What Type of Insurance Is Best to Sell When Starting Out

Property & Casualty Insurance Pros

Becoming a licensed agent to sell Property & Casualty insurance has numerous advantages. First, nearly every business and private citizen needs insurance. In the commercial area, most businesses need insurance protection for their buildings, contents, automobiles and other physical assets. Liability coverage is also very important.

Similarly, private individuals also need insurance protection to cover their homes, apartments, cars, boats as well as for any liability risks.

With this said, the opportunities for an agent to sell Property & Casualty insurance products to both companies and individuals are abundant.

Property Casualty Insurance Cons

Agents who focus on just Property & Casualty insurance do not have the ability to market and sell other important types of insurance coverages such as Health, Life, or Disability.

In addition, the competition in the Property & Casualty marketplace can be intense and both business owners and consumers often make price a huge factor in their buying decisions. With this in mind, it is important for a Property & Casualty agent to stand out in the marketplace by demonstrating a high level of knowledge regarding customers’ true insurance needs. Successful agents can do well building a career as a Property & Casualty sales representative.

Requirements to Become an Insurance Agent and Sell P&C Insurance

In order to sell Property & Casualty policies, nearly all states require that a person be properly licensed through the Department of Insurance. Before sitting for the license exam, most states require that people interested in this career path attend a pre-licensing course that outlines the fundamental concepts of the industry, as well as the ethics laws and other regulations that govern agents' activities.

Once the pre-licensing class is completed, the prospective agent must study for and take the licensing exam, which includes questions about many aspects of Property & Casualty insurance. After a license has been issued, a new agent must become appointed with a P&C carrier or work for an agency that has such an arrangement.

As a requirement to maintain the Property & Casualty license, agents must complete a certain amount of continuing education hours as mandated by the state in which the license is issued.

Life & Health Insurance Pros

Life and Health insurance are very important types of coverages, as they have a direct impact on people’s daily lives. Health insurance allows individuals and their families to gain access to needed medical care so they can live active and healthy lives.

Life insurance financially protects a family should a loved one pass away. It provides survivors with the ability to meet ongoing financial obligations, such as paying a mortgage or educational expenses. Both Health and Life insurance can be sold either on a group or individual basis. Group plans focus on policies that are offered to employees through their jobs, whereas individual contracts are purchased privately. Successful agents can make a nice living by selling these kinds of coverages.

Life & Health Insurance Cons

Selling Health and Life insurance can be an extremely competitive environment, with many agents pursuing the same prospect or client pool. In addition, if a person is licensed only in the areas of Life and Health coverage, they cannot sell other lines of insurance such as Property & Casualty. Life and Health agents must also be appointed by an insurance company in order to sell their products.

A licensed Life and Health agent must also complete continuing education courses to ensure that they stay current on industry knowledge. Life and Health insurance policies can be complex and successful agents must become experts in their field.

Requirements to Become an Insurance Agent and Sell L&H Insurance

People who are interested in a career in the Life and Health insurance field must be licensed by the state in which they are doing business. Each state has a Department of Insurance which is responsible for regulating the conduct of agents and enforcing insurance laws that are designed to protect consumers.

In most states, prospective agents must attend a pre-licensing course, which outlines the information that will be covered on the exam. After this class has been completed, a person can sit for the license exam. The Life and Health insurance exams are separate tests and people can choose to take both or only one.

Once a license is granted, the new agent is able to market and sell Life and Health insurance products to the public.

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