Looking forward to starting your career as an agent partner in the insurance sector, one of the growing industries! It is essential to be aware about the functions of an insurance agent in India.
Who is an insurance agent in India?
An insurance agent in India is a representative of a particular insurance company, appointed for selling insurance policies PAN India. However, nowadays, insurance agents in India are not only accountable for selling insurance policies but also represent the brand image of the company or insurer.
One of the major functions or you can say the core responsibility of an insurance agent in India is to sell the best insurance policies after understanding the requirements of customers. An Insurance Agents help insurance companies generate new business by contacting potential customers and selling one or more types of policies.
What are the skill sets of an insurance agent in India?
Anyone who is looking for a job in the insurance field needs to have a specific skill set to become the same. The profile of the insurance agent in India is all about marketing and selling the right insurance product to clients. These skills will help insurance agents fulfill all their insurance needs effectively.
- Sales skills
- Communication Skills
- Customer-service skills
- Problem-solving Skills
- Product knowledge
- Analytic Ability
The eligibility criteria to become an insurance agent in India
- The minimum age to become an insurance agent is 18 years old.
- To become an insurance agent, a candidate must have passed secondary.
- Mandatory 15-hour training as specified by IRDA and also have to clear the IRDA exam. Most insurance companies give in-house training to help the agents in obtaining an IRDAI insurance license.
Roles and Responsibilities of an Insurance Agent in India
1. Procuring new business
One of the important functions of an insurance agent in India is soliciting prospective clients and procuring new business in India.
2. Help customers in choosing the right policy as per need
A good insurance agent always helps its customers in choosing the right insurance policy keeping in mind the client’s requirements. Clear off all the customer’s questions about the cover and documents required. The agent can also be of help if you need to undergo a medical test if required to get the policy issued.
3. Proper customer requirement analysis
An insurance agent always enquires about necessary details with the view to assessing the extent of risk in buying a policy and assisting the client with the claim process. He or she must have strong analytical skills.
4. Understand the client’s investment and protection need
Insurance agents must have the ability to evaluate the needs of their clients and propose insurance plans that will meet the criteria, as well as the clients’ affordability. It is possible by scheduling meetings, determining the extent of present coverage and investments, and building long-term goals.
5. Follow-up on leads
It is also one of the major insurance agent sales duties, follow-up of leads. An agent must have a personal connection with the customer. For this, agents can use a proven method of calling, as it will help in taking follow-ups on leads. Hence, a vital part of becoming an insurance agent is a necessary follow-up strategy that has an explicit design for a particular client.
6. Data Collection
Data collection is mainly collecting data from customers who are looking for a policy. You can collect data using the internal records and make sure to maintain confidentiality also. Apart from that, another reliable source is the internal claims officer. They are part of insurance-based firms and are responsible for the logging, maintenance, and processing of claims.
7. Clear off post-sales queries of the policyholders
An agent’s job does not end with selling a policy. The post-sale journey is also crucial for an insurance agent in India. This journey starts right from the onboarding process, to premium payment reminders, connecting at different stages to meet the changing needs, and finally, at the time of claim settlement.
Read More: How to Become an Insurance Agent
Key takeaways
An insurance agent who is proficient in these roles and responsibilities has enormous scope to make a successful career in this field.
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FAQs on Functions of Insurance Agent
1. What is the qualification of a Life Insurance Agent?
The applicant should be certified by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
2. What are the major skill sets of the life insurance agent?
A life insurance agent's major skills and attributes include product knowledge, negotiation, active listening, and relationship building. Each of these abilities can help insurance agents improve their sales numbers and develop long-lasting relationships with clients.
3. How to become an LIC agent?
To become an LIC agent, you need to complete the 10th standard examination and must be of 18 years of age. The cumulative charges for training, exams, and registration are typically affordable. People from diverse socio-economic backgrounds can apply easily.
4. How Insurance agents are helping insurance companies?
Insurance Agents help insurance companies generate new business by contacting potential customers and selling one or more types of policies.
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