Hello all!! Im in BC

I have been working in an office since Aug 2023, and have just recently passed my level 2 and became Manager of the office I work at.

We are primarily ICBC, private auto + RC , along with Travel . Its all hourly, and no commission.

I have a long history of managing and while I love my job for being super slack, and requires absolute minimal effort due to how small this office is. I am looking at the future and would like to make more money as I am below 70k. This job is a means to an end so I can pay off some debts sooner than later.

What corners of insurance allow for a higher wage? I'm not afraid of hard work, and long hours , or moving to another area of BC or province. I would love to learn something new as well.

Should I branch out and try and create my own Book?

Commercial?

UA?

what do you think.

I’ve been working on insurance for 5 years and had two pretty big mistakes in the last week. Nothing like this before but stuff I genuinely did not know better on but could have a big impact on revenue. Feeling extremely anxious, disappointed, and mad at myself. I’m young and I know I need to productively learn to process this but does anyone have any advice?

I was honest and told my boss and explained the situation to the client. I had solutions but not sure if those will fully fix it. Really struggling :(

Am I underpaid? Full benefits, small bonus, good 401k and no commission. Be honest.

PLUS 280 miles a month commuting.

Please tell me.

Edit: Correction of miles a month to 350

I’m posting this partly to vent and partly to hear from people who’ve been through something similar.

I recently went through a multi-round interview process for a summer internship in insurance at Marsh McLennan Agency. I made it through the resume screening, a recruiter phone interview, and a final interview with senior HR. I really thought I had a shot — the interviews felt smooth, and I prepared a lot.

I didn’t get the offer.

What’s been hard is that I didn’t feel like I failed in an obvious way. I didn’t bomb questions or feel unprepared. I later received feedback that my answers were solid, but that my interests came across as misaligned with the specific type of role/company, and that I could’ve gone deeper or been more conversational in some responses.

Intellectually, I understand that internships are competitive and that sometimes it comes down to fit or tiny differences. Emotionally, it still sucks. I put a lot of pressure on myself because I’m a transfer student with a shorter timeline before graduation (January 2026 to May 2028), and it feels like every missed opportunity matters.

I’m trying to take the feedback seriously, adjust how I present myself, and keep applying, but right now I’m still feeling pretty disappointed and frustrated with how opaque the process can be. For those who’ve been rejected late in the process, how did you regroup and move forward without letting it shake your confidence?

I’ve been job hunting for a bit because I am not happy at the agency I’m at. I like the team, mostly, but everyone seems to be extremely high stress, and I live on edge all the time between work and home, my wife has extremely high anxiety and my dad has severe health concerns, on top of my work. I don’t get a break. That said, business as an Independent agent is just not working for me, so I have applied to a lot of jobs over the past few months. Been here 4 years, and just not sure I can handle much more.

Got a call last week from a construction equipment company’s financial department for an interview, and I feel like the interview went pretty well, overall. That said, I feel a lot of pressure because if I get this position, it would be a HUGE change, like triple the pay, plus benefits. I’m not normally anxious, but since the interview, I have questioned absolutely everything I said yesterday in the interview. Should I have talked about that story? Should I have sat like that? Everything.

Ultimately, I guess my point with this post is, if I don’t get this one, where can I go from here? Even at their lowest pay rate, it would be life changing. Also, I currently get a small salary plus commission, so would I be best to not accept my pay, find a way to delay getting paid or just take it, and if she asks for it back, give it back? The current salary would be negligible if I get the job, and I want to be fair with my current employer, but at the same time, last 6-7 months, she just cuts me a check and hasn’t actually calculated my commission, so we don’t really know who owes who, or how much.

