NLIC.org

Erin Said:

How can I set up my own insurance business?

We Answered:

I am going to guess you are a 2-20 based on your comment about Home insurance. It is recommended but not mandated you at least work for an agency for about 1-2 years to get a general idea of how the market and insurance works.

Reason is I mentored many licensed agents who were wonderfully book smart but life does not imitate the classroom. Your class work and tests were based on the legal statutes but it is in no manner reflects the functionality of how you interact with policy holders, insurance companies, and how to solve the communication gap between the 2 especially when it comes to questions of endorsements and underwriting requirements.

There are specific tricks to the trade that only experience gives you the edge. Unless you have another experienced 2-20 on board with you to guide you through the pitfalls, it will be a true up hill struggle. Creating policies from the get go and not having the skills for when a policy gets into "trouble" may in the end turn your policy holders away and having them seek more experienced agents.

Currently, I assisted an agency in overturning a non-renewal after they got 3 denials of the overturn. My experience in how to speak to underwriters and seeing things from their point of view helped them to re-propose a remedy to the non-renewal reason which resulted in the insurance carrier, the insurance agency, and the homeowner in being happy. The agency looked like the hero for going above and beyond the call of duty.

As an agent in the State of Florida, because of the many changes in our insurance laws (both auto and home) it has created in very bad answers from insurance companies' customer service reps. Fortunately, my experience honed in on the wrong answer but it makes me tremble how many other agents may have accepted it as gospel and didn't fight for their clients' rights because they simply did not know how and that includes the curent agency I mentor. They get a wrong answer they didn't realize and they will pose question to me after the fact, which I will show them where the rules of both the underwriting manual and state statutes lie to over turn the bad answer.

The agency I work for is a captured agency, but it recently has begun brokering out in the last 2 years. I was hired precisely for my expertise in brokered insurance companies since I had no history in the idiosyncracies of one type of insurance company but the experience of 9 home insurance companies, 4 auto insurance companies, 3 mobile home companies, 3 commercial, 2 umbrella companies, etc. that enables me to show the captured agency how to work with independent companies outside its primary captured agency status.

If you decide to work on your own, then the State of Florida will require you to be appointed with at least one company of each of your license you are representing in that kind of policy arena. You will need to market yourself to the company of interest and show proof of ability to produce. It is easier to be already appointed via an established agency and then when you strike on your own, history of being a performing Producer Agent will weigh in your favor.

As to home insurance, it is very do-able but again you have to know the tricks of the trade to write a good policy with options that can help drive down cost of the premium. I have "stolen" more policies from other agencies because of my ability to help homeowners weigh the options of choice with understanding of the policy to better help them customize the policy to their needs not my needs.

Good luck on your new career. If you find you need guidance on future policy issues, my services have always been free in the spirit if helping a fellow agent if my time affords me. many of my help is offered after my business hours to better give you my unidvided attention

I have a 87% success rate in overturning underwriting reason not due to hurricane reduction exposure (the blance is because the insured would not jump the hurdles to meet the guidelines), a 92% success rate in reinstating erroneous cancelled policies, and a 72% success rate of writing home insurance policies I have quoted.

kimche_spicy@yahoo.com and same IM ID

as to getting a license in other states, that is only if you show you have the need to cross state lines because of umbrellas or multiple car policies needed for the same insured because they have multiple cars in different states. Traditionally the license is only offered to those states your state borders, which is GA, LA, AL

Deanna Said:

Average Insurance Cost For Pest Control Business?

We Answered:

There are many coverages you may need, including Auto, Pollution, Workers Comp, Property, General Liability & Umbrella.

Assuming you are talking about General Liability only you are probably looking at a minimum of $1,500, but the sky is the limit on the upside depending on your estimated gross sales and other factors.

Congrats on your new business!

Crystal Said:

What auto insurance companies are currently appointing in Florida?

We Answered:

You will have to shop around as you do.
Get a quote from insurers you get from yellow pages or from the web.

Charlotte Said:

how can I attract more clients/business to my title insurance company located in Florida?

We Answered:

Have you thought about pay per click programs? The two biggest, I think, are Yahoo! and Google

A few free resources – check out the sources box for links:

1) Create a blog pertaining to your field

2) Use Yahoo! Local & Yahoo! Groups – Be sure to read the TOS for each one!

3) Write articles pertaining to your field and/or expertise.

4) Advertise on Craiglist

Also, consider signing up for an affiliate program. These programs enable you to advertise on other's sites (your affiliates) and once a sale is made to you, your affiliates & the program are paid a commission.

I listed a few handy sites & articles relating to marketing, promotion & advertising. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* The Complete Idiot's Guide to Marketing Basics by Sarah White
* The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries, Jack Trout
* Creative Advertising: Ideas and Techniques from the World's Best Campaigns by Mario Pricken
* Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: Over 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof by James Stephenson
* 301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas: From America's Most Innovative Small Companies by Sam Decker

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Curtis Said:

How lucrative is the insurance business? -Current insurance agents?

We Answered:

From a business perspective, selling things you don't own is very profitable. Insurance is a risk management tool and there is always risk; the economic environment just changes the profile of that risk.

My tips for the test really depends on who you are as a test taker, but generally don't stress and focus on the question at hand.

Willard Said:

What is a good insurance to use for a small and simple dog walking business in tampa, florida?

We Answered:

You're not going to have many options - most insurance companies won't insure this type of business, as you'll be on the hook for all the dog bites, for a wide variety of dogs, while you have them in public.

Last time I quoted a one man shop, it was $1200. Paid in full, up front.

You're going to need to find an independent agent, to help you find anyone at ALL, who's WILLING to give you insurance.