Career in insurance industry help

[cooperS]

Anyone here work for an insurance firm (not life insurance, auto & home insurance)?

Just wondering what are the certificates to qualify for the position. I am a university grad from business program but no certifications at all.

and what is the salary expectations? Is there a base salary?

Thank you in advance!

[urban.one]

You talking about sales or what sort of position?

[cooperS]

sorry, forgot to mention that

sales position

[300rwhp]

what company? what kind of role, besides just sales?

[three.eighteen.]

sales of auto & home insurance is generally not sold directly from the insurance carrier to the consumer, insurance sales people are brokers

http://www.ibac.ca/Pages/English/Education/Default.aspx

i think this is the education path for brokers

[Masked Bandit]

It sounds like you are looking at working at a brokerage (like me).

The first thing you need is your level one license but I wouldn't worry about getting that BEFORE you start applying. Most offices will pay for the course once you are hired. Generally speaking the pay isn't all that great to start ($26,000 - $35,000 per year) as you will probably start as an assistant.

However, if you can hang in for a couple years, I've seen everything from the career salary staffer at $45,000 to a commision only broker into six figures.

I don't know if that's much help to you but if you have other questions just fire away.

[Dave P]

your to qualified!

haha

im company side. its lame

[cooperS]

Thanks for everyone's help!

[tom_9109]

I've head the entry level telephone adjusters in calgary start between 43-48k/ yr now.

[Masked Bandit]

Originally posted by tom_9109
I've head the entry level telephone adjusters in calgary start between 43-48k/ yr now.

That surprises me. Generally speaking people on the company side are a bit under paid. It's possible I guess but 403Gemini would have a better idea (that's what he does).

[em2ab]

There's 2 types of insurance sales, brokers and agents. If you're a broker then you get the best price for your client based on any companies you want to get it from. If you're an agent then you work specifically for one company and get the client the best price that the company offers.
Also I've done the license exam for life insurance, it was $100 each test and $300 for the books to study.

[Dave P]

Originally posted by tom_9109
I've head the entry level telephone adjusters in calgary start between 43-48k/ yr now.

That seems pretty high to me. I work company side.

I think entry level is more 30-40k range.

[Masked Bandit]

Originally posted by Dave P


That seems pretty high to me. I work company side.

I think entry level is more 30-40k range.

That sounds a little more like the norm.

With that said, someone coming in with prior experience may be in the higher range?

[Dave P]

Ya, like any industry, experience = more cash$


But i think the OP is a insurance Greenhorn

[cooperS]

additional question for those of you work in the industry:

How did you like the work environment? Pros and cons?

Thanks again! You guys are awesome!

[Masked Bandit]

Originally posted by cooperS
additional question for those of you work in the industry:

How did you like the work environment? Pros and cons?

Thanks again! You guys are awesome!

Meh...it's shuffling papers back and forth. It's nothing that actually interests me but it's a means to an end. My situation is a little different in that I had the chance to skip the entry level grunt work and go straight to commission broker (work for family). It usally takes a few years to get to where I started. I think the biggest thing would be who you end up working for / with. The work itself is pretty bland.

[Dave P]

Its a good industry, because its not going anywhere. People will always need insurance.

If you have a good work ethic, its pretty easy to move up. And there are tones of different departments you can try (underwriting (personal, commerical, auto, property, liability) claims, loss control etc etc) or there are many different avenues on the broker side to.

As for the actual worth, im not bragging to my friends about what an interesting day I had.

[300rwhp]

Where do you work Dave P if you dont mind my asking, it is a field I am very interested in. I am looking to get into the energy broking side of things eventually but obviously I will have to start somewhere first (claims processing).

[Ruggzy_McTuggz]

If you are looking for long term career choice I would try to get into the property end of claims adjusting.

Once you have paid your dues company side and built a name for yourself within the industry you can start looking at building your own business.

We hired on a consultant to help us with the mass of hail claims from this summer and I have had to issue some of his paycheques. The guy makes $15k every two weeks (403 Gemini can vouch for this).... keep in mind he is an old bastard who has been doing property storm adjusting for about 20 years.

Oh and don't be a broker... I hate brokers :P (but they can make good coin if they are full commission with a good book of business)

[JohnnyBlaze]

I work as an underwriter assistant. It's alright, kinda boring...