What do independent insurance agents do?

Asked by: Darius Von  |  Last update: August 9, 2023
Score: 5/5 (5 votes)

What is an independent insurance agent? An independent agent works with multiple insurance companies to offer an entire suite of insurance products to meet consumer needs. Captive agents work with just one insurance company, offering only the products offered by that specific company.

What do insurance agents actually do?

Insurance agents sell and negotiate life, health, property, or other types of insurance to match the needs of their clients. As an insurance agent, you may work for an insurance company, refer clients to independent brokers, or work as an independent broker.

What are two advantages of working with an independent insurance agent?

This is arguably the most important benefit of working with an independent insurance agent.
  • Responsiveness. ...
  • Help Throughout the Claim Process. ...
  • Faster, More Efficient Insurance Claim Processing. ...
  • Better Communication. ...
  • Personalized Coverage Reviews. ...
  • Save Money. ...
  • Stay With a Trusted Choice As Your Needs Change.

What is the difference between an independent agent and a broker?

An insurance broker represents consumers in their search for coverage and can sell policies from several different insurance companies for a commission. Unlike captive and independent agents, who represent one or more insurance companies, a broker's primary duty is to the client.

What is an independent insurance?

An independent insurance agent represents multiple insurance carriers, typically offering consumers a choice of insurers, policies, and pricing. In general, independent insurance agents sell: Property insurance (such as homeowners, renters, and auto insurance) Life and health insurance.

How an Independent Insurance Agency Works

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Can I work for 2 different insurance companies?

Yes, you can write policies with more than one carrier, depending on the contract you set up with each carrier. Keep in mind that not all insurance providers allow their products to be sold with other insurance. GEICO and State Farm are good examples. They are both considered captive insurance agencies.

Is it better to be a captive or independent insurance agent?

Generally speaking, there isn't one better type of insurance agent. Whether you choose to work with a captive agent or an independent agent depends on you. The main benefit of working with a captive agent is that they have extensive knowledge of their insurers products and policies, because they have one carrier.

What type of insurance agent makes the most money?

Overview of the Insurance Field

While there are many kinds of insurance (ranging from auto insurance to health insurance), the most lucrative career in the insurance field is for those selling life insurance.

Why do insurance agents quit?

26.2% voted a lack of money for leads as their primary reason why they quit. Less important reasons agents quit selling insurance include running out of prospects, personal issues like health problems, and discovering the business wasn't a right fit.

Which insurance company pays highest commissions?

Comparing the commission payment with new business premium (FY 2021) shows that Max Life has the highest commission ratio at 18%, followed by LIC (12%) and ICICI Prudential Life (11.3%). The high commission payouts reflect the high dependence of life insurers on individual agents.

Which insurance company is best to be an agent for?

What are the best insurance companies for independent agents?
  • National General Insurance.
  • Nationwide Insurance.
  • Markel Insurance.
  • Progressive Insurance.
  • Selective Insurance.
  • The Hanover Group.
  • Travelers Insurance.
  • West Bend Mutual Insurance.

Which of the following is a potential advantage to using independent agents?

An independent agent can save your time and provide more options than you can find alone. Instead of filling out numerous forms on your own, you can get instant quotes from multiple companies to quickly make the best choice and get on with your life.

Why you should use an insurance agent?

With their connections and their knowledge of the market, agents can often find a better value for your insurance dollar than you might find searching on your own. Agents do the shopping. You do the saving. They find you the right blend of price, coverage, and service.

Why do insurance agents earn so much?

Because the amount of money insurance agents earn is comprised largely of commissions and bonuses, the number of sales an insurance agent makes is the biggest factor that contributes to the disparity between the highest and lowest paid of insurance agents.

How do insurance agents get paid?

When a policy is sold to you, an insurance agent earns a commission. Also, there are promised rewards that are paid over the commissions for the sales targets achieved by them. The new rule by Irdai could work in the interest of policyholders.

Is insurance a good career path?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , the job outlook for insurance sales agents is positive, with an estimated growth rate of 5% by 2030. This number amounts to 27,500 new jobs, marking a higher growth estimate than average for all occupations.

What percentage of insurance agents succeed?

More than 90% of new agents quit the business within the first year. The rate increases to greater than 95% when extended to five years.

What are the challenges of being an insurance agent?

Some of the more common challenges of being an insurance agent include:
  • Balancing Administrative/Operational Work With Sales.
  • Finding New Leads.
  • Getting Renewals.
  • Managing Changes in Customer Expectations.
  • Keeping Up With Technology.

Can you become a millionaire being a life insurance agent?

Is It Possible To Become A Millionaire Selling Insurance? A big yes. But like any other job, it takes time to be good at what you do and attain such income levels. Top agents earn anywhere between $100,000 to one million dollars.

How many policies does an insurance agent sell?

About on average 25 to 40 per month. 2.5 policies per month is the Official Number from the financial reports. But many people do it part time.

What is twisting in the insurance industry?

Twisting — the act of inducing or attempting to induce a policy owner to drop an existing life insurance policy and to take another policy that is substantially the same kind by using misrepresentations or incomplete comparisons of the advantages and disadvantages of the two policies.

Are Liberty Mutual agents captive?

Liberty Mutual sells commercial insurance only through independent agents and not directly to customers or through “captive” agents, who sell products from only one company.

How insurance is sold?

Insurance is generally bought directly through an insurer or through independent agents and commercial brokers who provide access to the products of several insurers. Direct writers dominate auto and homeowners insurance sales, while commercial insurance is more commonly purchased through independent agents or brokers.