The Truth About Becoming an Insurance Agent

Choosing a new career as an insurance agent may some very appealing after the possible earnings per week numbers are thrown at you. Without a doubt, a good living can be made in this field, but in order to be successful there are a number of things that need to be discussed before you make the decision to pursue this career. What follows is a true story, one that I just recently went through, and as I write this article I am still going through.

1. The State testing that is required is not as simple as you would think. I cannot go into details about what is on the test, but be forewarned that unless you know the basics concepts very well, it will be almost impossible for you to pass. In my state, the current average is that a person applying for a license has to take the tests three to four times before passing. I actually passed both of my tests the first time taking them, but I studied hard for three weeks, took detailed notes, and completed numerous pre-tests before attempting them. The reason for this is because the tests cost around $75 each time that you take them. My suggestion to you is to shell out a little extra money and complete an online training course, such as Exam FX. Complete all the training, and retake the tests over and over until you pass them with at least an 80%.

2. After you do pass the tests and begin working in the field, you have to start off by making appointments. What this means exactly, is going through a modified list of names and cold calling each one. You have to do this over and over throughout your day, sometimes calling over 200 people, before you are booked up for the following day or two. You will get cussed at. You will get hung-up on. You will have to repeatedly try and convince people that they need to meet with you n order to hear what you have to say, sometimes being on the borderline of helpful and manipulation. If you do not have an extremely outgoing personality, are not hurt by what others say and do, and are able to be persistent enough to build your clients, then you may want to reconsider your choice of becoming an insurance agent. Basically, if you are not able to walk up to a stranger on the street and strike up a conversation with them, then you will not be very successful as an insurance salesman.

3. And the third point that the insurance companies will not tell you is that it can take up to three months, or more, before you start making enough money to live off of. Sure, you may get lucky right away and earn a large commission off of a large sale, and you will surely get $100 here and there while you are training, but if you do not have money saved up or a separate income coming in during this start up period, you may find yourself homeless as I have. Of course if you live in a large city, or close to one, then it would not take this long to make some sales. My suggestion to you is to make sure and do some research about your area so that you know exactly what you are getting yourself into.

Basically, as I stated earlier, you can make a decent living as an insurance agent. Some top sales representatives make well over one million dollars a year, but the majority of basic sales agents do not. Do not jump into this career thinking that you will make tons of money quickly, because as I have found out, this is not realistic. Even though the company recruiting you will claim differently, take it from me that it will not happen overnight, and realize that in order to get anywhere in this field you have to not only have the time and money while getting set up, but you also have to be willing to work 12 to 14 hours per day for the first couple of years.