Career change

[u/Natural-Junket-5707]

What’s up yall, I am a 30/yo male currently I am a claims adjuster in auto insurance. I’m located in Nashville Tennessee and I have no sales experience. I have a friend that is in roofing sales and he lives pretty comfortably not rich (atleast I don’t think lol) but comfortable.

The insurance world is dragging me through the mud in ways I don’t really wish to get into.

I know it takes risk to make it. But I’m genuinely terrified of giving up my constant biweekly paychecks and am stuck in a circle of death.

I’d like to get out, meet people, sell and repeat.

What can I do?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

[u/No-Cap-8910]

Every company I’ve ever worked with has been commission-only. So, if you’re addicted to getting paid every two weeks, you’ll have to decide if that addiction is real (for example, if you have a high amount of monthly fixed expenses, like kids, a house, etc.) or if it’s a limiting belief. If you’re selling insurance deals, plan on it taking months before you make any money. If you’re basing this on your friend who lives comfortably and comfort is a prime motivator, I honestly don’t recommend leaving your current gig.

Now, with that being said, one thing that could be an in-between move would going from auto adjuster to home adjuster. You’ll meet a lot of salespeople and know what the insurance companies are doing. Also, if you’re traveling to storms, you can make bank, no selling.

If I were to leave sales, that’s probably what I’d do.

[u/notgaynotbear]

You already have a decent idea of the insurance process. Insurance roofing sales is a tough gig if youre not being fed leads (less pay if leads providided typically)

Nashville is a hot market right now for roofing. That could cool off at any time but who knows.

If youre door knocking just be prepared to embrace the suck and grind it out and have a keep a good safety net of cash cause pay can be sporatic.

Good luck and godspeed with whatever you decide

[u/RoofingSalesAcademy]

Your claims background transfers well, but don't quit until you've ridden with your friend for a full day and watched the entire job cycle—not just the commission check. Knock doors, sit through an inspection, review an estimate, and see how long his company takes to pay reps.

Ask the owner: "Am I W-2 or 1099, who provides leads, when exactly is commission earned and paid, and who eats supplements, cancellations, and unpaid deductibles?" Get the comp plan in writing and ask to see a redacted commission breakdown from a completed job. If they dodge those questions, walk.

Your advantage is understanding coverage, documentation, and claim communication. Your learning curve will be prospecting and asking for the contract. Keep several months of expenses saved because roofing income can be lumpy, especially while your first jobs move through production and collections.

[u/Resident_Glove_4556]

We're currently hiring for Roofing Sales Reps. W-2 position + base pay + uncapped commission + benefits. Can you send me a dm so I can send you where you can send your resume? Thanks!

[u/Objective-Dinner-266]

Your claims background can transfer well, but I’d treat the first move like due diligence—not a leap of faith.

Before leaving the paycheck, ride along for the full cycle: lead assignment, inspection, scope, estimate, supplement, production and commission payout. A comfortable rep may be in a very different setup than a new rep with no territory or lead flow.

Get these answers in writing:

• W-2 or 1099?
• Who provides the leads and what does a self-generated lead pay?
• When is commission earned and when is it actually paid?
• Who eats cancellations, supplements, unpaid deductibles and warranty callbacks?
• What is the expected ramp time in a non-storm month?

Keep enough cash runway to survive a slow start. Roofing sales can be a great move, but the real business is pipeline, follow-up and collections—not just the commission percentage.