Nicole Coppock

Private Client Advisor
Frank H. Furman Inc.
Pompano Beach, Florida

Coppock refers to herself as a product of the Invest^SM program. While she was attending Deerfield Beach High School a commercial producer from Frank H. Furman Inc. gave a presentation about what insurance is and what it’s like to work in the industry. While still attending school, she underwent on-the-job training on a part-time basis at the Furman Agency before eventually taking a full-time job, where she has remained for the 14 years since.
   
Now, Coppock frequently returns to her old high school to teach classes about insurance and careers in the industry. In 2017, she was named Young Agent of the Year by the Florida Association of Insurance Agents’ Young Agents Council. 

EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION?

There are so many different aspects of the industry. We have those professionals come and speak to high school students on behalf of their own experience. Claims specialists, actuaries, marketing reps and agency owners all teach and try to get more younger people interested in insurance. 

EXPLAINING INSURANCE?

I try to explain that whether they want to be a doctor, a lawyer, a business owner, a beautician, or whatever it may be, they’re going to find out that insurance is going to impact them. And if they want to get into our line of business, it’s here to stay.

WHY HIGH NET-WORTH?

The agency decided to branch off any clients that are affluent and have a business account with us. Instead of producers trying to determine who handles what, they just know that they can come to me, and I can handle that customer.

FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY?

Independent agents are always going to be around. I don't think we're going to be taken out by the competition by any means. The personal connections and the relationships that we all build are never going to cease to be valuable.

Technology is definitely a way of the future. A lot of the carriers are going that route. Once we all get on board, it's going to continue to grow. I don't think it's ever going to become a bad situation for independent agents.

WHO HAS HELPED YOU ALONG THE WAY?

My supervisor. She's always pushed me to do better. And she's always been supportive of the organizations that I'm on and the boards and I'm on. Her and my boss Derek have definitely been behind me all the way, pushing me and guiding me. I've been at Furman for my entire career, everybody here has helped me get where I am today.

BIGGEST CHALLENGES?

The biggest thing is educating consumers and making them understand that insurance is a tool to put them back whole again—it's not a maintenance plan. When it comes down to a claim scenario, they find out it's not covered because it's a lack of maintenance and upkeep. With summer homes here in South Florida, people don’t keep up with the maintenance.