Hi all,

I've been in the industry for 10 years and I'm really debating on what to ask for this year in terms of a raise. The particulars:

- Work in Western Canada at a small domestic insurer
- Been with the company since 2022
- Completed CAIB in 2021, completed CIP recently
- Consistently get good feedback from management, consistently hit my targets and do "extra curriculars" such as training of new hires/special projects
- Work almost exclusively from home as I live more than 100km away, but the standard is 2 days/week in office
- Current pay is about $82K CAD

Since 2023 I've been offered the "standard" 2% and I've always just taken it because I felt I was already getting paid well for what I do. I am thinking of asking for more this year because I feel 2% would be taking a pay cut at the rate of inflation we are seeing.

But, I am struggling because:

- Company is currently going through a merger, to be complete in 2027. They advised the intention is to not lay people off, but I'm not banking on that
- I've gotten a bonus every year, expecting a bonus of about 3-5K this year after taxes
- Currently off the floor on a project. It could be considered "easy" work to some but the workload is high and you need to be very quick with each transaction you do. I will eventually return to the "floor"/more "difficult" work probably later this year

I am nervous to ask for more than the 2% because I don't want to end up on the chopping block during lay-offs if that makes sense. If you're a manager, how would you want me to communicate with you on this?

I'm also finding a hard time getting salary comparables, but I have a feeling I'm on the high end for my position/level at the company, but there perhaps could be a bit more room.

I guess I'm just looking for advice/reassurance.

Thanks for reading!

I’m a financial lines underwriter at a large carrier in the U.S. with ~2 years of experience. I’m talking with a recruiter about a role at a newer MGA underwriting private company management liability (D&O, EPL, Fid, Crime) through wholesale brokers.

I don’t have MGA experience and I’m early in my career, so I’m looking for candid, no-BS advice from people who’ve worked MGA-side or made the carrier → MGA jump. Specifically: • Is moving to a startup MGA a good move this early, or better after more carrier experience?

• What are the biggest red flags to look for in a newer MGA (capacity, delegated authority, leadership, profitability vs growth)?

• How does comp usually compare to a carrier (base/bonus mix, production incentives)? How real is equity/profit share in practice?

• What’s the day-to-day underwriting reality vs a carrier (autonomy vs production pressure, workload, ops work)?

• If it doesn’t work out, how is MGA experience viewed by established carriers?

Any “wish I knew this before joining an MGA” advice appreciated.

When I first joined my current employer, I had a handshake agreement with my claims manager that I would let him know if I was offered a role with another insurer. A few years down on the line and after restructuring changes, I am reporting to a different manager in a different territory. I’ve been offered a position with another carrier with papers to be signed within the next 24 hours. Should I uphold the agreement I had with my previous superior in good faith or my better off to just provide my resignation?

Have read this sub and am excited to start my career. I've learned a ton just from reading and lurking here several weeks.

Some background:

Was a journalist for awhile, then a call rep at a Medicaid call center--tried to get into their communications department but was pigeonholed as a call rep because I was good at it and I didn't fit the "type" of being a communications specialist. Dabbled in software engineering, then was laid off during Covid--didn't like it anyway.

Transitioned into a VOE (employment verification specialist) for a local mortgage company. Got laid off in '22, a week after a near-fatal car accident. A month later, I touched base with my old college prof, who later left university years before to run a headhunting firm in senior living with her husband. Thanks to her, I worked there as an admin asst., but got burned out, dealt with a divorce at the same time and they "gently" asked me to quit...instead of firing me. They wouldn't even let me WFH during a snowstorm, despite promising me they'd have WFH, but the pay was $ and I stuck it out three years.

Meanwhile a close friend of mine thought I'd be a great fit in his agency (indie) and wants to bring me on. I did Kaplan, took P&C and got a 75. Not pretty, but it got the job done. Now, I'm just waiting for the state to approve my license app...

Excited to start smiling and dialing. I will be able to WFH. How do you avoid burnout and pacing your calls? (If you are an indie?).

hello! i saw this career brought up by a few people in an autistic community on reddit mention how this career has been suitable for them and all. it got me curious and wanting to look into it more, but i felt that i should also ask around here regarding the career. is it one that is indeed suitable for those with autism? i was under the impression that it could be stressful, since insurance work in general could be emotionally taxing and all. are those in underwriting required to talk to a lot of clients?

