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Attracting Millennials in Insurance

Attracting Millennials in Insurance

Let’s be straight: we need millennials in insurance.

In 2016, the average US insurance agent was 59 years old. Your staff is getting older. In fact, about 55% of insurance upper management are eligible to retire, and the industry is looking at 70,000 open positions, according to The Institutes.

Millennials are the answer.

But, why is it so hard to get millennials into insurance?

This question has those in the industry scratching their heads. The hard truth is insurance has a bad rap. A 2015 research study by The Hartford showed 18 to 34-year-olds saw the industry as boring. Overall, only 4% said they had an interest in insurance.

Looking to recruit top talent for your agency? Check out our “Key Strategies” eGuide

But, once millennials are in insurance, they plan to stay. According to a Vertafore survey on millennials in the industry, 81% said they’d stay as long as possible, and 70% would refer working in insurance to friends.

Ok, so how can the insurance industry recruit millennials?

The best way to bring in millennials is to speak to what they’re looking for in their job and career.  And, connecting those needs with what is already offered in a career in insurance. Some key areas to highlight are:

  • Industry stability

In that same Vertafore survey, 81% said financial stability was a big factor in why they stay in insurance. Like all career seekers, millennials are looking for a place that has longevity, and the insurance industry has just that. As long as people own things, they’ll need to insure them. Few industries can promise that kind of stability.

  • Work-life balance

78% of Vertafore respondents listed work-life balance as an attractive part of working in insurance. Millennials like being independent and setting their own hours. Working in insurance gives them the freedom to work flexible hours, work from home, and manage their own schedule.

Read more tips on recruiting millennials to your agency

  • Opportunities for collaboration

Though they love their independence, millennials also look for opportunities to collaborate. In insurance, they’ll constantly be working as a team to help customers and problem-solve on ways to meet their needs.

  • Making an impact

Millennials are looking for ways to be difference-makers, working to improve the world. Insurance agents, CRMs, owners, carriers, and all individuals in the industry are there to help people at the worst moments in their life. Now THAT’S making an impact.

SIS President Michael Doran speaks to the impact independent agencies make in the lives of their customers

  • Room for growth and influence

Millennials came of age in a start-up culture. Most are looking to be their own boss, or at least have a say in where their company is going. Independent agencies offer that “start-up” feel, allowing each employee to feel they have stock in the business.

Additionally, 75% of respondents to the Vertafore survey said “career development” was a major factor in why they loved their job in insurance. With so many Baby Boomers retiring, millennials have great growth and influence opportunity in insurance right off the bat.

The next challenge: getting them to stay.

While the industry has many aspects that make it appealing to millennials, it’s up to you to foster a culture that gets them to stay.

Part of that is setting up ways to welcome new staff and get them up to speed on processes and tech, including how to use your agency management system. To help our partner agencies grow, we at SIS offer personalized training sessions and dedicated online and in-person support so new employees can hit the ground running. Giving millennials that jump-start into your agency can be a game-changer.

To find out more about SIS, our Partner XE management system, and how we help our partner agencies achieve success, contact us at [email protected].

Add These 6 Websites to Your Daily Routine

Add These 6 Websites to Your Daily Routine

Whether it’s a quick morning jog, coffee in the car, or a shot of espresso at your favorite cafe, we all have a part of our morning routine that gives us that “Hello, today!” boost. Could your agency use that jolt, too?

Whether its tech tips, marketing tricks, news and information, or anything in-between, take advantage of the advice and inventiveness provided by great minds in the industry.

A recent post from Agency Nation hit on some of the best resources out there. Below are some of our favorite resources from the list.

Get targeted resources on perpetuation, cyber security, and more with the SIS eGuides

6 Online Insurance Resources to Follow

  1. Agency Nation: Though specific resources are named on the list, the site itself has a wealth of information. Choose from articles, podcasts and a weekly video show uncovering the latest trends and tactics in independent insurance.
  2. Insurance Thought Leadership: True to its name, this site brings together great minds in the industry. Read articles, listen to podcasts, or check out one of three blogs, including one focused on innovation.
  3. The GROW Program: Stemmed from a social and digital marketing business, GROW offers a blog and podcast for agencies looking to hone branding and expand exposure.

