Insurance Sales Agents

Are you an independent worker but still like being social?

Insurance sales agents interact with a variety of people as they work to grow their client base. The key role of the agent is to help customers to find insurance plans that meet their needs either in person or over the phone. Agents spend most of their time in the office providing quality service to existing clients and seeking out new ones. There are two types of agents: captive agents employed by an insurance company and independent insurance agents. Sales agents employed by an insurance company only sell that company's plans, but independent insurance agents are self-employed and will work for insurance brokerages to sell policies through multiple companies to assure their clientele will have the best rate and coverage. 

The number of Insurance Sales Agents jobs is projected to grow 12% over a ten-year  period!

Estimates show an annual job opening of 872 in the region.

Is this career right for you?*

These skills, interests, and knowledge areas are recommended for a career as an insurance sales agent. The numbers below describe the relative important of each knowledge/skill area to the occupation.

Customer Service

Meeting the expected quality of customer satisfaction when interacting with customer and potential customers.

Sales & Marketing

Being able to sell or promote a product or service, including knowing basic marketing tactics and strategies, product demonstration, and sales techniques.

Communication Skills

Giving full attention to others and what they are saying while also conveying your own ideas clearly and concisely.

*Source: Texas Career Check

Pathway to Becoming an Insurance Sales Agent

High School Endorsement: Business & Industry 

With a high school diploma or the equivalent, insurance sales agents do not need any other specialty educational background, but courses taken in public-speaking, business, finance, or economics will be helpful in hopes of progressing to a managerial position.

Licensure
In the state of Texas, insurance sales agents must be licensed through the Texas Department of Insurance with a general license which covers the kind(s) of insurance they are selling, or more specific licenses for different kinds of life, property, and casualty insurance. Licensing authorities require continuing education and periodic renewals after the license has been acquired. Other organizations offering specific certifications can show an agent's expertise and count for continuing education credits: ­  

• The Institutes
• The American College of Financial Services

Many insurance sales agents choose to also get licensed in selling other financial products, directing their clients to insurance as well as financial management. These agents choose to take Series 6 or Series 7 licensing exams through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to do this, gaining them a potential advantage over other candidates for higher positions in the future.

Useful Tech to Get Ahead

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software: Applied Systems Vision, Insurance Technologies ForeSight Enterprise, Tangle S Creations Your Insurance Office
• Microsoft Office Suite: Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software: Advantage Information Systems The Agency Advantage; AMS Services AMS Sagitta
• Medical Records Software: Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS, Medical procedure coding software

Major Employers in the Gulf Coast Region

• AllState
• America First Insurance
• American Modern Insurance
• Chubb Personal Insurance
• CNA Insurance Companies
• Encompass
• Fidelity Insurance
• Foremost Insurance Group
• Hagerty Collector Car Insurance
• The Hartford Insurance
• Kemper Insurance Company
• Progressive Insurance
• Safeco Insurance Company
• South and Western
• The Travelers Companies
• Zurich Insurance Group

Related Occupations: Personal Financial Advisors, Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes, Sales Agents, Financial Services Sales Agents

If you have questions about our Industry/Occupation Profiles or are an organization in the Gulf Coast Region, please contact webmaster@wrksolutions.com.

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