Independent insurance agents are depended upon by the insurance industry. The insurance industry is always looking for skilled agents that are able to help people both determine and purchase policies for all of their insurance needs; including:

• Life and Health
• Homeowners Insurance
• Auto Insurance
• Many other types…

You’ll find that a lot of agents are going to be employed directly by the insurance that will sell usually just within a specific area of insurance; such as, property and casualty. Many experts though and even new agents will prefer to work as an independent insurance agent.

The independent insurance agent will research all of the above mentioned types of policies and more to research and find multiple quotes to ensure that their client gets the right amount of coverage for the best possible pricing; which is known as the premium.

As an independent insurance agent will do multiple things like:

• Advertise Services
• Meet with insurance company representatives; (networking)
• Meet With Insured’s and Potential Insured’s
• Sell Polices
• Help File and Settle Claims for Insured’s

You’ll find that independent insurance agents are sometimes referred to as insurance brokers; however, this isn’t the case as much anymore as they are all being put in the same category as agent; just one works for and sells for a specific insurance company while the other works independently at an outside agency or on their own.

Getting the Background

Independent insurance professionals will market their services to both individuals and businesses through the means of placing advertisements in:

• Newspaper Advertisements
• Local Publications
• Online
• Networking with Companies and Other Agents

When the agent is hired by the client they will in a way interview their client to be able to gather personal information that will be needed in order to get them policy quotes. This information is going to include things like their age, health history as well as their previously held policies.

In addition they are going to ask the clients personal preferences when it comes to things like the maximum rate they are willing to pay and more. Using information gathered they will work to find all of the potential policies that will fit into the requirements from the client and find their client the best possible policy for the best possible price and hopefully sell the policy and turn the client into an insured.

Policy and Claims

After choosing the policy the agent is going to ensure all of the paperwork is filled out correctly and will record all of the details about the policy sale. They will handle any more questions about the policy decisions at that time in addition to being available into the future.

If a claim ever has to be filed on the policy the agent is usually always going to be the first contact when the claim has to be filed. Often the agent will call in the claim for the insured; especially if it is a bad loss like a death or a severe damage or the insured is distraught. They will also work to help their client/the insured to understand the process of the claim and are their representative to make sure that they receive a far assessment and receive their compensation.

Salary

When the independent agent works freelance they are working on a commission only basis; the more you sell the more you will make. You can expect to work some odd hours on some days in order to meet the needs of clients and you can expect to sometimes have to do a lot of travelling the more diversified out your client base is; as well as meeting with some of the industry representatives.

If you work at a brokerage or for a small agency you might get a small salary but your main pay will still come through commission. An insurance sales job is a very “pay for performance” type of a job. It’s an incentive to sell, sell, sell and sell more.

Education and Licensing Requirements

In order to become an insurance agent the person must meet the educational and state licensing requirements. Though not required to obtain a job or get your license it will help your career if you have acquired one of the following degrees or obtain other skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Finance Background
• Business Administration
• Related Field

The insurance tests are going to go over knowledge of the local insurance laws, ethics, types of policies, etc… The requirements are going to vary on your state so it is best that you get in touch with your states insurance commissioner’s office and find out everything that you’ll need to know and do in order to obtain a license in your state.