I am an AA97 agent who is much closer to the end than the beginning. Never been a Superstar-mostly because my priorities do not fully mesh with a sales first mentality. I grew like crazy 20 years ago when service and insurance understanding were important.
A few years back, I did the annual mad scramble to make my Life numbers in December. For an agent, that often means buying more permanent life on yourself to get premium. Anyway, I did all that and ended up with a zero dollar scorecard because I just couldn’t write auto and fire—we were 50-100% overpriced. Since then, I have backed way off on marketing and sell financial products when customers ask for them. State Farm says my numbers are my worst ever. But my income is my best ever and I sleep at night, and even get along with my wife again.
Pressure in Agency is insane. I have come to realize that SF’s #1 position is not my personal responsibility, and that it makes no sense to spend all of MY money building THEIR business. They call us business owners when it’s convenient for them. But. I cannot sell or even name a successor. My retirement is what I’ve saved, period. SF Agency is a job with above average income but with massive personal risk and stress. I have reached the point where I’m not quite ready to leave, but if they cut me loose one morning I would actually breathe a sigh of relief.