Take a few minutes to think back over what’s happened in your life and work over the past four years. Has the time gone by quickly, or do the weeks and months seem to drag? Was it mostly good times or bad? Do you feel you’ve made solid progress toward your goals, or is your job holding you back?
Now, imagine where you’ll be professionally in another four years. How does that future look? If you think that your current job might not have you on the path you want, now may be the time to make a change.
Discover how the life of a Farm Bureau agent evolves from year one to year four, and hear from agents themselves on how that time has changed their lives.
The Life of an Insurance Agent: Years 1 to 3
As you build your foundation as an insurance agent, you’ll create a knowledge base that will start you on the path to success. So, what happens in your early years?
You Work With a District Manager to Get Started
Working with your district manager is vital to getting a firm start in your business and your community. Your district manager is your mentor and your “go-to” person for best practices with sales, marketing and running your business. Their perspective is vital, because they can help you identify areas where you’re successful, and those where you need to learn and grow.
“Mentoring is huge within Farm Bureau,” says Utah agent Bruce Jones. “Talk with your [district] manager and other agents to find out what’s working for them.”
You Grow Your Curiosity
Being curious and asking questions is important. That’s how you can truly understand how to help solve your clients’ problems. Do your homework and don’t be afraid to ask the right questions. You may uncover gaps in their coverage, and they’ll be thankful you spotted them and recommended solutions if the unexpected happens.
As you familiarize yourself with your clients, they’ll be more comfortable with you and will turn to you for help finding solutions that fit their unique situation.
You Receive Support From Farm Bureau Financial Services
When you make a commitment to being a Farm Bureau agent, we make a commitment to you in return with a variety of supportive initiatives. We want to put you in the best position to grow your business, and that comes in a range of ways:
- Marketing Toolkit: You don’t need to be an advertising pro to get your name out to your community. Our Marketing Toolkit is your one-stop shop for all your local marketing and advertising needs.
- Continuing Education Programs: We offer training to help you build your management skills, learn top sales techniques and understand how to prospect for new clients.
- Agent Website: Your business needs an online presence so clients can find you and learn about you. That’s why we start you with your own free customizable agent website that aligns with the Farm Bureau brand. The website gives you the opportunity to tell your story, highlight the products and services you offer, and give visitors a way to contact you.
- Social Media: Many of our clients and prospects spend time on social media. Our agents use 4uSocial, a social media tool that helps grow their online presence in a way that complies with Farm Bureau regulations. With just a few clicks, you can share a wide variety of pre-approved and customized posts with your followers.
You Become an Active Member in Your Community
Getting to know the people within your community is vital as a Farm Bureau agent. From day one, it’s critical to get active in your area by networking and talking with people who live there. Here are a few ways agents generate interactions and conversations. They:
- Donate their time to local charities
- Coach sports teams
- Join city councils
The importance of community involvement is one of the things Steve Curtin, a Kansas agent, has learned in his years as an insurance agent. He’s a former golf pro, so he plays with other business owners and in charity events. He’s a member of the Chamber of Commerce and he’s been involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs and with supporting people with disabilities and those fighting cancer.
The Life of an Insurance Agent: Year Four
Fast-forward four years, and you have now built an established insurance business. Everything you’ve learned from day one has helped you reach this point. So, what does your future look like now?
You Have Become the Go-To Person for Insurance Knowledge
By this time, your friends and neighbors have learned that they can count on you to provide knowledgeable advice on Farm Bureau products and services. That relationship you’ve built over the years has paid off, and they give you high-quality referrals that you connect with to grow your business.
You Have Learned How to Adapt to the Changing Insurance Industry
As the insurance industry continually evolves, so do the needs of your clients. Life changes quickly. That’s why it’s important to stay up to date with everything happening in their lives. Did they get married? Move to a different neighborhood? Buy a new car? The list goes on and on, and these life changes give you the perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation with your clients.
You Love the Benefits That Come With Being Your Own Boss
As a Farm Bureau agent, you become your own boss, and there are a lot of perks to owning your own business. You have the flexibility to create your own schedule, and as an insurance agent, you have independence and work-life balance.
Our agents work hard, but they also build flexibility into their schedules. They can be there for their children’s school performances, support their aging parents or coach an after-school sport. They don’t need a supervisor’s permission to take time off, and there are no mandatory workdays.
You’re Building a Business Surrounded by People Who Are Aligned with You
When you’re your own boss, you get to choose who you employ, so you can hire people with similar values and passions to help you build your business and reach your goals.
Brandon Doke, a Nebraska agent, says the most important thing he’s learned in his years as a Farm Bureau agent is about building your team: “I’ve learned to focus on the things that you can control. Also, if possible, put people on your team who can focus on certain products. That might be other agents, field underwriters or your own employees.”
Your Income May Be Growing
Many people join Farm Bureau because the earning potential helps them provide for themselves and their families. On average, a first-year Farm Bureau agent makes 49% more than agents with other companies.1
- In 2024, the top 50% of agents earned at least $211,754, and their average income was $656,418.2
- The top 25% of agents earned at least $506,216, and their average income was $970,365.2
- The top 10% of agents earned at least $880,183, and their average income was $1,439,106.2
There’s no limit to what you can earn as a Farm Bureau insurance agent.
What Do You Envision for Your 4-Year Future?
If you’re thinking about becoming an insurance agent, here’s one last piece of advice from Weston Long, an agent in Utah: “Believe in yourself. Believe in your product. Work hard, and everything else will come naturally.
What does your life look like in four years? It has to start somewhere, and that new beginning might be at Farm Bureau. Find out how to become a Farm Bureau insurance agent.
1Payscale.com
2These figures include all taxable items, including bonuses and incentive travel, along with commission.