Find out how to become an insurance mentor and lead the next generation of agents toward success.
Mentorship is best when it is a two-way street. Both parties need to be comfortable and open to feedback. It also helps if you are willing to learn from your mentee because sometimes the newest agents come to the table with ideas that inspired them to become agents.
For example, many up-and-coming agents were inspired by the agents they saw on TikTok. So rather than dismiss the idea of using it as a relationship-building platform because you’ve always used traditional methods, your mentee may be able to show you some tricks too!
If you want to be an insurance mentor, you’re going to need to be a good listener, a good communicator, a good problem solver, and a good coach. You’ll also need to understand that insurance is not just about selling insurance products; it’s about relationships. And who knows, maybe your mentee will become a critical building block to your business one day!
3 ways to become a good insurance mentor:
- First, you must be someone who values mentoring. If becoming a mentor stresses you out and makes you feel overwhelmed, don’t feel obliged to say yes if someone asks.
- Second, you must be able to listen to others and have the time and patience to do so.
- Third, you must have a vision for yourself. You must be able to envision what you want to be like as a mentor and how that will impact the careers of others.
When it comes to insurance mentoring, there are two types of mentors: those that are recruiting new agents into their business, and those who are helping agents start their own businesses. The former can be helpful for entry-level agents, and the latter for more experienced agents. Either way, you have to be willing to take on some risk, like giving away some coveted tried and true practices that the agent will take with them when they leave.
To be a good insurance mentor, you must be willing to put in the time, have patience and a positive attitude, and always look for ways to improve your own business by listening to feedback and ideas the new agent might be offering.
5 Areas to cover with your insurance agent mentee
The insurance business is changing daily, and as a result, the agent needs to be updated with the latest market trends to stay in the game. Of course, this is where mentorship comes into play most, but the fundamentals they learned when they got licensed should also be revisited to align them to your own beliefs, having worked in the industry for some time.
1. Customer service
- Customer service is one of the most critical skills of insurance agents, and record-keeping of client history should be a priority. Mentor them on how to keep track of these relationships.
2. Knowledge of products
- Offer them insight into what you’ve learned from selling insurance for the different companies and the differences in policies that might not be apparent on paper but that you’ve learned over time.
3. Salesmanship
- Teach them how to sell and how to be part of a sales team if they are on one. Friendly competition will always be part of the insurance game, though they can get an edge by using exclusive leads.
4. Financial math
- As an insurance mentor, you can’t teach a grown person math, but what you can do is teach them simple shortcuts, and offer them the systems you use to keep track of different types of insurance and their costs, so they’re not left babbling while on the phone with a new client.
5. Maintaining your client list
- The most important thing for an insurance agent is to keep the clients happy. Therefore, you will have to teach them how to remember names, their contact details, and the products that they purchased.
What not to give away as an insurance mentor
As an insurance mentor, you may find yourself enjoying the role, and it might even be a significant ego boost, but there are a few red flags to look for when you take on a new mentee:
- If they are asking for your client’s names or any contact information whatsoever, say goodbye.
- If they are asking to use your purchased leads before buying their own, tell them to buzz off and point them toward a good exclusive lead source, like HBWLeads.
Listening in on a call while you sell to a client is one thing, but giving away lead information is a no-no, and anyone who asks for it knows better and might not have your best interests in mind.
On the other side, if you’re the one looking for an insurance mentor
Mentors will share their experiences and how they succeeded in the insurance business. They will also teach you the trade tricks, which can help you become a good leader.
Mentors will also guide you regarding your personal goals and aspirations. For example, if you are planning to become a business owner, then a mentor will be of great assistance, and they may also provide you with a platform to develop your networking skills.
Start by contacting an experienced agent and asking them to be your mentor. They might be willing to mentor you if you are ready to learn. If they already have other agents under their wing, they may invite you to their team if you get along well.
Ask your mentor to take you through their past and current clients; Not names or numbers, or anything that specific (you can’t expect your mentor to give away their paycheck!) but just so that you know what kind of clientele they have handled and whether you will have similar types of clients in your career.
If you find an agent willing to mentor you, don’t hesitate to ask any questions.
If you cannot get a mentor and you’re just starting out, it may be best to work at an agency first to learn the ropes and gather intel from your colleagues or find an insurance mentor there.
Buying insurance leads that are qualified & exclusive to your agency keeps your pipeline full and grows your book.
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