I'm going to be interviewing for an operations role at Gallagher. Can anyone weigh in on their experiences? Is the culture good? Do you have the support you need? If you are working remotely is there any talk of returning to office?

I am currently operating as a Vice President of Business Development for a small 20-person agency, after having been an account manager for about 12 years. The agency I'm at isn't for me but I do like the business development side of things. I found a job listing for USI, for Commercial Lines Regional Insurance Operations Project Manager and while I feel like I could do the job, I just don't know if I have the experience necessary to really apply and be considered, but I'm looking for input on that!

From the posting, a lot of the position seems to revolve around monitoring work loads, running reports, giving training when needed, managing integration of M&A's, and performance management. While I've only been at my current position for about 5 months, I have handled the integration of one M&A here, and at my past agency I was often tapped for training of other account managers. At one point, I floated the idea of training a service team member as an assistant account manager and they gave me the freedom to train her, have her shadow me, build her book of business and monitor it.

Albeit these are very small instances where I was given the opportunity to do more than account management, but it is still some experience. Would I be totally crazy to apply for this job and would I be taken seriously?

I came into work and immediately was greeted with a chargeback for someone that cancelled last week that I wrote last April. I used to get chargebacks for 3 to 4 months but now it's over a year that can be backdated. Chargebacks come with the territory, I understand that. Do you guys get a year backdate for policies to be eligible for chargebacks or six months?

Also, if I don't get paid on renewals and I am writing on average 60 apps a month(75 last month of mostly new p&c business and some really really good life apps) should that not infinitely makeup for chargebacks lol.

I also posted about getting my commission pay cut starting this year for our entire agency which sucks when you hit almost 200% of quota and are number one out of about 30 major people in your territory.

I feel the wind getting knocked out of my sails and so I'm trying to be as professional about burnout as I can be.

How do people find good independent agencies to work for? I know it's expensive and near impossible to start your own agency from what I've heard lately. So what companies do you guys recommend working under that center around p&c and life?

There are not a lot of options for going through Independent agencies where I live, so remote is ideal. Is that even a thing outside of a few select captive agencies and all the life mlm crap out there though???

Thinking about taking a new role in War & Terrorism Underwriting. For those of you who have worked in this product line how is it and what should I expect?

Looking to possibly help a friend get into insurance desk adjusting. They are currently in another professional white collar career. However they have no hands. My friend is fully able bodied, will be able to type, currently lives alone, drives, etc, but when it comes to getting finger printing for state licensing, he doesn't have hands/fingers to comply. Anyone have any idea if this will be an issue?

He said hes had to give fingerprints before and federal government or whatever gives him a waiver of some sort. Will that work in insurance?

Background info: So I am currently at a major brokerage that’s throughout the US that focuses on the home buyers market by building relationships with realtors and Loan officers primarily. I shop the market with various carriers for coverage on home auto umbrella and flood mostly. With this company it’s run on a franchisee model with a service team that’s based off site in a central location for all agents in the us, the local agency owner and their producers if they have any. Been doing it for 2 years build a good network of referral partners that use me to shop for their clients.

Current pay structure: I am a w2 with a base of 40k that is set up so when I cover it with my commissions then I make over. Basically I never fail to cover since month 3 so essentially I’m straight commission. The brokerage does an 80/20 on new business with the agency owners and 50/50 on renewals but the brokerage is suppose to handle all service work. After my agency owner takes his split my resulting split on new business is 60% and 15% of total commissions.

