Becoming a successful insurance agent is a career goal many people aspire to. For a good reason, it gives your life plenty of flexibility both financially and in your schedule.
Once you get your insurance license, the next step is to choose the suitable carrier to sell for; whether you’re an independent agent or a captive agent, working for a high-quality carrier will make your life easier.
This article will look at Cigna Contracting, a highly reputable insurance carrier, and how to sign up for them.
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Join an Insurance Agency
The first step to getting into Cigna contracting is joining an insurance agency that partners with Cigna. An insurance agency partners with an independent agent and offers them multiple carriers to sell with
Benefits of choosing an insurance agency
When you are an independent agent working for an insurance agency, you aren’t tied down to a single carrier and can pick and choose the best carriers for your market. Independent insurance agents make more on commission than captive agents, insurance agents who work for one carrier.
When working for an insurance agency, you will have a bevy of options of carriers to choose from, so you can provide the best service to your clients. Studies show that customers prefer independent agents over captive agents as they feel they are getting a better, more custom insurance plan for their needs.
The harsh reality of being an independent insurance agent is that you are responsible for every facet of your business. And when you are an independent insurance agent, you are your own business. That means branding, making cold calls, building client relationships, and filling out contracts and forms; they all revolve around you. While that does make you your boss, and many people are attracted to the idea of working for themselves, it does mean a lot of responsibility on your plate.
Fortunately, when you are working with an insurance agency, you have access to their resources that can help you grow your business. They make it easy to pick and choose the best carriers depending on your clients and the market you operate in, and they also offer lead generators and training programs to help build your business.
Select A Carrier
The next step is selecting a carrier. Of course, we recommend you choose Cigna contracting, but when working for an insurance agency, you can choose multiple pages that best suit you and your clients.
When choosing a carrier to sell, there are certain factors you have to consider:
What to look for in an insurance carrier?
- Good Commissions
When choosing an insurance carrier, the first thing to look for is how much their commission is. Unlike captive insurance agents, who get overhead pay, most of your income as an independent agent comes from commission. You must choose a carrier that pays a substantial commission per sale.
It’s also important to look at how their commission rates differ per state. Sometimes a carrier’s commission rate can drastically lower in the state you are operating from, making it unsuitable for your business needs.
- Good Reputation
Another essential factor to look for when choosing an insurance carrier to sell with is their reputation. Even if you consider yourself an excellent salesman, you will find trying to sell an insurance company with a poor customer reputation difficult. Choosing a company with an excellent reputation will make your life much easier.
We would advise you to read customer reviews on the service, ask other insurance agents about their experience selling the company’s plans, and read industry material regarding their practices.
- Affordable Insurance Plans
Another factor to look for when choosing the carriers you want to work for is the available plans they have to offer customers. Now. It’s important to remember that what is affordable is entirely dependent on the market you are selling to. It is crucial to do market research in your neighborhood to find out what the average person is paying for health insurance and see how it stacks up with the carrier you want to sell it to.
We recommend you choose a carrier that has a multitude of plans at different price points and that even their lowest plans offer some value to customers who purchase it. This gives you the flexibility to target different clientele based on their income.
Fortunately, Cigna contracting has you covered with all these elements.
Wait for your Appointment Status
Once you decide on the carrier, the next step is to submit your application and wait for the process to go through. This may take a few days.
Cigna Contracting Can Get Your Insurance Career Started On The Right Foot
As discussed, choosing the right carrier to sell with is crucial in becoming a successful insurance agent. Cigna contracting meets all the criteria we’ve listed above, so if you’re interested in starting a career as an insurance agent, that’s where you start.
