Automobile accidents, fire, theft, and similar events can cause a lot of damage. Especially for business owners, it could bring massive damage to their property and hamper their company’s growth. That’s where property and casualty insurance agents come in. So, is property-casualty insurers a good career path?
Well, it is a career choice that allows you to help people deal with mishaps. So, it is a purpose-driven career path that will motivate those seeking a meaningful profession. The pay in the industry is also relatively high if you perform well.
In addition to that, it is an industry that is constantly on the rise. As a result, there are loads of job opportunities in the industry. Naturally, working in the industry can be quite rewarding and lucrative in a variety of ways.
So, now that you know it is a good career path, let’s delve deeper into a career in property-casualty insurance.
What Do People Working In Property-Casualty Insurance Do?
Working in the field requires you to work with clients first to understand their insurance needs. By interviewing them, property-casualty insurers try to figure out what kind of coverage that particular client needs.
Working in this industry allows you to help everyone, from individuals to the most prominent companies get the right coverage against casualties. Naturally, it would be best if you had good communication skills and a level of empathy to do well in this industry.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of a career in property-casualty insurance.
Benefits of Choosing Property-Casualty Insurance Career Path
Now, we talked in brief about the positives of this career path. It is definitely a good career path with high earning potential and the opportunity to help people. But luckily for those looking for this field, the benefits of choosing a career in this field don’t end here.
Here are some more benefits of choosing this career path:
1. Flexibility
Flexibility is something most young professionals look for in their careers. In fact, two-thirds of people across the globe want to work more flexibly. Now, property-casualty insurance jobs have a wide range of options available.
So, you can choose from a variety of roles in the sector. This can be anything ranging from sales to underwriting. You can select which roles you want to perform and pick your path accordingly.
This field also allows you the freedom to be your own boss and decide your limits when it comes to paying. After all, if you are a good salesman, there’s no end to how much you can earn in this field.
2. Financial Freedom
Again, this is a field where you can earn seemingly endless amounts of money. Apart from the lucrative salary that you make in the field, there is also a lot of commission to get your hands on.
High-performing Insurance Agents or Salespeople make loads of money through these commissions on the sales they make. So, if you have the right temperament and skill for sales, you can easily attain financial freedom while working in this field.
This is a field that rewards the results you bring to your company. In fact, you can earn up to $80,000 and beyond when you choose this career path.
3. Rewarding Career
Here, we are not talking about this career path being rewarding in terms of money. We have already covered that point. What we mean here is that this is a career that allows you to help people.
As a result, you feel a sense of purpose when you wake up to go to work. And as we all know, not many people in the world today can say that about their jobs. If you choose a career in property-casualty insurance, you will never have to think about the lack of purpose in what you do.
After all, just working hard and making a living can not be sufficient motivation. According to a survey, a whopping 90% of people will agree to earn less money in favor of a more meaningful job.
If you can relate to this quest for meaning, then we must say yes to ‘is property-casualty insurers a good career path?’
4. Knowledge
Working as an insurance agent opens up doors for a lot of learning. You will meet all kinds of people, and by trying to sell them insurance to protect them from damages, you will also learn about their industry.
So, almost every time you meet a client, you will return with abundant knowledge. This is another reason why this is an exciting career path to choose. There is always a lot to learn and grasp for insurance agents.
Also, this knowledge will help you grow in your industry and give you a broader worldview. Why? That’s precisely the reason why so many insurance agents are good conversationalists.
5. Be Your Own Boss
In this field, you won’t necessarily have to spend your life working at a company. It is common for those working in property-casualty insurance to start working as freelance agents.
So, a career in this field basically allows you to become your boss after a specific time. Apart from freelancing, you can also open your own small insurance company.
Some insurance agents also set up a subsidiary of a large insurance company. In a nutshell, there are several ways you can work independently in this field after gaining enough experience and knowledge.
In fact, nearly 30% of all entrepreneurs start a business because they want to be their own bosses. So, if this is something that interests you as well, this might just be the career path for you!
As you can see, the benefits of working in the industry are many. And now that you have read through five of them, you must be wondering how to enter this industry. So, let’s take a look at the skills and qualifications needed for a career in property-casualty insurance.
Educational Requirements to Follow Property Casualty Insurer Career Path
When it comes to entry-level, a high school diploma is a typical requirement for this role. In fact, this is another great thing about the industry. You do not have to have advanced degrees to start working; you can learn and grow as you work.
Having said that, you do need to have a license to be able to sell insurance. So, let’s take a look at some of these educational and certification requirements and a step-by-step guide to get through the process:
1. State’s Licensing Exam
Now, in order to sell insurance in any state, you need to pass a licensing exam. The exam pattern and passing score will differ in these tests on a state-to-state basis. If you’re found selling insurance without passing the licensing exam, you will be eligible for legal punishment.
The licensing exam is nowhere near among the most challenging exams you will face. But it is better to prepare well beforehand and get your license without any hiccups. Set aside time to study for the license exam.
2. Insurance Certification Course
This is not a requirement for all states. But some of the states in the US will need you to complete an insurance certification course. This course will be a must for you to be able to appear for the property-casualty license exam we talked about in the point above.
Also, to prepare well for the course and the exam, you can take property-casualty practice tests that you quickly find on the internet.
3. Send Your Documents to the State Board
Once you have completed the course and cleared the licensing exam, sending your documents to the State Insurance Board is next. The state board will then conduct a background assessment on you.
Remember, the processes mentioned above will differ from one state to another. Some states will not have such rigorous licensing procedures in place.
So, if you choose the property-casualty insurer’s career path, check your state’s licensing regulations beforehand.
As we said, you can enter this industry without an advanced degree. But we must also mention that a Bachelor’s Degree will improve your job prospects in the industry as it would in any industry.
The Final Verdict: Is Property-Casualty Insurers a Good Career Path?
The potential for pay in property-casualty insurers is up there with the best. So, the compensation and the benefits of a career in the field are impressive. But the potential for earning loads of money with commissions on sales is not the only thing that makes us say yes to ‘is property-casualty insurers a good career path?’
So, do you think you have the necessary skills for a career in the field? If you do, it is time to update your resume, write an engaging cover letter, and take a quick look at your state’s licensing regulations for insurance sellers.
We hope this article helped you decide on whether or not this is a career path that suits you. And we wish you all the best in your career!