Insurance Sales Agent

Position Overview

Insurance sales agents are in charge of selling different types of insurance to their clients. This might include health, life, or casualty. In the agriculture industry, this would most likely be crop, property, or livestock insurance. These insurance types help protect farmers from damage that may occur on the farm. Damage could be caused by a number of different factors, but weather is often the most significant. For example, farmers can purchase different forms of crop insurance to ensure they will still have an income if the growing season was poor. It is the sales agent's responsibility to educate the buyers and make an appropriate decision according to their needs. They often provide clients with financial planning and retirement plans as well. Sometimes insurance sales agents will sell securities and annuities. They are in charge of developing their own client base, so it is important that they provide their clients with appropriate insurance plans that will provide effective coverage. Insurance sales agents can expect to spend their work hours split between the office and visiting clients.

Insurance Sales Agent Duties

• Market services available to possible clientele
• Cold calling possible clientele
• Develop a referral program to promote services
• Provide information on how to make a claim
• Explain the pros and cons of all policy types to make an appropriate fit for clients
• Discuss the requirements with each client in order to implement their specific insurance program
• Review property condition and characteristics to understand possible risks
• Monitor client's insurance claims
• Handle policy renewals
• Sell insurance policies to farmers on behalf of the insurance company
• Develop sales presentations
• Understand client's needs
• Obtain important information from clients

Typical Employers

• Insurance companies
• Financial institutions
• Crop insurance providers

Required Education and Training

All insurance sales agents must have a license to sell in their designated area. They should also have a bachelor's degree in sales, marketing, business, real estate, or a related field. While a degree is not always required, it can provide a competitive edge. Candidates should have previous experience in sales and should have strong relationship building skills in order to develop a solid clientele base. If selling agriculture insurance, candidates should understand and have an interest in the ag industry. Most insurance sales agents spend a significant amount of time job shadowing at first to understand the different job duties involved, how their specific company likes to conduct business, and the best ways to interact with clients.

Key Skills and Qualities

• Self motivated
• Problem solving skills
• Ability to multitask
• Strong analytical skills
• People skills
• Technical knowledge
• High energy
• Persistence
• Integrity

Average Salary

The salary for an insurance sales agent can vary greatly, depending on how much is commission and bonus based. Most insurance sales agent positions will have a portion of the pay allocated as commission, meaning that the salary can be very different year-to-year. On average, an insurance sales agent will make £17,377.