Every four years, the world’s best athletes are front and center. As they compete for gold, they showcase the skills that make them elite athletes. If you were once an athlete, chances are you learned skills that you can now apply in your professional career. At Farm Bureau, many of our agents were once athletes – some playing collegiately and professionally. Find out from the agents themselves about how being an athlete helped them become an even better Farm Bureau agent!
The Farm Bureau Insurance Team
Today’s top athletes have the internal drive and commitment to be the best, but all have a support system of coaches and teammates to guide them along the way. The same goes for Farm Bureau agents. When you join Farm Bureau, you have an entire team working with you toward the same goal: to protect the livelihoods and futures of client/members. Here are just some of the teammates you’ll work with:
- Agency Managers
When you begin your insurance career as a Farm Bureau agent, you’ll work with your agency manager. This coach-like figure is your “go-to” person for everything you need. From teaching you best practices with your sales, marketing and running your business, they’re with you every step of the way.
- Marketing Underwriters
Your marketing underwriter’s primary job is to help you grow your book of business by helping you define prospects and markets; helping you quote new business; developing sales presentations ideas and promoting the cross-sell opportunities that are available.
- Sales Associates
Your sales associates help you run your office on a day-to-day basis. They provide outstanding customer service and support to your client/members as well as helping you grow your business.
- Fellow Agents
Some of the best advice and tips come directly from your teammates – your fellow agents who are out in the community with you. Don’t be afraid to contact them to see what’s working.
- Just in Time Team
The Just in Time Team is available to help you with any and all sales scenarios and put you in the best possible position to offer our products to client/members.
- Sales Coach
Your sales coach will help keep you up-to-date with all the company marketing programs, sales, and marketing best practices.
From Football Player to Coach to Farm Bureau Agent
It can be difficult to get on your feet when you’re starting a new career. Fortunately, Farm Bureau provides you the tools and resources around to help you build a successful business. Scott Merchant, an Iowa agent, knows about leadership and building a winning team.
“I love helping people – it’s what drives me,” says Scott, who played football at South Dakota State and later became a high school football coach. “My sports background has made me a better agent because it taught me to be a team player, a leader, and gave me that ‘never-give-up’ attitude.”
Goal Oriented and Passionate Insurance Agents
Tom Banderas played tight end for the University of Nebraska from 1983-1987 and then became a Farm Bureau agent in 1989.
Similar to world-class athletes, our agents are incredibly goal-oriented. Tom Banderas – a Nebraska agent who played tight end at the University of Nebraska – understands that an agent’s goal isn’t just sales – it’s about serving the community.
“You have to be extremely focused in this business, and playing football gave me that mentality,” says Tom. “And when you take care of your client/members, the rest will take care of itself.”
Motivated to Continue Their Education
Most elite athletes attribute their success to hard work and preparation, just like Farm Bureau agents. Chris Kamin, an associate manager in Arizona, will tell you the same thing about his 15-year golfing career.
“There are a number of factors that can influence your golf game, but ultimately, it’s all about hard work and preparation. The skills I learned on the course easily translate to working for Farm Bureau.”
At Farm Bureau, we value continued education for our agents. When starting out, the Reserve Agent Program will help you decide whether being an agent is right for you, without quitting your day job! Once you become a full-time agent, there are many opportunities for you to grow your skills and advance your career with trainings, seminars, networking events, and much more.
For Chris, he joined Farm Bureau because he was looking for three things:
- The ability to help people
- A flexible schedule
- The opportunity to earn a living
As an agent, Chris can cross all of those things off his list. Agents build their own schedules based on what works for them. And when it comes to income, the sky's the limit as our commission scale is one of the best multiline exclusive agent contracts in the industry.
Farm Bureau Insurance Agents Bounce Back
Every athlete knows that sometimes things don’t turn out the way you hoped. On days like this, Arizona agent David Droste, a former professional golfer, remembers why he started working for Farm Bureau: to be a leader in his community.
“You’re going to have good and bad days, but the beauty of the business is that you get another chance to figure it out. It’s how you bounce back that counts.”
There’s a Spot for You on the Farm Bureau Team
From coaches to players, the skills needed to excel on the field or course aren’t that different from those needed to be a successful Farm Bureau agent. If you’re ready to join a new team, learn more about the opportunities available at Farm Bureau. You’re sure to find a great fit on a team that’s ready to put you in position to win.