People have all kinds of ideas about what it's like to work in insurance. But those ideas can be misconceptions or based on outdated information. Get the straight facts from our guide and you may reconsider a future in this field.
1. Fiction: Working in Insurance Is Boring
Fact: Working in insurance isn’t just about writing policies and calculating premiums. It’s a field where you can make a difference, become a valued member of your community and build your own business with no limits on your earning potential.
Insurance agents are entrepreneurs, and successful agents don’t sit behind their desks all day. They’re out meeting with clients, gathering prospects and supporting local businesses.
2. Fiction: Working in Insurance Is All About the Income
Fact: Many Farm Bureau insurance agents are financially successful. But they are also there for their clients when disaster strikes. Plus, insurance agents take part in a variety of different volunteer activities, from promoting food bank drives to coaching youth sports to supporting local farmers’ markets. Insurance agents can make giving back and connecting with others a key part of their work.
3. Fiction: The Internet Is Taking Away Insurance Work
Fact: You might think that people are buying insurance online instead of working with an agent. That may be true in some cases, but many people would rather work with a local agent who they know and trust.
When you connect with clients in your community, you can get to know them, understand their concerns and recommend coverage that meets their needs. You can help them understand what their insurance needs are and what steps they need to take to protect their families and livelihoods. A website can hardly offer that level of personalized service.
4. Fiction: New Agents Can’t Compete Against Established Agents
Fact: Insurance is becoming a more diverse and inclusive field, and soft skills like teamwork and communication are in demand. The different talents new agents bring to the field may attract new clients. And younger people who need insurance for their first cars and houses and starting businesses may prefer to work with an agent closer to their own age.
Plus, when you’re thinking about how to get into the insurance industry, you don’t necessarily have to compete against established agents. You may want to partner with a more experienced agent for a few years, learn the business from an established business owner and then arrange to run the business yourself when the older agent retires.
5. Fiction: Working in Insurance Is Risky
Fact: Working in insurance can provide stability. The insurance industry has a reputation for being recession-proof since even in tough economic times people and businesses need insurance. Many Farm Bureau insurance agents work as financial advisors as well, and being involved in both fields can provide additional protection against downturns in the economy.
Are You Interested in Learning More About Becoming an Agent?
Farm Bureau agents take pride in their work, connect with their communities and run their own businesses with support from a company that’s been a leader in the insurance industry for decades. If that sounds like a match for you, reach out for more information.