A Day
in the Life of the Successful Insurance Agent
As multi-talented individuals with a bend toward
sales and marketing, winning insurance agents wear many different hats.
Besides being consummate salespersons, successful producers diligently
seek out and serve customers with loving attention and an eye for detail.
Setting the Stage
With more than 2 million workers in the insurance
industry, the successful agent in this competitive market must work
hard and remain diligent and committed.
The best insurance agents are achievement-oriented,
independent, focused and self-motivated. In fact, one in four successful
agents chooses self-employment because of the freedom to come and go,
work self-sufficiently, and creatively market and sell policies and
products.
Plying the Trade
While most insurance providers consider a small
office of some sort home base, many spend much of their time traveling
locally to meet with potential or existing clients, closing sales, and
doing reviews.
Agents generally determine their own working hours,
but often are constrained by the schedules of prospective clients. The
typical full-time insurance agent’s works 40-60 hours per week, and
often participate in community activities.
Getting "A-Head"
It is the job of insurance providers to help individuals,
families and businesses select insurance policies that provide the best
protection for their lives, health and property.
On a typical day an agent might:
-
Spend time networking
and prospecting new customers
-
Meet with or call
potential clients to review or advise them on coverage
-
Offer clients comprehensive
financial planning services
-
Quote new policies
and service existing policies
-
Prepare reports
and maintain sales records
Because most agents work on commission, networking
and pursuing new customers takes up the majority of their time. However,
the typical agent's day also involves many, much more detailed tasks.
As experts in one of three major areas: life, health,
or property and casualty insurance, most producers attend to the fine
points daily by:
-
Selling various
types of insurance policies
-
Interviewing prospective
clients about their financial needs and resources; the physical
condition of the person or property to be insured, and any existing
coverage
-
Explaining features,
advantages and disadvantages of various policies
-
Customizing policies
to suit customers
-
Delivering policies
and answering questions; suggesting additions or changes, or changing
beneficiaries
-
Calculating premiums
and establishing payment methods
-
Making sure policy
requirements are fulfilled, including necessary forms completed.
-
Contacting underwriters
and submitting forms for binder coverage
-
Conferring with
clients to obtain information in the event of a claim
Picturing Success
The roles of a successful insurance agent are numerous.
In order to build a reliable client base and gain financial success
and independence, agents must focus on the details, listen to client
concerns, and serve customer needs effectively.
Using adeptness in sales, marketing, customer service
and time-management, skillful salespeople can successfully wear the
many hats of a dedicated insurance agent. All it takes is a little flexibility,
enthusiasm, confidence, discipline—and hard work!
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