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Young Insurance Agents Opinion Survey 2014

Insurance Journal's Exclusive Young Agents/Brokers Opinion Survey 2014

Young agents and brokers: Who are you? What do you think about your career? How happy are you with your compensation and working conditions? Do you want to be an owner someday or are you already one? What do you think of the industry's public image?

This is a survey exclusively for licensed property/casualty insurance agents and brokers in the U.S. who are 40 years of age or younger. The survey takes only a few minutes to complete. The questions solicit your views on your career, your own agency and the agency system, the P/C industry, the future and more. All individual replies are CONFIDENTIAL. Aggregate results will be reported in Insurance Journal magazine on April 7 and on www.insurancejournal.com later. Have fun and thank you for participating.
1.Are you a licensed property-casualty agent or broker who is 40 years or younger and working in the U.S.(Required.)
2.Please indicate your age range.
3.How long have you been an independent agent or broker?
4.Do you consider insurance to be your permanent career?
5.Which of these best describes your status with your current agency/brokerage?
6.If you are not an agency or brokerage owner now, would you like to be an owner someday?
7.How confident are you that you will be an agency owner someday?
8.How were you recruited for your current position?
9.Please indicate if these statements ring basically true or basically false based on your experience in the agency/brokerage business.
Basically True
Basically False
No Opinion
As a younger agent, I have to work harder to gain the confidence of clients.
I fear that my career will be hurt by a merger or sale of my agency.
I wish I could specialize more than I am now permitted to do.
Much of my production supports older producers in the agency.
During my career, I have worked for more than one agency.
While in my present position, I have been offered a job with another agency.
Success in this business is mostly about building relationships.
Success with 40 and younger clientele is built first by relationships online.
Efficiency and effectiveness are more important than relationships to succeed in this business.
I propose new ideas but our firm rarely seems to get to them.
The agency ranks could use more women and minorities.
I have already completed or am working to complete a CPCU, CIC, ARM or other insurance designation program.
I have benefited from having another agent serve as a mentor to me in my career.
I wish my agency would expand into new markets.
I think my compensation is fair.
I think my agency's management is fair.
I believe advancement is based on relationships more than performance.
I am looking for a better job in the insurance industry.
I am looking to get out of the insurance industry.
I would like to increase the time I spend on sales versus servicing or administrative tasks.
10.Which of the following tools and activities do you participate in?
11.Rate the following factors in the agency or brokerage where you work.
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Quality of agency technology in general
Quality of agency management system
Quality of management
Employee compensation and benefits
Quality and number of carriers represented
Opportunities for advancement
Office -- physical environment and location
Administrative support
Reputation in the communities and industries agency serves
Opportunities for educational improvement
Telecommuting/flexibility in hours
Flexibility with work-life balance
12.How many hours a week on average do you work?
13.How optimistic are you about the following?
Very Optimistic
Optimistic
Cautious
Not Optimistic
Your own career as an independent agent
Keeping your current job
Your 2014 income will be greater than it was in 2013
The future of the independent agency system
The U.S. economy in 2014
The industry's ability to attract quality talent
Your agency's ability to attract quality talent
Independent agents' ability to grow commercial lines market share
Independent agents' ability to gain personal lines market share
The soft market will end within in the year
The financial stability of P/C insurers
Independent agency channel’s ability to advance in technology use
14.Which of the following do you see as the biggest challenges for your agency or brokerage?
15.Which segment of the property/casualty business are you primarily involved in?
16.Please indicate the size of your agency/brokerage in annual property/casualty premium volume.
17.Which of the following describes your agency or brokerage?
18.Is your agency or brokerage family-owned?
19.In what state is the agency or brokerage you work for?(Required.)
20.Please rate the property/casualty industry in the following areas?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Customer service
Public image
Treatment of employees
Professionalism
Opportunities for advancement
Ethics
Career attractiveness to young professionals
Use of technology
Marketing and advertising
21.What is your gender?
22.Do you think the industry offers men more opportunity than women?
23.What was your individual TOTAL compensation in 2013 as an independent agent or broker, including all commissions, salary, bonuses, fees and profit-sharing?
24.Would you recommend that a younger person consider a career as an independent insurance agent/broker?
25.What is the highest level of education you have completed?
26.What do you like the MOST about being an independent agent or broker?
27.What do you like the LEAST about being an independent agent or broker?
28.How did you get into the insurance agency business? Please share your story.
29.Other than your job, what other professional interests or activities do you have? Are you involved in professional sports, arts, music, writing, entertainment, politics, community activities or other field? Are you involved in any type of competition? Tell us about your non-insurance side.
30.If you were not an independent agent, what would you like to be?
31.All responses will remain confidential. However, if Insurance Journal may contact you for additional information and/or comments. To receive a complimentary copy of the Young Agents Survey report include your email below. Thank you!
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