Whether for your car, your house, or your life… protecting assets in case of accidents or other harm is the purpose of insurance… and insurance sales agents help people get the right insurance for their needs. Insurance sales agents sell different types of insurance coverage. For people and businesses, they sell policies that cover financial loss due to accidents, fire, theft, and other events. Life insurance is sold to be paid to beneficiaries when the covered person dies; health and long-term care insurance cover medical care costs. Agents hold meetings with current and prospective clients to discuss finances, analyze clients’ circumstances, and explain different options. They make calls and advertise to attract new clients, and maintain detailed electronic and paper records. Earnings for insurance sales agents are often structured differently than many jobs: most independent agents sell policies from a variety of companies, and are paid based on what they sell. Those employed by agencies or insurance carriers are paid a salary, and may earn a bonus for meeting sales goals. Insurance sales agents usually work full time, and often schedule evening and weekend appointments. A high school diploma is typically required for insurance sales agents, although a bachelor’s degree can improve job prospects. Agents must be licensed in the states where they work.
What they do:
Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company.
On the job, you would:
Customize insurance programs to suit individual customers, often covering a variety of risks.
Sell various types of insurance policies to businesses and individuals on behalf of insurance companies, including automobile, fire, life, property, medical and dental insurance, or specialized policies, such as marine, farm/crop, and medical malpractice.
Explain features, advantages, and disadvantages of various policies to promote sale of insurance plans.
Business
customer service
sales and marketing
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Safety and Government
law and government
Basic Skills
reading work related information
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Social
talking people into changing their minds or their behavior
looking for ways to help people
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
notice when problems happen
use rules to solve problems
Math
choose the right type of math to solve a problem
add, subtract, multiply, or divide
People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
Integrity
Independence
Attention to Detail
Achievement/Effort
Dependability
Initiative
You might use software like this on the job:
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
AMS Services AMS Sagitta
Microsoft Dynamics
Video creation and editing software
Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects
YouTube
Customer relationship management CRM software
Applied Systems Vision
Tangle S Creations Your Insurance Office
bachelor's degree or associate's degree usually needed
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