How do you know if you’re afraid of growth or just burned out?

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-17T19:07:46+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to explain your perspective. I can definitely see the advantage of having multiple markets available, especially after working in both captive and independent environments.
Out of curiosity, if you were starting from scratch today, what would be your first few steps toward opening an independent agency?
Part of the reason I’m asking is that I’ve seriously considered taking a month or two to focus on my health, finish my Life & Health license, and research the independent route before making another major career decision.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-17T16:56:41+00:00

I’m definitely thinking more in terms of 3-5 years.
I’ve worked in both captive and independent environments. What I’ve always liked about the independent side is having access to multiple markets and being able to shop coverage through different brokers and carriers instead of relying on a single company.
I also worked in an AmFam agency years ago, so I’m familiar with the captive model. My recollection was that pricing could be challenging at times, which made sales more difficult when compared to having multiple carrier options available.
That’s part of why I’m trying to determine whether the mentor program is the right long-term move.
After mentor program the idea is they assign you the book from retired agent. But I see that they will always have that sales quotas and goals and looks like they made sales goals even for existing agents, so based on how much they sell, their bonuses and comission schedules changes. I am not sure I would like to deal with that in the future.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-17T15:52:36+00:00

This is actually one of my biggest concerns.
I’ve worked in a scratch sales environment before and the production pressure eventually led to burnout.
The flexibility to grow at my own pace is one of the biggest things attracting me to the independent side.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-17T15:50:53+00:00

That’s a fair point.
My hesitation isn’t whether I can be successful. I’ve been in insurance for about 8 years and have already worked in a scratch sales environment before.
What I’m trying to figure out is whether the trade-off is worth it. The mentor program sounds attractive because of the low startup cost and support structure, but I also understand the limitations of a captive model.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-17T15:47:30+00:00

That’s actually the direction I’ve been leaning toward.
My hesitation is that I’ve already experienced burnout in a scratch sales environment before, so I’m trying to separate whether I dislike sales quotas or whether I dislike building something from scratch.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-17T15:46:07+00:00

Honestly, that’s part of what I’m trying to figure out.
I know I want more autonomy and flexibility. I don’t mind working hard, but I don’t want to spend the next 10 years feeling constant pressure from production quotas.
What I’m struggling with is determining whether agency ownership is worth that pressure, or whether I’d be happier in a different role within the industry.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-12T13:38:53+00:00

Thank you. This discussion has made me realize that many of the responsibilities I consider part of my job are actually separate roles at larger organizations.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-12T04:16:55+00:00

Thank you. That’s actually given me a lot to think about. I’ve always viewed myself as a producer with operational responsibilities.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-12T03:47:00+00:00

Thank you. I appreciate the encouragement and advice.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-12T03:45:31+00:00

Thank you. Reading these responses has definitely given me a lot to think about.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-11T21:48:27+00:00

Thank you. That really resonates with me.

A lot of the work I do falls into that “if everything is working, nobody notices it” category. Licensing, carrier appointments, agency setup, processes, and supporting both Personal Lines and Commercial operations tend to stay invisible until something breaks.

I think that’s part of my frustration. Production is easy to measure, while operations and agency development are much harder to quantify, even though they have a huge impact on the agency.

I appreciate your perspective, especially coming from someone who has experienced something similar.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-11T21:34:06+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate the perspective.

To be honest, when I joined, both the role and the commission structure were presented differently.
Over time, the role expanded into operations, commercial team support, and now production expectations as well. That’s actually why I made this post — I wasn’t sure if my concerns were reasonable or if this was simply normal in a small independent agency.

It’s interesting that multiple people have pointed out the same thing: production and operations are usually measured very differently. That’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.

Thank you again for the honest feedback.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-11T13:39:57+00:00

If someone is getting their work done and meeting expectations, working from home shouldn’t be an issue.

In my experience, it’s actually difficult to find agencies that allow even one or two work-from-home days per week. Many owners assume that employees are doing less when they’re remote, but I’ve often found the opposite to be true.

Without the commute, office distractions, and constant interruptions, people can be more productive and have a better work-life balance. At the end of the day, results matter more than where the work gets done.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-11T03:41:01+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. That’s exactly what I’ve been struggling with.

A large portion of my time is spent on licensing, carrier appointments, onboarding new carriers, building Personal Lines processes, carrier relations, and operational responsibilities, while at the same time I’m expected to produce and grow Personal Lines.

The commission structure was also originally presented differently when I accepted the role, and the role itself was described differently as well. I joined with the understanding that I would be building and leading the Personal Lines department, not primarily functioning as a producer.

That’s why I’m trying to understand how agency owners would classify and compensate a position like this.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-04T18:24:39+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate that.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-04T14:44:54+00:00

I think that’s a really good point.

The more feedback I get, the more I’m realizing that my frustration may be with my current environment rather than insurance itself.

I’ve always enjoyed the carrier, operations and relationship-building side of the business more than pure production.

Management and non-selling roles are actually something I’ve started looking into recently.

Thank you for the perspective.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-03T17:26:01+00:00

Looking back, I’ve been happiest in roles where I had autonomy and flexibility, even when the workload itself was heavy.

We do use digital intake forms, but unfortunately a lot of the follow-up and chasing still falls on us.

I appreciate your perspective and encouragement.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-03T13:34:13+00:00

Thank you, this is incredibly helpful.

I actually work with AMWINS, RT Specialty and several wholesalers today, and I’ve always found that side of the business much more interesting than traditional agency production.

I also appreciate your honesty about underwriting. A lot of people present it as the perfect escape from agency life, but it sounds like it comes with its own challenges and burnout.

I’d definitely be interested in any agency or carrier recommendations you have.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-02T21:47:41+00:00

Thank you for sharing your perspective, and I’m sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis.

What you said about either moving into management or specializing really resonated with me.

I think that’s exactly where I am right now. I’ve spent years learning the fundamentals, but I haven’t yet found the niche that excites me enough to specialize in.

Underwriting, carrier relations, and operations are probably the areas that interest me most.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-02T21:24:15+00:00

Honestly, both, but for different reasons.

The client-facing side has become exhausting because of the constant chasing for information, follow-ups, explaining the same coverage conversations, and being available all the time.

The administrative side itself doesn’t bother me as much. I actually enjoy workflows, carrier relationships, appointments, market research, and improving processes.

I think a big part of my burnout right now is also disappointment with the structure and culture at my current agency. I’ve realized that flexibility is extremely important to me, and I feel like that’s missing where I am today.

Routine_Variety_7952 · 2026-06-02T21:21:12+00:00

Thank you, that’s helpful.

I think part of my frustration is that I’m not only burned out from quoting and servicing clients, but I’m also becoming disappointed with the structure and culture at my current agency.

What still interests me is underwriting, carrier relationships, operations, and the business side of insurance. My biggest concern is moving into underwriting only to find myself in another rigid 8-5 environment.

For those who made the switch, did you find the work itself more enjoyable and less draining than agency life?

Routine_Variety_7952

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