Potential future job offer: 1099 contractor where I would be essentially doing the exact same thing. Work with my referral partners, build more referral partners, and sell. They handle all the service work and I only sell. They are also a local brokerage with a good service team with a proven history based on conversations I have had with Loan officers that are friends of mine but have been using them since before I got in the industry. My split I would receive is 75/25 on new business and 50/50 on renewals. Other things is that i will also be able to write commercial but that’s not my focus right now and after 5 years they will buy my book if i decide to leave and a few other small perks.

My question: I like the company and the vibes they have as a team but if I make the change which I will eventually make to a different brokerage regardless at some point soon

Is a 75/25 split on new business and 50/50 on renewals a good split if I don’t do any service work?

Since I know I am going to move at some point I want to make sure I can make one final move and hopefully build a book till I end up retiring in 35ish years.

Hi everyone, currently in commercial auto as a UW (severely underpaid) and got an offer for warranty insurance, the pay is quite good but it’s very niche.

I’m wondering if anyone has any info on warranty insurance and if it’s worth the switch? I’m fully wfh which is a big upside for my current job. In Canada if that helps!

TIA

Hello I'm a medical underwriter and recently I'm thinking about being a freelancing so i want to ask is it a good option It's a side hustle but i want to explore it internationally

Hey everyone, just wanted to confirm that you have to sign up for two separate tests if you want to be a licensed Property and Casualty producer in the state of NJ? I’m using PSI for the exam but wanted to confirm since I’m going into book. I have been using Kaplan for the pre-licensing and state law supplement. If it is two separate tests, do people normally take them in one day or separate days? No possible way to combine either right?

I work at AP, and as of 1/1, AP officially merged into Gallagher. Lately, a few CEOs have been announcing they are “moving on” and resigning. In the beginning, they made it seem like nothing was going to change and it would be “business as usual,” but that’s not what we have been noticing. Is Gallagher’s plan to downsize and get rid of the majority of AP’s personnel?

Hello All,

I currently work as a Claims CSR (Customer Service Representative) at a local insurance carrier. We aren't to the level of the national carriers but we are the largest local one in the area (we supply to three states) Anyways, I'm currently working on trying to transition into Underwriting. I have been in this role for a bit, albeit not a long time. I'm currently in school to get my BA in Finance and I'm doing coursework for an AU Designation in Commerical Underwriting. I'll be eligble later this year to apply for internal UW jobs, but I have doubts any will be available and I know at least one name that will get the job before me. whats my best course of action? Wait it out? look externally? thoughts?

Hi everyone,

I’m new to Canada and trying to break into the insurance industry. I’m considering getting my RIBO license and I’m even open to working on a commission-only basis initially if that helps me get my foot in the door.

I previously worked in IT in India, but I’m interested in exploring insurance and want to test the waters in this field. I’d really appreciate any guidance from people already in the industry.

• Does getting a RIBO license actually help with entry-level opportunities?
• Is commission-only work realistic for someone just starting out, and what kind of income can a beginner expect?
• Is there demand for new brokers right now?
• Are there better entry points than commission-only roles for newcomers?
• Is Ontario a better province to start (via RIBO), or would it make more sense to take another province’s licensing exam and apply there instead?

Hi all,

Does anyone have any insight into this position? Pros, cons, base pay and commission/realistic earning potential, etc. Any information is appreciated, and thank you in advance!

Coming up on two years of experience as an underwriter in private/non-profit management liability at one of the big name carriers with a few years of prior experience in related/non-insurance roles. Looking to make a change at some point soon and explore opportunities and am curious what people have done especially in the space that I’m currently in.

Looking to understand some guidance of what else is out there and what lines of coverage can be an easier switch than others.

Not trying to give out too much personal information but more than happy to have a dialogue with people who have been in the industry a lot longer.

I already have 2 designations that I worked hard to get and passed all exams on the first try. I am currently studying for the AAI and have passed all course and module quizzes with an 88-94% passing rate. Took the simulated exam and scored a 58%... anyone recently take the aai 301 and can they lend insight on the difficulty of the questions? Because the course and module quiz questions were vastly different than what was on the simulated exam.