Seeing her dad start his own insurance agency led Robin Rohde Keller to a career in insurance she never thought she would love so much. Having studied elementary education and speech communication at the University of Minnesota, Rohde Keller spent a year and a half working in her father's agency before taking a position with the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers Association.

“One of the things that I really enjoy is going to work every day and finding it is different," Rohde Keller says, who now works at Farmers Union Agency. “You never know if you're going to deal with a claim, a new prospect or putting together a proposal—I like the vibrancy of my work."

The Future Workforce?

We've had several retirements in our agencies over the last few years, and it's really invigorating to see the younger people coming in. They have energy and enthusiasm for all the different things that, when you've been in the insurance industry for a period of time, you just become accustomed to being the way they are.

Advice for New Agents?

Nurture, cherish and respect the relationships you make, and seek people out and get to know them. We are a relationship business. We worry about clients' situations, and we want to protect them. If you can do that in your professional network where you respect your coworkers, respect your carrier relationships and really nurture those, they will invest in you.

Handling Challenges?

It's so important to lean into and face any challenge. You'll find a way to deal with it when you surround yourself with people that can help you on that journey. 

Best Thing About Insurance?

Insurance sometimes isn't very sparkly, but it's certainly a wonderful way to make a living and one way to interact in the business world. We have a strong culture at Farmers Union Agency. We're very committed to our core values and I think that shines through.

Olivia Overman is IA content editor.