Insurance Agent
What Does Insurance Agent Mean?
An insurance agent is a professional who sells insurance policies. In the U.S., an individual must obtain a state license before practicing as an insurance agent. Agents may work for a single insurance company or offer policies from multiple companies.
Insuranceopedia Explains Insurance Agent
In some states, becoming an insurance agent requires a high school diploma. In most states, candidates must pass an exam to obtain a license, and some states require additional coursework or training. Anyone planning to become an agent will also need their own business coverage once they start selling, and insurance agent business insurance costs vary based on the state and the size of the book of business.
A captive agent sells products from a single insurance company, while a non-captive (or independent) agent offers products from multiple companies. In both cases, agents earn commissions from sales.
An agent may specialize in one type of policy, such as auto insurance, or sell and have expertise in multiple types of policies. A buyer who works with an independent agent for an auto policy can compare rates from many of the best car insurance companies in one conversation, while a captive agent can only quote their own carrier.
