Why Insurance Agents Quit (And What You Can Do to Prevent It) - Jenesis Software (2024)

Why Insurance Agents Quit (And What You Can Do to Prevent It) - Jenesis Software (1)

Managing insurance agents is just one of many challenges you face when running an insurance agency, but it is crucial. After all, your insurance agents are responsible for selling your policies and are the people your clients most closely interact with.

As such, you must know why insurance agents quit and how to prevent them from doing so. While you can always hire more agents, recruiting new team members will take time, money, and effort. You would also have to teach new agents the intricacies of your company. So, avoid the hassle and learn how to prevent insurance agents from quitting.

Their Expectations Are Unrealistic

One of the biggest reasons that insurance agents quit is the fact that they have unrealistic expectations. The insurance industry is huge, which leads many people to think they can easily make a large income by selling insurance. In reality, the earnings of an insurance agent vary significantly depending on numerous factors.

In addition to your commission structure, the type of insurance your agency sells and an agent’s location will play a big role in how much he makes. Reduce this risk by letting new agents in your agency know what they can expect to make, providing ranges if commission plays a big role.

Remember that financial expectations aren’t the only ones that can be unrealistic. Some insurance agents may not fully realize all of the responsibilities they will have. Or they may expect more support staff than they have. You can reduce this issue by being clear when writing job descriptions.

They Have the Wrong End Goal

Everyone has different reasons for becoming an insurance agent. Money typically plays a role, as does helping people. But it’s very common for agents who just focus on money to fail or decide to quit.

The best insurance agents will want to help their clients. Clients can tell the difference and are more likely to stick with an agent and agency that prioritizes their best interests.

They Don’t Understand the Customers

As mentioned, some of the best insurance agents do what they do because they want to help people. But they can only do this if they understand customers and their needs. Agents who don’t understand the needs of their clients may get frustrated with poor sales and quit.

You can reduce this challenge by providing your team with sufficient training. Give them access to your customers’ data, so they can better understand them.

They Can’t Stay Organized

Insurance has a lot of moving parts and details to keep track of. Without the proper tools, it can be impossible to stay organized. Luckily, this is an easy issue to mitigate.

With insurance agency management software like Jenesis, you can make it easy for your agents to stay organized. These software typically serve as a centralized location for policy information, contracts, and customer data. If they can find all of the information they need at a glance, agents are less likely to get frustrated and will be happier at work. As a bonus, they’ll also work more efficiently.

They Don’t Have a Mentor

As with any other industry, it is much easier for insurance agents to succeed if they have a mentor to guide them. Professional mentors can help agents overcome challenges and point them in the direction of good practices.

You can take advantage of this by setting up an official or unofficial mentorship program within your agency. Even if you don’t have a large enough team for an official mentorship program, encourage new agents to ask questions. In fact, encourage every agent and other members of your team to ask questions. This will create an environment of openness and learning, setting everyone up for success.

They Are Easily Discouraged

A big issue with insurance agents can be discouragement. You won’t make every sale ,and experienced agents know this. But newer agents may have unrealistic expectations or feel discouraged too easily.

Simply providing support to your team can do wonders to reduce this problem. Start by giving them the tools they need to be successful. From there, make it clear that agents shouldn’t let a handful of failures get in the way of their progress.

They Don’t Have a Good Support System

The issue of being discouraged leads us to another major challenge – not having the right support system. This can include emotional, mental, or even administrative support. Providing your team with all types of support so they can feel more confident in their work and avoid getting discouraged easily.

Tips on Keeping Insurance Agents from Quitting

We’ve already touched on some of the things you can do to prevent insurance agents from quitting. Here’s a concise list of tips, along with a few extras:

  • Make the commission structure and expected income clear.
  • Make the job description and responsibilities clear.
  • Help agents understand the customers and their needs.
  • Give agents the tools they need to stay organized.
  • Provide training in marketing and sales.
  • Educate agents about all your products.
  • Set up a mentorship program or at least have open lines of communication.
  • Create a strong support system.
  • Regularly get feedback from employees on how you can improve.

Conclusion

By knowing why insurance agents quit, you can actively work to keep your team happy at work. This should reduce your agency turnover and help set your agency up for success. From providing support to giving your team the right tools to ensuring they have realistic expectations, there are a lot of little things you can do to make a difference.

Why Insurance Agents Quit (And What You Can Do to Prevent It) - Jenesis Software (2024)

FAQs

Why did the insurance agent quit? ›

One of the biggest reasons that insurance agents quit is the fact that they have unrealistic expectations. The insurance industry is huge, which leads many people to think they can easily make a large income by selling insurance.

