With technology, “there’s no sitting still,” says Cameron Annas, independent agent. “You’ve got to adapt. If you don’t, then it’ll be great for your competition because you probably won’t be here in 5-10 years.”
Here are three stories from independent agents who are taking part in the successful perpetuation of not only their individual businesses, but the independent agency system as a whole.
Your agency is a barn find for a private equity buyer. Consider a staged internal perpetuation to create a legacy and maximize your earnings.
Colten Zamrzla’s priority is to protect his clients by always acting with integrity, “even if it means losing a sale,” he says. “There’s nothing more important than protecting your reputation and sticking to your convictions.”
Like many other millennials, Annie Wilson is a jack of all trades. “I do mostly personal lines, but I also work on IT, social media, marketing,” she says. “The insurance space is a great industry with so many different opportunities, which is super exciti
Jenny Saint Preux admits that “insurance has a horrible rap for being very boring,” but if the industry is going to change its perception, “we have to push diversity in all forms,” she says. “We have to get more women in higher positions, underwriting pos
Jenni Mathis was convinced she wasn’t meant for an office job. But after several years of pursuing her passion—wilderness therapy—she eventually found her way back to insurance. “I used to navigate the risk of a river or a hiking trail,” she says. “Now, I
The fact that Cristal Llorens speaks four languages gives her agency a serious competitive advantage. “It’s great for customer service, because I may have a customer who speaks a little English, but they just feel more comfortable speaking in their own la
For Antulio Goncalves, who has spent his entire insurance career working as a producer, what’s exciting about insurance is sales. “I never had a salary—just straight commission,” he says. “I have all the flexibility I want, but I’m paid based on performan
Jennifer Garriques says she was born into the insurance industry and expects to take the reins of her family’s agency in the future. “I often speak with existing customers who knew my grandfather, and I like hearing those stories,” she says. “It really re