When you become a Farm Bureau insurance agent, you’re not just selling insurance. You have the opportunity to be a leader in your community.
Your clients aren’t just numbers on policies. They are people you know and care about. They are your friends and neighbors, and you can be confident you’re helping them safeguard their livelihoods and futures.
Unlike traditional entrepreneurship opportunities, Farm Bureau agents have the backing of one of the most recognizable companies in the industry. That reputation has been earned by ensuring that agents have what they need to succeed, including access to teams of professionals committed to helping them.
Launching a new professional venture as a small business owner can be intimidating. Farm Bureau offers a unique Developing Agent Program so you don’t have to do it alone. If you want to learn how to become an insurance agent for Farm Bureau, here’s a step-by-step guide to the Developing Agent Program.
What Is the Developing Agent Program?
The Developing Agent Program is your chance to try the insurance industry on your own terms and learn what it’s like to grow a business without leaving your job. You work toward specific goals, and as you start meeting them, you gain honest insight into the expectations, challenges and the commitment of being a Farm Bureau agent.
The program can last between one to three months. The length varies depending on how long it takes you to complete the requirements. In this program, you will:
· Identify auto, home and life insurance
· Schedule sales appointments
· Gain hands on learning and training experiences with full-time agents
Once you’ve completed the program, you and your District Manager decide together if becoming a full-time agent is a good option for you.
What Are the Top Benefits of the Developing Agent Program?
You’ll find that the Developing Agent Program offers a range of benefits. Most people who join the program point to these top three:
1. You work around your current job schedule. While keeping your current day job, you can try the program to see if you would be successful as an insurance agent. With this program, you’ll have time to learn some of the ins and outs of the insurance business and be sure it’s a change you want to make.
2. You’ll earn commissions from your insurance sales. The program offers real-time business experience with actual earning potential. You’ll earn commissions on the insurance products you sell, and there are no limits to your income potential.
3. There are no franchise fees. In many cases, when you want to start your own business, you need to pay a franchise fee that could cost $25,000 to $50,000 or even more. Unlike many other small business opportunities, there are no franchise fees or long-term financial commitments at Farm Bureau.
Before You Start the Developing Agent Program
There are a few steps you must take before you can begin the Developing Agent Program. You need to:
· Complete the Candidate Opportunity Form and interviews with Farm Bureau.
· Take a Candidate Assessment and pass a background check with Farm Bureau.
· Get the proper licensing and requirements.
The Developing Agent Program: Step-by-Step
During the program, you build skills that will guide you through the beginning stages of running your own business. Here are the steps of the Developing Agent Program.
1. Participate in Online and In-Class Training
Throughout the program, you will take part in online and in-person educational training. Online training allows you to work at the times and locations that are convenient for you, while in-person training gives you face-to-face contact with your instructor and your peers so you can build connections.
2. Participate in Hands-On Training
Trainers and experienced agents — who know what it’s like to be starting out as a new agent — lead hands-on training sessions. During training sessions, you will:
· Learn the basics of the sales process, Farm Bureau insurance products and the insurance business.
· Develop the business and sales skills you need to help you earn clients’ business.
· Learn how to manage your time as a business owner.
3. Schedule Meetings with Prospective Clients
A mentor will work with you to help you set up meetings with potential clients. They will show you how to arrange your sales appointments and provide insight into what life is like as a successful full-time agent. This joint-work approach means a seasoned agent, manager or trainer is there to assist you. By partnering with a mentor, you build confidence and knowledge.
4. Reach Developing Agent Program Milestones
You need to achieve specific milestones and accomplishments during the program to move forward to the next step of your insurance journey. You will be expected to meet minimum sales requirements during the program. Your mentor will be by your side to help ensure that you can meet your sales targets.
5. Become a Contracted Agent
Once you complete the Developing Agent Program, you’re ready to contract as an agent. Agents graduate from the Developing Agent Program to full-time between January and October every year, but you can start the application process any time of the year.
The Next Steps
Once you complete the Developing Agent Program, you become a contracted agent. Once you contract as a Farm Bureau agent, you will still receive additional training and support as you build your business.
Are You Ready to Make the Move to Farm Bureau?
With Farm Bureau’s Developing Agent Program, you get the opportunity to learn what working as an insurance agent is like without leaving your current job. If you’re ready to take the leap into a new profession, reach out and learn why Farm Bureau might be the place for you.