I have spend 15 plus years in the insurance industry. Started with life insurance and added in the property insurances such as auto, home, and condo, as time went on.
I've been with a few companies of the years so I've gained a good perspective of the industry. Right now I'm with Farmers Insurance. A good little group of us have come together to form the Platinum Elite Group. They're Farmers agents & staff centered around Southern California who strive to do it better than the rest, and help out our schools, and charities such as the March of Dimes, at the same time.
Early on I gravitated towards training and working with other agents, especially the rookies. For the last ten years I've taught the life pre-licensing class so that agents can take and pass the state licensing exam. Not all make it like any career, but for those that its the right career move, they can accomplish some amazing things for themselves and others.
Recently, I started working with veteran agents in helping then work towards an advanced certification, the LUTCF (Life Underwriters Training Counsel Fellowship) designation. We all need to keep growing.
I guess I have a belief that an insurance and life agent can perform some "little miracles" for families and businesses, stereotypes aside. I joke about the stereotypical insurance agent as much as the next guy, but it doesn't really do any of us any good.
When a "civilian" on the street doesn't trust the insurance industry, they either buy too little insurance, the wrong type, or none at all. They even resist good advice when its presented. Then when something bad happens they pay the ultimate price since they're under-insured. In the end they blame the company for not paying enough when the problem ran deeper than that. The agent and the client, for whatever reason, weren't able to communicate well enough to develop the right program.
In summary, its about trust. They client won't follow the advice their agent gives if they don't trust, or at least have a better understanding of its source. And, the agent needs to be better trained to help build that trust.
Somewhere along they way I also got involved with social media (kicking and screaming at first) and promotions.
I guess my 10 years in Toastmasters, which lead to me being on a team of volunteer public speaking and media "coaches" for the San Diego Charger Girls the last 7 football seasons, further sparked my interest in public relations and the media.
The Girls are another group of talent individuals who do so much for the community, and schools, and raising money for charity, and visiting the troops, all counter to the cheerleader stereotype. They have our respect for the hard work they do.
So (I get word-y sometimes), this blog, and some of the others I work on, are all about what Farmers Insurance, and the Platinum Elite Group, and some of my friends, all do to improve themselves, the industry, our clients, and the community as a whole.
I hope you find something of value, or at least interest, on these sites.
Thank you,
Kevin
Feedback's always cool: kevin.dswanson@farmersagency.com