Check out another great resource: the SIS Blog

  1. Carrie Reynolds: Carrie has been at it since 1996, including creating her own brand, Insurance Goddess. Show co-owns her family-run agency and goes full throttle in insurance branding and marketing.
  2. Coverager: With a focus on insurance tech, Coverager is a curation of what’s up with insurance, innovation, and the tools that make it happen. Check out its “Coverage Ponders” section for engaging articles.
  3. Agency Checklists: Based out of Massachusetts, this site provides the latest in agency, insurer, fraud, and other industry news. It’s the straight facts owners need to make the best decisions for their business.

See the full list at Agency Nation!

Keeping the Conversation Going

The conversation about improving your agency doesn’t have to stop at gaining tips and tricks. Keep the conversation growing by sharing your insights with your colleagues. We encourage Partner XE users to share their latest ideas through our Partner XE user community.

Read about one of our recent Partner XE Community Regional Learnings

Whether it’s meeting at our regular Regional Learnings, shaping the Partner XE experience as a member of a workgroup or connecting on our regular monthly webinars, it’s important for the Partner XE community to connect in order to grow.

Get connected with the Partner XE community today! Contact us at [email protected] or 800.747.7005, Option 6.

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Texas’s Independent Agency Management System Partner Helping the Lone Star State’s insurance agencies challenge the status quo and achieve more. View Demos View Texas Testimonials Want to schedule some time to talk? Fill out the information below. Leading...
Data Tracking in Your Independent Insurance Agency

Data Tracking in Your Independent Insurance Agency

Like any small business, independent insurance agencies are continually searching for ways to improve. Whether it be better quality service, streamlined operations, or a more effective way of doing business, each improvement makes an impact.

The phrase “data analysis” may seem intimidating. But, once your agency has set up reporting measures, capturing data is easy and interpretation is intuitive.

Though your agency could report on any number of areas, two of the most telling are with finances and employees. Below are a few of the reporting areas that can help you gain information on where your agency stands, so you can determine where you need to go.

See another important insurance agency reporting area here

Data Tracking: Finances

Finances tend to come to mind first when talking about data. There are a few areas to investigate to get a read on how your agency is performing financially. To get a handle on your agency’s finances, set up reports to track these two important areas:

  • Revenue: Track income from new customers, line additions for existing customers, and any other way you’re making money. Set up reporting once, so you don’t have to scramble when you need this pertinent info.
  • Income loss: Look at areas where you’re losing business. Pay attention to patterns. Is there a certain time of year, policy type, or point in your sales process where more business is lost than others?

See where your data comes from and how you can use it

Data Tracking: Employee Performance

Just as important as your finances is how your employees are performing. The two go hand-in-hand. The more efficient and productive your staff is, the better you’ll do as an agency. Two key tracking areas include:

  • Call analysis: This data lets you know the end result of each phone call you or your producers make to prospects or customers. Call analysis reports can tell you two things: 1) if your outreach methods are netting positive results and 2) what sequences or methods are working better than others. You can use this information to adjust your tactics for more positive results.
  • Employee productivity: You can track what your employees are doing and how long it takes them to do it through your agency management system. The goal here is not to monitor your staff’s every move, but to get an idea of which processes are taking longer than others. Then, you can work to make those tasks move faster, whether it be through new workflows or eliminating the task through automation.

Learn more on evaluating your agency’s data gathering habits

Leveraging your Agency Management System

Your agency management system is by far the best tool for collecting and reporting on data. Your system should have built in reports and the option to create your own custom read-outs. Once your agency has established good data gathering habits, pulling reports is as easy as clicking a button.

Find out even more ways to leverage your management system

Another great capability to leverage is integrated accounting, which floods your financial data into and out of your agency management system. Integrated accounting not only saves you from entering the same data twice, it ensures records in your management system are up to date. And, since all your finances are found in your management system, you can again pull any report with one keystroke.

You can find out more about the benefits of accounting integration, standard and custom reporting, email integration, and other valuable agency management system capabilities on the SIS website. You’ll get information on Partner XE, our premier agency management system challenging the status quo in the insurance industry. View a demo and get in touch with one of our experienced team members. Get all the answers at sispartnerplatform.com.

Wisconsin Agency Management Provider

Wisconsin’s Independent Agency Management System Partner Helping The Badger State’s insurance agencies challenge the status quo and achieve more. View Demos View Wisconsin Testimonials Want to schedule some time to talk? Fill out the information below. Leading...