The best way is to check out the
insurance companies that interest you and get information from
them on how to become an agent. Choose what kind of insurance
you want to sell -- be it life insurance, property, casualty,
medical and health insurance -- and contact the companies that
you'd want to represent.
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate that sales of life
insurance are down, rising incomes and a concern for financial
security during retirement are lifting sales of annuities,
mutual funds, and other financial products sold by insurance
agents. However, you will be required to obtain a separate
securities license from the National Association of Securities
Dealers if you plan to sell mutual funds and other securities.
To give you an idea of potential earnings of an insurance agent,
below is an estimation made by the BLS:
"The median annual earnings of wage and salary insurance sales
workers were $34,370 in 1998. The middle 50 percent earned
between $24,650 and $52,020. The lowest 10 percent had earnings
of $17,870 or less, while the top 10 percent earned over
$91,890. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the
largest number of insurance sales workers in 1997 were:
Fire, marine, and casualty insurance $34,100 Insurance agents,
brokers, and services 33,200 Medical service and health
insurance 31,600 Life insurance"
There are a few resources out there that you may find helpful:
Building a Successful Insurance Agency : The Four Essential
Steps by Troy Korsgaden. This is an audiocassette (4 tapes), and
is very helpful for start-up insurance agents. With a retail
cost of almost $60, it identifies the key ingredients to build
and manage a more successful agency. The objective of the
program is simple - to help you build a more dynamic,
successful, profitable agency.
For information about insurance sales careers and training,
contact:
Independent Insurance Agents of America, 127 S. Peyton St.,
Alexandria, VA 22314. Internet: http://www.iiaa.org
Insurance Vocational Education Student Training (InVEST), 127 S.
Peyton St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Internet: http://www.investprogram.org
National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, 400 N.
Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Internet: http://www.pianet.com.
National Association of Health Underwriters, 2000 N. 14th St.,
Ste. 450, Arlington, VA 22201. Internet: http://www.nahu.org.
Insurance Information Institute, 110 William Street, New York,
NY 10038.
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook for
Insurance Sales Agents contact: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos118.htm
The American College, 270 Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA
19010-2195. Internet: http://www.amercoll.edu
The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research, 3630
North Hills Dr., Austin, TX 78731. Internet: http://www.scic.com
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