Ask Your Peers - New Agent here. Needs Advice by Brian Damron

1
2
3
4
5

Brian Damron, Broadway Insurance Company - Honolulu, HI 96808

Reputation: 20 - Total posts: 2

I am relatively new to the industry and want to break into as many markets as possible. Anyone seeing a new market that may be on the cusp of exploding into the next big thing. Knowing what you know now are there any industries that you wish you had focused on?

Thanks in advance,
Brian

12 year(s) 7 month(s) ago

This content has not been rated yet.

Richard Look, Vertibrands, Inc. - West Chester, PA 19380

1
2
3
4
5

0 Verified Reviews - 0 of 5.0

Richard Look, Vertibrands, Inc. - West Chester, PA 19380

Reputation: 137 - Total posts: 20

Brian, best of luck to you. I'm not an agent but my firm created a tool called CAST (Customized Agency Sales Tools) that allows our clients (most of whom are Program Managers) the ability to provide any licensed retail producer with the ability to personalize their sales materials. There are a couple dozen specialty industries from golf courses and public entities to security guards and nursing homes. Each features a program brand (versus company brand) that enables YOU to look like a specialist in any one of these specialty industries. You can easily buy local business lists through InfoUSA (or other list broker) and mail a cover letter with the sell sheet showing your contact info printed directly on the sell sheet. Visit http://www.vertibrands.com/CAST and create a new profile for yourself. Select a Program Manager by name, or select "Meet the CAST" for a full view. This is FREE to retail producers and you can save PDFs right to your computer. There is a nominal printing cost should you request digital prints mailed to your office for presentation purposes. Hope you find this helpful.

Richard Look
Vertibrands

12 year(s) 7 month(s) ago

This content has not been rated yet.

Bruce Elfenbein, SeemanHoltz - Hollywood, FL 33020

1
2
3
4
5

0 Verified Reviews - 0 of 5.0

Bruce Elfenbein, SeemanHoltz - Hollywood, FL 33020

Reputation: 5 - Total posts: 1

Brian

Welcome aboard! You are embarking on a career with unlimited potential for both financial and emotional satisfaction. There are plenty of great markets out there, and I completely understand your desire to be all things to all people. It is tempting when you see so many ways you can help people. My advice: avoid that temptation.

Let's think about it this way. When you go for a checkup, or you're not feeling well, you go to your family doctor. But when there is something REALLY wrong with you, you go to a specialist. You need to become that specialist, regardless of what it is.

Find the field that interests you...is it long term care, family protection, retirement, disability, Medicare, or any other field. Study it. become the expert. make yourself referrable, the "go to" guy in that field.

Don't worry about what's "hot" right now. This is a long term commitment on your part. Become the best you can be, build your book of business, and have a happy and fruitful career.

Wishing you the best of success,

Bruce Elfenbein

12 year(s) 7 month(s) ago

This content has not been rated yet.

Joseph Deutsch, Ranch and Coast Insurance Services - Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

1
2
3
4
5

0 Verified Reviews - 0 of 5.0

Joseph Deutsch, Ranch and Coast Insurance Services - Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

Reputation: 29 - Total posts: 2

Brian,

Great choice of career and if you continue to work hard, renew your zeal, and focus on what interests you most you will do just fine. I will mirror a little bit of what Bruce is saying as far as don't try to do it all. Rather, find what your passion in life is and what really makes you tick and then research the people in that market that would be potential clients for the needs that are not being met with efficiency. Drill down on what matters most to you and where you can make an impact the most and you will be successful. The old adage, "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care", rings true still.

As far as the "next big thing", there are so many things that change frequently in the world of insurance that as soon as you find something really works well and is almost too good to be true it is usually discontinued or altered within the next year. You'll constantly be chasing the next thing and some of that is just part of what we do, but if you work with people that you know, like, trust, and are like you then you won't be so easily burned out when change makes things difficult.

May you be wildly successful and find a release for you passion in life within the industry!

