Throughout history, mankind has tried to develop effective mechanisms for creating and using the necessary reserves in case of unexpected disasters and losses. The realization that overcoming damage is only possible through joint efforts has led to the formation of joint systems for the accumulation of material and financial resources.
So the institute of insurance arose, which in the conditions of the modern market acquired not only an economic, but also a social function. A person dedicated to the insurance business undertakes an important public mission. Therefore, the profession of an insurance agent deserves special respect.
The main objectives and types of insurance
For successful activity in a particular economic sphere, an understanding of the general principles of its functioning and knowledge of the main functions performed are necessary. Insurance carries out the accumulation of financial resources in order to effectively use them to solve the following important tasks:
- Compensation for damage resulting from adverse events.
- Providing regular insurance assistance when a person reaches a certain age or disability (retirement benefits).
- The provision of medical care.
- Saving and investing accumulated funds.
Insurance may be personal or property, voluntary or compulsory. Its objects are human life and health, civic responsibility, property and material values. This diversity determines the formation of relevant industries and insurance systems.
Successful work as an insurance agent in each of them implies possession of a certain set of professional knowledge and skills.
Who provides insurance services
Insurance is an object of state regulation and is based on the norms of financial and civil law. In accordance with the law, insurance activities are carried out by insurance companies or companies that operate on the basis of special licenses.
These can be state or private companies operating both at the local, federal and even international level. They may specialize in the provision of individual insurance services or cover several segments of the insurance market.
By the size of assets and authorized capital, large, medium and small insurance companies are distinguished. Thus, a powerful, dynamically developing system of insurance market participants is formed with a developed network of horizontal and vertical connections.
In this structure, the profession of an insurance agent is considered as the most widely demanded. It implies the possibility of career growth and implementation in projects of various sizes and financial volumes.
Who is an insurance agent?
An insurance agent may be a natural or legal person who on a contractual basis represents an insurance company, performing actions in accordance with the powers defined by it.
The insurance agent acts on behalf of and on behalf of the insurance company. He sells her products, concludes contracts, draws up the necessary documents, accepts insurance premiums, and also, within the limits of established restrictions, pays insurance compensation.
Before you understand how to become an insurance agent, it will not be out of place to find out that most of them in Russia are individuals.The most common practice of forming agent networks is the conclusion of civil contracts with agents.
At the same time, insurance agents have the opportunity to conclude separate contracts with various insurance companies and, thus, provide a larger list of insurance services.
In addition, this expands the opportunities for agents to receive additional earnings. The practice of working as an insurance agent under an employment contract is also practiced. We will understand further.
Employment
The profession of an insurance agent is included in the All-Russian Classification of the Occupations of Workers, Positions of Employees and Tariff Ranks. An agent hired by an employment contract is paid a salary for performing functional duties.
The total amount of payment is determined by the company itself, depending on its capabilities and specialist qualifications. Of course, if we are talking about a large international organization, then the salary can be very high. But at the same time, appropriate requirements are put forward to the competencies of the employee, his education and work experience.
Work as a free agent
The agent, having concluded a civil contract, acts as an intermediary between the provider and recipient of insurance services. In this sense, the activities of insurance agents contain a significant component of the entrepreneur's labor. In fact, the agent independently finds clients, studies their needs, offers optimal insurance protection solutions.
He prepares and concludes contracts with policyholders, accompanies and maintains their implementation. The agent's interest consists in receiving a commission from insurance premiums under contracts that he has concluded with policyholders. The amount of this remuneration and the procedure for financial settlements is determined by the terms of the contract concluded with the company.
This scheme encourages the agent to earn more money by actively promoting the products of the insurer in the market, and developing new types of insurance services.
What you need to know and be able to
A successful agent of an insurance company is, first of all, a competent specialist with comprehensive knowledge about the promoted insurance product and methods of insurance protection. But when working with clients, the requirements for personal qualities are highlighted.
The most important thing is the ability to build a trusting contact with a potential insured. The client must trust the company and to a large extent it depends on its representative.
The agent must demonstrate goodwill and attention, have a good appearance, be patient and willing to resolve conflict situations.
Equally important qualities are planning skills, a desire to learn, perseverance and energy. And for work to bring material and moral satisfaction, it is necessary to have an interest in insurance activity as a profession and a desire to work and earn money.
How to learn the basics of insurance
The training of insurance agents is carried out at courses of different durations or at schools established by insurance companies. Education is full-time or part-time. The educational process uses modern teaching technology. It includes trainings, business games. Widely used virtual classes, webinars, training videos.
For example, the initial training of agents in the company "Rosgosstrakh" is carried out according to a separate training system, which was called the "School of the insurance agent." All employees of the marketing departments of the organization should be trained in it.
During the classes, students master the basic skills of working with clients, study the company's insurance products. After studying at school, in the course of labor activity, the Rosgosstrakh insurance agent has the opportunity to improve his skills in relevant courses, to master the peculiarities of managing the insurance business.
Where to begin
So, after getting an initial idea of the profession of an insurance agent, evaluating the pros and cons, the question "how to become an insurance agent?" gained the strength necessary to bring it to life.
To begin with, it is advisable to decide on the choice of the company in which I would like to work. It would be wise for a newcomer to apply to organizations that have a long positive reputation in the insurance market and provide an opportunity to get elementary education.
In addition, it is advisable to pay attention to how the company builds relationships with its agents. For example, the largest insurance company Rosgosstrakh separately emphasizes the importance of cooperation with 65,000 agents who represent it in all regions of Russia. For them, all the conditions have been created for a successful start in the insurance market.
What affects the agent’s earnings
The conditions for the agent to receive the commission are determined by the contract with the insurance company. At the same time, there are objective reasons affecting the amount of possible earnings. First of all, this is the region in which the agent works, since the level of prosperity of the population affects its ability to save additional funds, including insurance needs. For example, the Rosgosstrakh insurance agent may have earnings in the metropolitan area of up to 80,000 rubles, while in the country the amount of income can range from 10,000 to 30,000 rubles.
Other things being equal, the size of the insurance agent’s income depends on how competently he can plan and organize his activities. Will he be able to form an adequate portfolio of proposals. How efficiently he organizes customer acquisition and further interaction with them.
The modern world makes us constantly change, master new types of activities and specialties. The profession of an insurance agent provides the people who choose it with the opportunity not only to earn, but also to reveal their entrepreneurial potential, to find a wide range of useful and enjoyable acquaintances, to constantly keep up to date, and, most importantly, to benefit people.