Are you looking for a career change? Or you a recent graduate ready to enter the market? You should consider the healthcare industry. It’s ever-changing, ever-growing, and it’s never going away because people will always need healthcare! If you like people, enjoy sales, are a self-starter, or all of the above, selling health insurance may be the job for you.
How Do I Become an Insurance Agent?
The insurance industry is a people business. As a result, you need have a great attitude and know how to talk to people. You will be talking to clients all day, explaining their policy options in detail and asking and answering questions.
Does it still sound like the job for you? Follow these three steps to become a licensed agent.
1. Partner With a FMO (Field Marketing Organization).
You need to be a self-starter to succeed because it’s not a 9-to-5 office job. You’ll need to travel to visit your clients. Also, you’ll need to keep your own appointment calendar. It’s not cut-and-dry. Step one to becoming a successful insurance agent is contracting with a great FMO like Senior Market Advisors. Our FMO will be a huge help to you. We’ll help you generate leads and provide you with tips for great sales and communication.
When you contract with us, not only do you get sales and marketing support from our experienced team, you also get free access to our proprietary CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software. Use the CRM to set sales goals, keep your appointment calendar, and to set reminders to follow up with your clients.
As a licensed insurance agent, your earnings are based on your work efforts and the time you are able to commit. Consequently, the harder you work, the more money you’ll make! If an agent attends eight client meetings in one week, it is likely that five of those meetings will turn into commission-earning sales. Agent salaries vary drastically because effort matters. It’s all commission-based. On a yearly basis, you can either earn $30 thousand for minimal sales effort, or go above and beyond and earn $100 thousand or more.
2. Get the Right Certifications and Contract With Carriers.
To become an insurance agent, you won’t need a college degree, but you will need to pass a certification exam and a background check. Additionally, you will need to reside in the state that you plan on selling in. You will have the ability to gain a license to sell in another state after you gain your license in your state of residence. This is a huge benefit when you consider that you can sell insurance by phone as long as you’re licensed where you’re selling.
For Medicare Advantage sales, you must be AHIP certified. Selling Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans gives you the advantage of having a huge pool of prospects to market to, because about 10 thousand people turn 65 every day. (Sixty-five is the age when many people become eligible for Medicare.)
Once you have your certification, visit our contracting page to contract with all available insurance carriers. First of all, you’ll earn the same commission no matter which carrier’s plan you sell. Also, contracting with all of them means that your clients will not face any bias. They will likely build loyalty to you, knowing that you are selling them the best policy for their health needs.
3. Get Your License.
Requirements for achieving your insurance certification vary by state but are largely similar. Before taking your licensing exam, you will need to complete a series of courses. On the day of the exam, you will present a certificate of completion for your education. Most states include a small application/filing fee; it is heavily recommended that you do not take the test until you know that you are ready and able to pass.
To find out when and where you can take a test in your state, click here. Tests are filtered by “X Insurance” (the X is your state). This website will help you start applying nationally.
Why Become an Insurance Agent?
Working as an insurance agent has benefits you may not find in any other career including:
Benefits:
- Being your own boss but having support
- Building life-long relationships with your clients
- It takes minimal time to get started
- Lots of incentive. Pay is truly based on your efforts and time spent.
What Other Skills and Requirements Should I Know About?
Like with most rewarding careers, insurance sales has its own set of skills and requirements.
Suggested Skills:
- Self-starter
- Sales and/or marketing skills
Requirements:
- At least 18 years of age
- Not convicted of a felony (pass a background check)
- Appointed by a licensed insurer
- Pass state certification exam
- Reside in the state of licensing
Partner With Senior Market Advisors for Insurance Sales Success
Now that you know how to become an insurance agent, join our team of qualified agents across the United States! When you contract with us, you get access to plans from all of the major carriers. That means you’re more likely to find the right fit for your clients, which means more sales and more commissions. Ready to start? Call 1-844-452-5020 or eContract with us today!
This post was originally published on March 15, 2017, by Anastasia Iliou and was updated on September 25, 2019, by Troy Frink.