Best wishes,
Joe Deutsch

12 year(s) 7 month(s) ago

This content has not been rated yet.

cheryl cannon, kohlhase insurance - Mesa, AZ 85205

1
2
3
4
5

0 Verified Reviews - 0 of 5.0

cheryl cannon, kohlhase insurance - Mesa, AZ 85205

Reputation: 5 - Total posts: 1

no one answered your question and I have the same question.

12 year(s) 7 month(s) ago

This content has not been rated yet.

1
2
3
4
5

0 Verified Reviews - 0 of 5.0

Brian Damron, Broadway Insurance Company - Honolulu, HI 96808

Reputation: 20 - Total posts: 2

Bruce, I like your comments. I see myself specializing in something that interests me as well as has growth potential. One area I have always been excited about is Maritime risks. That is actually how I found CompleteMarkets on a Google search. It seems, from what I have read, that this is a good site for searching wholesaler's that write for specialty risks.

12 year(s) 7 month(s) ago

This content has not been rated yet.

Angela Smucker, Central Texas Independent Insurance Agency - Austin, TX 78747

1
2
3
4
5

0 Verified Reviews - 0 of 5.0

Angela Smucker, Central Texas Independent Insurance Agency - Austin, TX 78747

Reputation: 17 - Total posts: 1

Brian,

If you want specific suggestions, you need to provide more information. Are you leaning toward L & H, P & C, personal, commercial? Are you more comfortable with personal business or commercial? With these specifics, I can guide you somewhat. Otherwise, I suggest that ALL new agents join a professional association AND become active. The top sellers who attend those meetings will be happy to provide support for you. I am talking about either your local NAIFA group or the independent insurance agents of your state. It is not necessary to reinvent the wheel. The BIG BOYS are not intimidated by competition and will usually gladly speak with you about what works.

Angie

12 year(s) 7 month(s) ago

This content has not been rated yet.

Larry Lipman, LarryLipman - Woodland, CA 95776

1
2
3
4
5

0 Verified Reviews - 0 of 5.0

Larry Lipman, LarryLipman - Woodland, CA 95776

Reputation: 180 - Total posts: 15

I have a theory that I call Focused Selling. I think it would help you. First, make a list of things YOU are interested in or better yet, know about.
2nd, make a list of all the customers your agency has that match up with you list...these can become referenceable customers.
3rd, find out which carriers they have and which carriers focus on that market. Get in contact with them and find out what else they can offer..what things do they do which are unique or extra.
4th, make your list of all the customers/prospects that fall into that category. Put together a pitch or a flyer on what it is you're offering and why it's different, why it is important and why it is better than anything out there. Then get on the damn phone and call. There's no substitute to calling and being told no! (and why they say no). It's the "Yes's" that make your day and your livelihood.
I could expand on all the above for days, but it would cost you more money than you have and more time than I have.
Good luck!

12 year(s) 5 month(s) ago

This content has not been rated yet.

Bill Korfker, Grand General Agency - Grandville, MI 49418

1
2
3
4
5

0 Verified Reviews - 0 of 5.0

Bill Korfker, Grand General Agency - Grandville, MI 49418

Reputation: 805 - Total posts: 88

Hi Brian!

I liked Bruce's comments about becoming a specialist. In some niches, it might work great for you to only work in that pariticular niche. More proable, you will specialize in one, but still provide others as well. Two areas that a lot of agents shy away from are flood insurance and vacant property. While we may be past the recession that caused a big swell in the need for vacant coverage, the need will always be there on both the commercial and personal lines side of things.

Depending on your area, the need for flood insurance could be huge, or nearly non existent, based on how many communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The beauty is, you can write flood insurance nationwide without needed non residence licenses for every state. If you are open to online marketing, and getting referrals directly from FEMA, your expertise can be provided to clients from all over.

If you become known as the expert in either, or both, of these areas, you may be surprised at how many referrals you can actually get from other agents who just don't want to deal with these particular exposures.

My wholesale agency, Grand General Agency, writes a lot of both of these types of coverages and would love to help you out if you need it. Check out our information on Complete Markets, or on our website, www.thehelpfulpeople.com

12 year(s) 5 month(s) ago

1 Verified Reviews - 5 of 5.0

Ask Your Peers New Agent here. Needs Advice (Closed)