most work out of local company offices or smaller
branches.
Selling means communicating. There are no physical requirements other than
the ability to communicate effectively in spoken English. But selling isn't
as simple as it sounds.
"Rejection can be hard. You don't always have a victory for everything
you do," says Abby McDowell. She is an insurance agent.