Insurance is good.
I honestly believe this even though many insurance agents have given the industry a really bad name.
I think that insurance is essential for everybody who can afford it, and not necessarily for investment or savings, but as the name implies, for coverage and protection. Basically, in case something bad happens which no one would ever wish on anyone else but still happens.
If I were to choose one most important factor in choosing how to cover yourself with insurance, it would be to find a good insurance agent that suits you.
Don't go for some young guy that just started to give him a headstart; you don't know how long he will last. Don't go for some friend just to give him or her a hand. Don't go for agents that give you 'rebates' in order to hit their sales targets. Don't go for that babe agent just because it gives you an excuse to look at her once in awhile; you'll probably never see her after that first sale anyway until you're ready to buy more.
Insurance payments are usually a heavy commitment - over RM200 per month - and it's no joke forking out this amount month after month for every year in your life. So get it right and do what is best for yourself, and not for anyone else.
Find an agent who has been in the industry at least 5 years. Someone who has a proven track record in chasing down claims for your friends or relatives, and who finds ways to make the claims succeed by knowing how to phrase things in the reports. Someone who is well connected to check where the claims are being held up and influence the right people to speed things up.
And most importantly, someone who has demonstrated time and time again that they sincerely care and are compassionate for their clients - you can tell when insurance is a calling for an agent who services you.
Then stick with them for life and trust them as long as they continue maintaining their level of integrity and commitment to their job, upgrading your policies as necessary across the years.
That's probably the first and main piece of advice I'd give.
Of course, I have a lot of other opinions and preferences when it comes to insurance coverage but I'll save it for future posts.
if no one buys from the newbie, how will they last five years? this strikes a chord as the hubby just got into the insurance line :)
ReplyDeletewell, this is just a personal preference for me. i did insurance full time when i first graduated for a couple of months, and then a bit more in part time, so i saw how agents come and go.
ReplyDeleteon the optimistic side, quite people who went into insurance full time after being in ministry became top agents very quickly. they have a natural disposition for compassion, sincerity, hard work and working with people.