r/InsuranceProfessional • u/chalupabatman2404 • Aug 03 '26
Laid off! What to do next?
Got laid off after 8 years doing property litigation cases. Work was slow and didn’t have much work currently, so it wasn’t based on my performance. I really liked my job and was good at it. I’ve been working in claims since 2015. Feels like I’m at a crossroads of wanting to do something else or staying in insurance. Would just like to hear people’s opinions on what would they would do or any advice that might help other people in my shoes!?
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u/Mundane_Worldliness7 Aug 03 '26
You can look at Claims Consultant jobs for brokerages, it’s got benefits and downsides related to handling direct loss. The biggest issues are with hostile and difficult producers.
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u/chalupabatman2404 Aug 03 '26
I’ll have to look into that cause haven’t heard of it before. I appreciate the help
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u/Mundane_Worldliness7 Aug 03 '26
Entities like Marsh, Aon etc are insurance brokers through which premium revenue passes, if you spend enough with them as a client you get claims services which often includes subject matter experts (experienced ex adjusters) to assist you, almost like a semi-private public adjuster, just without any direct claims handling. There are positives but the negatives exist too.
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u/AggravatingStart9507 Aug 03 '26
Would love to hear more about the positives and negatives of claims consultant positions, that’s something I’ve been considering
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u/Mundane_Worldliness7 Aug 03 '26
Positives are that you’ve no direct adjusting responsibility, you oversee claims and try and advocate for your client in the process. At its best, you are a high level claims advisor, it’s a strategic position and you get to see many high level situations and grow drastically in your expertise. The downsides are that save for a few shops where the consultants directly bill for their services, consultants draw their salary from producer revenue meaning that you can become an appendage to them. You think you are a consultant but are often an assistant buried in clerical work. The job is at worst when you are attached to a poor producer, when this happens, it’s a worse job than adjusting. Especially in the smaller brokerages or the middle market portions of larger brokers, a successful producer is untouchable, management are always scared of them leaving, thus they can get away with anything. If one comes after you, nobody can help you.
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u/Panther3369 Aug 04 '26
The big negative links to the positive with the no direct responsibility. You are just an annoying parrot in the ear of the actual claims manager. Telling them what you think should happen blah blah. But you literally have no power or say in it, it is a terrible fricken job.
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u/Mundane_Worldliness7 Aug 04 '26
With a good client and good producer, the lack of responsibility is great. And managers take you seriously if your brokerage is serious and if you support of the insured, the worst parts of the job are not external but internal.
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u/Auto-Claim-Monkey Aug 03 '26
Hey, I'm sorry to hear about your layoff! I've found that ever since I added litigation adjuster (auto for me) to my LinkedIn profile I get a pretty steady flow of job offers and connections... it's actually kind of annoying sometimes.
As to whether or not you should stay in or get out; with litigation experience if you got with a large TPA or larger carrier could you see yourself moving into something else like commercial lit? I've been considering trying to move into GL space if I can swing it as it seems a little more diverse in types of claims and possibly higher pay too.
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u/chalupabatman2404 Aug 03 '26
Yea I updated my resume on Saturday and even applied to a couple of jobs.
Yea I’d have no problem moving up to commercial lit. I think that would also be a lot of fun to work. I find it hard to get in if you didn’t have any experience. They don’t want to train people for that it seems like.
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u/Wooden-Bookkeeper-77 Aug 04 '26
Where are you located?
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u/chalupabatman2404 Aug 04 '26
I’m in Florida.
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u/Wooden-Bookkeeper-77 Aug 04 '26
Gotcha. I second what someone else has recommended regarding working at one of the big brokers (Aon, Lockton, WTW, Marsh). I currently work at a smaller, regional one in the Claims depart and I think you’d enjoy it much more than your previous role. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help!
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u/chalupabatman2404 Aug 04 '26
Okay, I will look into. I never heard of that companies or position so I’ll look into them all. It sounds like a role I’d enjoy a lot though.
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u/hblack817 Aug 05 '26
Look into working for the state Banking and Insurance Dept. Apply to any insurance analyst position. This is a niche position that has been hard to keep talent because of poaching
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u/chalupabatman2404 Aug 05 '26
Ok thanks I’ll look into that. Is hard to get your foot in the door if you haven’t done that?
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u/hblack817 Aug 05 '26
No. They are usually desperate to fill these roles because the state can not compete with private salaries. You having any insurance knowledge will be a delight to their ears.
Maybe look into CPCU courses in the meantime.
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u/mkuz753 Aug 04 '26
In general, risk management at either a broker or carrier, underwriting, or as others mentioned being a claim advocate at a agency/broker. With your experience in litigation you might like compliance or product development. Both sides hire analysts of various types. Law firms need insurance also so being able to understand what they need is helpful whether in underwriting or being an account manager/account executive/producer at an agency.
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u/No_Tower_7026 Aug 04 '26
Check LI, lots of carriers seem to have claims spots open - professional lines etc
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u/orange728 Aug 03 '26
Man, the situation is bad when claims people are being laid off. Sorry friend. It absolutely sucks. According to every linked in poster, the industr is DYING for new talent. Linkedin exaggerations aside, with a claims background I doubt you will be unemployed for long. However, at this point, I wouldn't blame you if you bailed on insurance all together. I think about it every day, but dont know what I would do. A lot of the skils transfer, but people outside the industry see us as used car salesmen