csr bonus/commissions?

[indiana_country_girl]

You DO GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR and unfortunately, many women CSRs are taken advantage of by small agencies. Move on girl! Go to interviews, sell your self motivation etc. PLEASE DON'T ANYONE take any of this as a criticism, this is my opinion and what I have seen since out of college in 1983. It is still a man's world in the isnuracne business., It stinks. In past, I worked for agents who paid for Continuing Ed and broker license. But for designations, CPCU, AAI, (which I have) and I have one more CIC to complete this Spring, some agents limit the reimbursement; but my current emloyer (since 2001) pays 100%. I earned my CPCU (1991-1996) on my own, at my cost for about 75% of it. I changed agencies with 2 CPCUs left, and that agent paid for them and gave me a $500 check once completed. I started there in 1996 and was making more than any of the piddling salaries discussed herein. I live in an area that is very LOW cost of living, so I don't get how the respect for a CSR has not been realized by so many Agents. It's sad. If you have the mind set that "She is just a girl, a secretary, a clerk, etc." - then you're ripping off the employee and she will leave...Sorry, but I've been there, done that. Took many years of busting my ass for ungrateful chauvanist men to realize I was being handled as a kid. - THERE ARE AGENTS who will pay educated CSRs what they are worth, and then some! I have a four year degree in business and I'll be damned if I'm going to work for pennies or nickels or dimes. I'm worth every dollar, and so are most of the ladies I work with. Young ladies hired heere START at $25,000 with NO insurance EXPERIENCE. SELL YOURSELF, you will find the right agent eventually. WHere I work now - all education and licensing is paid for, we have retirement plan paid by agency, 401k, health & dental which is partial ee pay (I don't need it since husband has coverage thru his employer plan), we start with 2 weeks off and 8 days personal time and 11 holidays. 3 wks vacation at 5 yrs. We work 40 hrs/wk. I usually put in 45-50 (no OT applies, salaried). And there are many more agents in this area who do match most of what I have now. But there are many who don't. YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND INTERVIEW AND ASK ASK ASK !!!! GOOD LUCK!

I agree with so many things you said. I know what I'm worth and I will get what I'm worth. Thanks for the post.

[racecarlover]

In my experience (since 1976) there is a huge difference between agencies that do mostly commercial and those that do mostly personal lines. Those bigger agencies that do mainly commercial generally know the value of their people and pay and treat them well. I have found that not to be the case with smaller personal lines agencies.
I speak from experience. If you have the abilities, credentials, and moxie one can do very well in this business. Fortunately I have worked mostly for good companies. If you are reasonably good (licensed, educated, knowledgeable, and work with a passion for your customers) you will always have a job and will be in demand.
Remember in this business your word is your bond. If the owner is going back on his word or changes promises made then you do not want to stay there. You should always get the specifics to the agreements in writing.
If he is lying to you he is lying to everyone including his customers and companies. It will catch up.
I am here in New Orleans and since Katrina we have seen the "suspect agents" go down by the wayside left and right. We all know who they are by their poor reputations. It took Katrina to expose them. We know two significant agencies with 50 to 60 E&O claims. Our agency had 4 E&O claims with over 3000 Katrina claims. We write over $30 million in premiums.
Belive me life is way too short to deal with BS artists. Get with a good agency, work hard, and life will be good. There are many good agencies who deliver on what they promise and remember all we are selling is a promise.

[CATHIEA]

With all those letters behind your name, you should be able to run your own business in lieu of making those chauvinistic pigs any more money...

RHARE, Hutch is right. Believe me I was a female CSR once upon a time (1970's -1980) working to make those male agents rich. Opened my own agency in 1999 and haven't looked back.

Ladies & gentlemen - the issue isn't about the worth of a CSR to an agency - it's about what the market will bear.

Now Indiana, if an employer lies or misrepresents compensation - well, that's a different story. It's hard to tell if you were hired under false assumptions - yours or the agents.

Next time you accept a position, ask for confirmation of commssion payment to be in writing.

[indiana_country_girl]

You guys are right. I never thought to get it in writing though, I've never been in this situation, but have learned my lesson.

[LCIS]

Florida does not allow a CSR to receive commission, must be an agent.
You can pay a bonus just don't call it commission, and no charge backs.
Salaries vary greatly in Florida and I am sure the rest of the country based on the agency size and duties of the staff person.
We average about $15 an hour for CSR's, plus paid vacation, 401k plus a bonus on all cross selling (average $10 per app) Group Health is not offered as it is outragious in Florida for a small group (guaranteed issue with only 1 person) but we pay higher than the average in the area. Several of our girls came to us from jobs that were paying $8.50-$10.00 per hour and NO benefits. The only staff that has left in the last 4 years was because they were fired. Trust me it is more than just the pay check that helps keep staff happy, We are cutting edge on technology and they would not go back to paper and slow computers if I paid them twice as much. Staff must get along or someone is going to cause problems.
Not sure if this helps but it is what we do and it seems to work for our staff.

[InsuranceCA]

What if a California agency would pay 60% commission on New & Renewal business that the producer wrote. Ownership on the book is yours if the producer brings it in. If your a new producer then the first Million is owned by the agency but still pays the producer 60%, and any premium after the first Million is owned by the producer.
Would this raise anyone's eyebrows?

[Porter]

InsuranceCa,

Why would the agency want to pay a producer more than what the agency makes and then give them full ownership on anything over a million? Does not make sence. An agency has to much overhead.

Porter

[CATHIEA]

What if a California agency would pay 60% commission on New & Renewal business that the producer wrote. Ownership on the book is yours if the producer brings it in. If your a new producer then the first Million is owned by the agency but still pays the producer 60%, and any premium after the first Million is owned by the producer.
Would this raise anyone's eyebrows?

Great way to increase revenue real short term - producers burn out quickly and agency ends up with the book. Now the unfortunate news - most of the non competes out there aren't worth the paper they're written on so don't expect to keep the book.

Any compensation has to make sense for all parties - salaried employee producers, commission producers and agency owners. [/quote]

[Big Dog]

FWIW, non-competes, especially in Kalifornia, don't hold up in court. Small/mid-sized agencies use them only for intimidation purposes.

As to the advice of "get it in writing", great recommendation. Almost all larger agencies and companies put their employment offers in writing. It would be in everyone's best interest (the agency/employer and the employee) if small/mid-sized agencies did this too.

[volstrike3]

That deal sounds attractive but I would worry about the solvency of the agency. Also, the agency would not be able to pay for top notch support people considering the commission split. Sounds like that agency would turn into a bucket shop full of inexperienced insurance people.

[indiana_country_girl]

THANKS FOR ALL THE INPUT