Why do so many insurance agents fail? ›

Insurance agents succeed when they prioritize their customers' needs over their own profits. The most commonly cited reason insurance agents fail is that they fail to listen to their customers and take the time to find the best product to suit their needs.

Why did I quit selling life insurance? ›

#1 Low Motivation. It's not a secret. To be a thriving insurance agent, you have to want to succeed. Failure to work hard is one of the top reasons people in this industry want to call it quits.

Why don't people like insurance agents? ›

No Trust in the Insurance Agent or Insurance Company

Some are just paranoid, but others have had past experiences that justify their lack of trust. Whether it has been lack of service from their agent or not being treated fairly on a claim, bad experiences can put a very negative light on the insurance industry.

Will insurance agents be replaced by technology? ›

Rather than being replaced, insurance agents are more likely to witness the integration of AI as a tool for augmented intelligence. Augmented intelligence combines the strengths of human agents with the analytical power of AI, creating a synergistic relationship.

What percentage of insurance agents quit? ›

The burnout rate for life insurance sales agents is high. More than 90% of new agents quit the business within the first year. The rate increases to greater than 95% when extended to five years.

What is the biggest threat to the insurance industry? ›

As the insurance sector grapples with multifaceted challenges, identifying and understanding these risk factors is the first step in crafting a resilient strategy for the future.
  1. Compliance changes. ...
  2. Cybersecurity threats. ...
  3. Technology changes. ...
  4. Climate change & other environmental factors. ...
  5. Talent shortage. ...
  6. Financial risks.
Mar 21, 2024

What is the disadvantages of being an insurance agent? ›

Unpredictable Income

While the insurance industry is stable and the income is lucrative, it can sometimes be hard to plan ahead and know where your next paycheck will come from, since your income may be solely based on sales made. To succeed in this field, you must be a go-getter.

Why is the insurance industry struggling? ›

The main drivers are the higher costs insurers face, including from more severe storms; higher replacement costs; and re-insurance, the type of insurance used by insurers to limit their risks. These are passed on to consumers.

Why do insurance agents earn so much? ›

Most professionals who sell insurance are paid largely on a commission basis. In fact, most agents aren't even employees of the carrier. More often than not, they're independent contractors who are compensated based on how much they sell, with higher commissions for certain types of products.

How many life insurance agents quit? ›

For instance, over 90% of new life insurance agents quit within year one. Many more depart within five years. To avoid becoming one of these casualties, it's important to know the problems new agents face and how to avoid them.

What is the best insurance to sell? ›

Life insurance is the most profitable—and the hardest—type of insurance to sell. With the highest premiums and the longest-running contract, it brings in cash over a long period of time. In the first year, agents make the largest annual sum on a policy, bringing in anywhere from 40–120% of the policy premium.

Is it hard to be a successful insurance agent? ›

Selling insurance can be a lucrative proposition, with relatively high-paying commissions and a high degree of autonomy with flexible work hours. However, it is not an easy job. You can expect a high rate of customer rejection, stress, and attrition rate.

Can introverts be insurance agents? ›

As an insurance agent, you may think that being an introvert is a disadvantage when it comes to selling insurance. However, being introverted can be an advantage in this industry, as introverts often excel at building deep relationships and listening to the needs of clients.

Why do you love being an insurance agent? ›

Insurance agents are meeting and working with new people on a daily basis. You get to learn about their interesting jobs, lives and the journey they took to get to where they are. You have the opportunity to learn about every individual's insurance needs and strategize how to best meet those needs.

Why are insurance companies laying off employees? ›

Major Layoffs Industry-Wide

From big brands to insuretechs like Hippo that laid off roughly 20% of its employees, the cuts are undeniable. CEOs cite several drivers behind their decisions, from restructuring to improving efficiency to automation to re-evaluating product offerings.

What are the cons of being an insurance agent? ›

Cons of a career selling insurance
  • Unpredictable income. Working in a commission-based role has its drawbacks. ...
  • High-pressure work environment. Selling insurance can be stressful. ...
  • Finding new leads can be challenging. ...
  • Limited paid time off. ...
  • Experiencing a lot of rejection.
Jan 22, 2024

Is Allstate losing agents? ›

Allstate Insurance Company has reported a considerable drop in its insurance agent count. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing submitted on February 16, the insurer disclosed that it has just 8,400 agents that are contracted to sell Allstate auto and home insurance exclusively.

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