| Like insurance marketing agencies, each state also | | | | recruiting: Fraternal insurance agents are exceptionally |
| has its own personality. Analyzing insurance state | | | | brokerage minded. The average number of outside |
| data information, reveals where it is easier to sell | | | | companies a Wisconsin "broker" is licensed with, far |
| insurance. This information is a guide to where | | | | exceeds the national agent average. As the state of |
| insurance marketing agencies get best results for | | | | Wisconsin is somewhat overlooked, its has over |
| obtaining general insurance brokers and why. | | | | 10,000 agents that have already contracted with at |
| Some states have loads of agents and brokers that | | | | least one outside carrier. Your carrier should be the |
| are very friendly and open to new insurance | | | | next one they consider. |
| opportunities. Other states seem locked in a time | | | | MINNESOTA, Rating #7 |
| zone 5 years behind independent thinking states. | | | | The state of Minnesota possesses many of the |
| Many factors, including state date information and | | | | valuable marketing characteristics that Wisconsin has. |
| census bureau analysis show how hard it is to get | | | | In the land of ice and snow and lakes, it also has |
| the attention of brokers, independent agents, and | | | | many fraternal life insurance agents. Consider this |
| general agents to respond to your mailing offer. | | | | fact. Many large insurance brokerage orientated |
| Insurance marketing agencies must concentrate | | | | insurance companies have regional recruiting directors. |
| recruiting and mailing to certain states that will | | | | In the Midwest, this central hub is Chicago, Illinois. This |
| definitely pay off. Using this guide is a great way to | | | | means 70% of their recruiting time and budget is |
| maximize your marketing budget and ultimate | | | | conveniently located in that recruiting hub, even |
| advanced marketing production results. | | | | though the region includes other states like |
| On the top 3 states it is: Florida, #1, California #2, | | | | Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, or more. Our |
| and Texas #3. The #4 through #10 top insurance | | | | recruiting tip - Keep your recruiting dollars outside of |
| product marketing states are covered below. | | | | a recruiting 'hub'. Also giving less attention to |
| OHIO, Rating #4 | | | | Minneapolis/St Paul will produce more solid leads. The |
| Finally, the first state that is not on the border or | | | | competition pressure is low, so your results could boil |
| coast. The same land-locked trend is true of these | | | | over the top. |
| next states on this page. Ohio we call "the profit | | | | NORTH CAROLINA, Rating #8 |
| potential state". Our feedback from agent recruiting | | | | North Carolina agents may carry a heavy accent, but |
| firms, using our lists is overwhelmingly favorable for | | | | they also carry a heavy brokerage swing that can |
| over 20 years straight! The recruiting secret why | | | | easily hit you a couple homeruns. Usually the internet |
| results can be obtained almost immediately: Ohio has | | | | interest in brokers seeking marketers is closely |
| four distinct agent population districts instead of just | | | | aligned with the number of recruiters in this insurance |
| one or two. This geographic factor makes it hard for | | | | marketing territory seeking brokers. In North Carolina, |
| a particular insurer to monopolize the entire state. | | | | this scale is tipped drastically in a different direction. |
| The four metropolitan areas are Cleveland, Columbus, | | | | Good North Carolina brokers are looking for insurance |
| Cincinnati, and Dayton. Where do you set up your | | | | marketing firms! We have noticed that North Carolina |
| recruiting operation? Wherever it is, is also the likely | | | | gets one-third the recruiting solicitation that Georgia |
| location of most of your recruiting effort. | | | | does, and one-half that of Tennessee. Part of this |
| Factories with unions providing employee benefit | | | | credit goes to cities like Greensboro, Charlotte, and |
| plans are rather prevalent. Nonetheless, Ohio it is still | | | | Raleigh, that all have good agent bases. This is unlike |
| a strong state for group and work site benefit plans. | | | | Atlanta or Nashville with sole agent population center |
| The Ohio agents that are with a major career life | | | | domination. By recruiting top-notch North Carolina |
| insurance company, are much less loyal than in most | | | | agents, you have so much to gain, plus one giant |
| states. That means to you, the recruiter, they broker | | | | bonus point. The brokers in North Carolina are more |
| business to recruiting firms properly baiting their | | | | loyal to a marketing firm that treats them right than |
| hooks. It also means a huge need for attractive | | | | anywhere else we have seen. |
| brokerage products, expanding well beyond life | | | | MICHIGAN, Rating #9 |
| insurance. | | | | In Michigan lets look at the negatives first. The large |
| GEORGIA, Rating #5 | | | | presence of automobile and automotive supplier |
| Like most southern states, debit agents used to | | | | unions, among others has virtually wiped out the |
| have an enormous impact on the insurance agents. | | | | group insurance market. Some individual major medical |
| These agents sold very small life insurance policies, | | | | potential exists but with Blue Cross being so |
| and have established routes, where weekly or | | | | dominant, and offering such paltry commissions, it |
| monthly they pick up the premiums directly from | | | | hardly makes the market worth pursuing. Another |
| their clients. These agents were employees of the | | | | drawback is that the metro Detroit area contains |
| company, which means that when they left, so did | | | | over half the agents and over half the population. |
| their renewals which were not vested. The old route | | | | The plus factors include the well-off union retirees |
| was simply passed on to another rookie agent to | | | | who have moved outstate, the non-presence of |
| handle. Needless to say, low-income potential, high | | | | insurance marketing hubs. This is further enhanced by |
| training costs, and modern banking policies have | | | | the poor job career life companies have done helping |
| pretty much decreased debit life insurance company | | | | agents overcome early career obstacles. Our tip is |
| presence to a minimal factor nowadays. Georgia is | | | | look for agents with at least 6 years experience. The |
| split in two zones, 55% of the licensed agents in the | | | | metropolitan Detroit area is very good for advanced |
| Atlanta Area, Zips 300-303, and 45% for the | | | | life and annuities directed at the professional market. |
| remainder of the state. Our Georgia advice: Stay | | | | However, observe the constant sways and effects |
| OUT of Atlanta. These Atlanta agents are | | | | of the economy in this metropolitan area. The out |
| bombarded with almost daily insurance solicitations for | | | | state area is prime for long term nursing care. Don't |
| insurance products by fax, email, telemarketing, and | | | | zoom by the motor city state. |
| direct mailing. The quality selected, outside Atlanta, | | | | MISSOURI, Rating #10 |
| area agents seem excited to receive a direct mail | | | | Close to a tie with Michigan is Missouri, but still making |
| piece offering a genuine opportunity. Make your | | | | the top ten round out. However, the state is very |
| move to reward yourself with a sweet piece of the | | | | different, with very few unions and a median family |
| Georgia pie | | | | income $3,000 below the national average. In this |
| WISCONSIN, Rating #6 | | | | state, the good parts of Midwest agent personality; |
| There is no doubt that Wisconsin is a dominant | | | | start to blend with some Southern Hospitality. It is |
| Fraternal Life Insurance Company state. Their | | | | surely a good show me state, where an abundance |
| fraternal agents offer "certificates" instead of polices | | | | of independent and semi-independent agents know |
| to "members" instead of clients. The Fraternal | | | | that show me a good product offer and I might be |
| Organization holds benefit events for hard stricken | | | | interested is a winning combination. The sufficient |
| members, and may be formed around a common | | | | senior citizen base in the state would have to be |
| work trade, religion, or life concept. The menu of | | | | rated good for long term nursing care, whereas the |
| products offered by Fraternal insurance companies is | | | | lower income could be a slight drawback to over |
| rather small. This gives the secret to Wisconsin | | | | sophisticated annuities. KISS - A Keep it Simple State. |