How to invest in yourself and grow into a rewarding career. Become an Insurance Agent in the State of Michigan. Farmers Insurance District Support staff's guide on steps to take. Contact us for more info 989-214-2198.

1. Becoming an Insurance Agent
How to Invest in Yourself and
Grow Into a Rewarding Career

2. How to Become an Insurance Agent:
If you want to become an insurance agent, you first need to determine if this career
path is a good fit for your skills, interests and personality traits. If the following
description sounds like you, then you’re probably well suited for a career as an
insurance agent:
• You are willing and able to prospect for potential new clients
• You are able develop key business relationships
• You enjoy meeting and helping people
• You have an interest in insurance products
• You have a general insurance license or are willing to obtain one

3. Education and Experience Needed to
Become an Insurance Agent:
The specific educationand work experiencerequirements for becoming an insurance
agent vary by employer. You typically don’t need more than a high school diploma to
become an insurance agent, although due to the competitivenessof the industry, having
an undergraduateuniversitydegree can help increaseyour chancesof finding a job with
an insurancecompany or brokerage.
However, you do have to become licensed by the State of Michigan to become an agent.
Each state has their own licensingrequirements.Michigan has two separateexams that
you must pass in order to be fully licensed in all lines of authority.
Employers also prefer to hire applicantsfor insuranceagent jobs that have relevant sales,
administrationand customer serviceexperience.

4. Licensing Needed to Become an
Insurance Agent
Insurance is a regulated industry in and the United States. Because of this, insurance agents must follow
certain regulatory guidelines, such as licensing, in order to legally sell insurance products.
In the United States, insurance sales are regulated by the individual states. Insurance sales agents must
have a license to sell insurance in the state(s) in which they work.
There are several vendors that offer the Licensing study course that is required in order to schedule the
State Exams. More information on how to get started to follow…
(A number of organizations in the United States offer supplementary insurance certification, which may not be required by employers, but will help increase
the agent’s knowledge of the industry and certain types of policies and products, and make them more marketable to employers and potential clients.)

7. Licensing Options

9. Enter Discount Code here:
Farmers@examfx.com
$59.95

10. Insurance Agent Job Description and Duties
Insurance agents help insurance companies generate new business by identifyingpotentialnew clients,which may be organizations
or individuals.
The insurance agent must then contactthose potentialnew clientsin order to asses their insurance needs, and advise them as to how
insuranceproducts can help protect them financiallyfrom various forms of loss, with the ultimategoal of selling the
appropriateproducts to them.
Insurance agents may sell all of the insurance products of a company thatemploys them as long as they are licensedin all lines of
business,or they may act as the representativeof another agent..
• Develop clienteleby generating a listof prospects
• Contact prospects in order to discuss their needs relatinginsuring against loss
• Attend meetingsand seminars in order to remain current in regards to general industry knowledge
• Build policiesto meet the needs of clients
• May deal with multipleinsurance providers in order to find clientsthe most suitablepackage
• May specializein health, life, property, business or other forms of insurance advisingand sales
• Keep in touch with clientsin order to ensure their needs are being met
• Monitor insurance claims

11. Insurance Agent Career: Insurance Product/Policy Sales
The types of products and policiesinsurance agents sellmay include:
• Life insurance
• Health insurance
• Home insurance
• Automobile insurance
• Businessinsurance
• Personal liability insurance
• Professional liabilityinsurance (such as errors and omissions insurance)
• Disabilityinsurance
• Group insurance
• Credit insurance (such as mortgage insurance)
• Travel insurance
• Specialtyforms of insurance (such as pet insurance or sports insurance)

12. Skills Needed to Become an Insurance
Agent:
In order to become effectivein a career as an insuranceagent, you need to posses a certain
set of skills,including:
• Able to develop key relationshipsand contacts
• Able to effectivelyhandle customer inquires
• Able to persuade clientsto purchase insuranceproducts that suit their needs
• Knowledge of industry-specificcomputer software
• Proficientwith Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Excellent organization skills,and the ability to look after multiple clients
• Accurate typing skills with extreme attentionto detail
• Excellent communication skills,including listeningskills

13. Characteristics Needed to Become an
Insurance Agent:
In order to enjoy performing the duties of an insurance agent, you need to have certainpersonality
traits.Taking enjoyment from your duties as an insurance agent is important, as it helps you
maintain apositive attitudetowards your work, which usually leads to having a long and
successfulcareer.
• Able to easily build strong interpersonalrelationships
• Highly motivated to succeedin sales
• An excellentattitudetowards customer service
• Willing to service immediate and on-going client needs
• Enjoy working independently
• Willing to travel frequentlywithin or outside of city limits
• An enthusiasticattitudewhen faced with disappointingsales
• An interest in insurance products

14. Career Flexibility for Insurance Agents
The insurance sales industry offers plenty of flexibility. Those who become
insurance agents may choose to work in urban or rural locations, and may choose
to work for a small or large brokerage or insurance provider, or become self-
employed as the owner of an independent brokerage or franchise of a brokerage.
Becoming an insurance agent also means an opportunity to sell insurance products
in areas in which you have a passion or personal interest. For example, as an
insurance agent, you can choose to specialize in selling insurance products
related to sports and travel.

15. Insurance Agent Salary Level
The earningsof insuranceagents can vary widely, largelydue to the fact that it is fairly common
for insurance agents to earn commission from sales activities,as well as performance bonuses.
The earnings of insurance agents can also depend on other factors, such as:
• Their level of experience
• Their level of aptitude
• The size and type of their employer
• The regionin which they work
Insurance Agent Salary United States: Accordingto the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics,the median salary level of American workers in the Insurance Sales
Agents occupational groupis $48,150 per year. The lowest 10% of salariesin this group are
below $26,120 and the top 10% are above $116,940 per year.

16. Career Advancement for Insurance Agents
A career as an insurance agent is one that offers plenty of room for growth and
development. Experienced, competent and successful insurance agents may
move into a variety of positions, including supervisory and management
positions in administration, training, underwriting, sales promotion or branch
management.
Successful insurance agents that also have good business sense and entrepreneurial
skills have option of becoming self-employed by becoming an independent
agency owner.

17. References:
Insurance Agent Career Information and links
Please consult the references below to find more information on the various aspects of a career as an
insurance agent.
Opportunities through Farmers Insurance and Financial Services can be explored here:
https://recruitment.farmers.com/district-manager-locator/mi/bay-city
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website: www.bls.gov
Others:
www.psiexams.com
www.NIPR.com
www.academicinvest.com/business-careers/marketing-careers/how-to-become-an-insurance-agent
https://www.examfx.com/Default.aspx
https://www.prelicense.com/
http://unclebill.net/
https://www.kaplanfinancial.com/resources/insurance/steps-to-michigan-licensing
http://kapmarketing.net/PDFs/KFE-603443_Insurance_eBookProject.pdf

18. Jacquelyn Beffrey
Agency Development and Staffing Manager
Farmers Insurance District 73
Office 989-214-2198 x 1005
Cell 989-482-7223
Email: Jacquelyn.ccastelli@farmersagency.com