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Insurance Industry |
Introduction – My name is Nick Diorio. I own an insurance agency for American Family Insurance here in Plainfield. I started my business in September of 1992. I have a staff of 2 employees and am responsible for all aspects of a business; hiring, training, marketing, etc. I also live here in Plainfield with my wife, Dana, and two children, Nina and Dylan. Initial Interest – I first got interested in the insurance business during my senior year at NIU. I attended a job fair and began talking to an insurance company. Also, I had an uncle in the business who was successful and seemed to enjoy what he did. Another reason was I received a job offer and at the time I really didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. I thought I would at least give the insurance business a try and go from there. Schooling – This position does require a degree. A little more is required that most people wouldn’t think of. It requires a good driving record and credit history. In my profession, you are not just selling insurance but also starting your own business. With that in mind, you have to be in good shape financially to begin. Lastly, you do need to become licensed to sell insurance through the state. Training – This is provided by most companies once the above requirements are met. This seems to have improved significantly since I started. Most of the training though, is through learning on the job. There is too much to learn to really know it all, therefore you do have to learn as you go. This way allows you to apply your knowledge to real life situations. Salary Information – Like many sales jobs, you make what you earn. By that I mean, your performance directly relates to your income. If you don’t perform you will not do well. But, if you exceed you will do very well. It’s all up to you. Typical Day – A typical day can depend on what stage of your career you are at. I was always trying to find new clients during the early years . As your business grows, you are more responsible for servicing your existing clients. At this stage it becomes more of a juggling act between servicing current clients while always looking to add more. Some of my day to day duties now include; managing my office, answering clients questions, meeting with people inside and outside of the office, helping with claims situations, handling occasional problems and many more. Personal Skills Needed – I never saw myself as a salesman. Like you, I stereotyped what a salesman was like. A fast talking, brown nosing man in a bad tie. That is not the case. I am building long term relationships so the most important qualities are; honesty, dedication, thoroughness and following through with your clients. The good and the bad – Overall, I enjoy my job a lot. I have been able to earn a good income and travel to many great places due to reaching incentive programs. I have been able to decide when to work late and when to leave early to coach my kids in sports for example. I am my own boss. On the flip side of that, I have seen more than a few agents take advantage of this flexibility and fail because of it. You need to have a certain dedication to not get carried away with this freedom. Closing – I believe the insurance business to be very rewarding. Personally, I have enjoyed having my own business. It took many years of hard work to get the business to where I wanted it and am never completely satisfied. I also get an opportunity to work with many people who appreciate what we do and value the service we provide. That in itself can be very rewarding. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. |
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