Insurance Networking

[patricia.speer]

What are some of the obstacles and challenges that block carriers and agents from creating long-term win-win relationships? Is technology the answer?

[> larrylipman]

Trust! Greed! and most importantly Respect. Ours is a symbiotic relationship. We need the carrier and the carrier needs us. The problem comes when there's no love or respect or caring for the relationship. I know that when there's a tie, when we work together, we all win. Plus, we guarantee that the next joint-project goes even smoorther because we've been shoulder to shoulder before.
If you're an agent, reach out to your carrier. Meet everyone you can. Let them put a face with a name. Talk about things that aren't business. Personalize your relationship via notes or email or phone.

If you're a carrier, get out of your office and go on a few appointments. Spend the day talking strategy, sharing things that have worked in other areas. Bring a list of leads in industries that you've been just killing it in.
Bring a best in class electronic version of a proposal or prospecting letter.

Show that you care and that you want to build. Don't just blow in and blow out of our offices.

[> sethm]

Reputation matters a lot. Agents today have more choice in choosing carriers. They are looking to align with an organization that makes it easy to conduct business, pays commission on a timely basis and reduces the time to process business. These things are becoming a challenge for many agents today.