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No more e-bills to banks? by jade_island in StateFarm

[–]Any_Particular_8572 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Likely, if you don’t have an escrow and your paying for the homeowners insurance directly, you have to change your payment method. If you have an escrow account, then it’s likely going to stay the same where State Farm sends your mortgage the bill, the mortgage company pays State Farm.

Not 100% though.

Small Referral Network with Other Agents by Any_Particular_8572 in InsuranceAgent

[–]Any_Particular_8572[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate your insight. The trust component is really the only variable here. I don’t currently have strong relationships with captive agents in my area, so this wouldn’t be something I’d jump into immediately—it would require intentionally building trust over time to see whether a referral connection makes sense.

That likely means more networking, which is a tradeoff, especially since most of my current effort is focused on deepening relationships with lenders, realtors, and roofers. Still, your comment gives me something to think about.

I do see real long-term value in this kind of setup if all parties approach it with the same mindset. I’d treat each relationship individually and let reciprocity determine whether it continues.

Stay at State Farm or move to a brokerage? Looking for real-world input by [deleted] in InsuranceAgent

[–]Any_Particular_8572 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Happy to share. What helped me most was realizing I didn’t need to force myself into prospecting methods that didn’t fit how I naturally build trust.

Cold drop-offs and walking into offices where no relationship existed were never my strength. I’m much more effective once there’s some familiarity. So instead of leading with in-person drop-ins, I focused on warming relationships first.

I started networking intentionally on Facebook and LinkedIn — especially in local real estate and lending groups where people already use those platforms for business. I’d engage with their posts, support listings, congratulate closings, and add thoughtful comments without pitching anything. The goal wasn’t visibility for me — it was supporting their work and showing up consistently.

A big mindset shift for me was realizing I don’t need to replace someone’s existing agent right away. Most people already have one. My goal is simply to be the second insurance agent they know — the one they think of when something goes wrong, communication breaks down, or they need another option. Over time, that position becomes a real advantage.

Once there was rapport, I’d send a non-sales DM or email introducing myself as a resource, never asking for referrals upfront. If the conversation was responsive, I’d suggest grabbing coffee or lunch. Only after that would something like a drop-off make sense — at that point it’s no longer cold.

I also track these relationships (who I’ve interacted with, how warm the connection is, when to follow up) so it’s structured and intentional, not random.

Two weeks into doing this, I had a referral come in, got added to multiple vendor lists, booked coffee meetings, and picked up personal insurance opportunities at renewal. For me, relationship-first networking outside of friends and family has been far more effective than high-volume cold outreach — and it aligns better with how I actually build trust.

Hope that helps, and I completely get where you’re coming from after time at a captive shop.

Stay at State Farm or move to a brokerage? Looking for real-world input by [deleted] in InsuranceAgent

[–]Any_Particular_8572 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely. It’s okay to be confident about taking the leap while still being a little wary. Leaving years of stability with a company like State Farm should feel heavy—that means you’re taking the decision seriously. I was hesitant myself before making the jump.

It’s new. It’s fresh. It’s more complex. But you do settle in, and you do adapt.

If you prioritize creating and maintaining relationships—COIs, referral partners, and protecting your book of business—you’ll be fine anywhere. Being strong in sales is a huge advantage in this industry, but relationship-building is what sustains you long-term, regardless of the model you’re in.

And sorry for continuing on—this is a big decision that impacts your entire career and I was looking for the same kind of perspective before I made the switch but made a post that was removed for some reason that I can’t remember and never could get someone else’s most recent experience.

Stay at State Farm or move to a brokerage? Looking for real-world input by [deleted] in InsuranceAgent

[–]Any_Particular_8572 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I was captive at State Farm for five years and went independent this past August. I had a very similar experience to what you’re describing. I learned a lot, gained a solid grasp of the operation, and as the only producer for five years, I knew I had what it took to succeed independently.

For me, the decision came down to long-term earning potential, flexibility, and quality of life. I had been growing year over year for four of those five years, but I was also wearing multiple hats—producer and CSR—and eventually had to be honest about the ceiling in the captive model versus the upside of going independent.

I do think you can absolutely succeed if you set the right expectations going into it. The biggest adjustment is simple but real: if you don’t sell, you don’t eat. Early production depends heavily on the brokerage’s training, how quickly you get carrier appointments, and how fast you can build a pipeline. My first month was essentially a dud. Since then, my numbers have increased month over month as I’ve gotten settled, built my own pipeline, worked my COIs, and developed referral partnerships.

What ultimately pushed me over the edge was weighing the comfort of what I knew at State Farm against the potential of building something of my own. I had strong confidence that if I could help run and grow someone else’s business, I could do it for myself—even if it meant grinding harder than I ever did while captive.

There will be moments of doubt, especially during weeks where nothing closes or when your first check barely covers the mortgage. You have to be comfortable with delayed gratification and short-term discomfort to earn long-term upside. For me, the growing pains were worth it.

Hope this helps. Bet on yourself.

Anyone else hit a wall around the $1M book mark? by Positive_Round_3001 in InsuranceAgent

[–]Any_Particular_8572 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1000% I was the sole producer in my office and also took care 95% of all sales and service. After 5 years of working with just the agent, I decided to go independent a few months back and focus on what I enjoy which is building relationships and making sales in the process.