The industry's biggest challenge is "the mystery that comes with insurance," says Patience Noah, independent agent. "We need to help younger generations become interested, because let's be honest, we need to prepare the next generation."
Patience Noah
Agency Owner
Framingham, Massachusetts
Age: 33
Currently streaming: Real Housewives of Atlanta
In your earbuds: Bishop T.D. Jakes
Preferred social media: TikTok
Best thing about being an independent agent?
I love being an independent agent because I can make decisions for my clients and my agency. It puts me in the power position and gives me the ability to decide if a certain company matches my business model, my mission statement, and my clients' needs.
Millennial stereotypes?
One stereotype I'd love to get rid of is that millennials don't know the business. But if you meet a millennial like myself that is really interested in the industry and wants to uncover the mystery behind insurance, they can bring a lot of innovation.
I would love for even more of the older generation to help bring more millennials into the industry. If you're a baby boomer, my advice is to take a millennial under your wing and help them bring innovation into the industry for the better.
The multi-generational workplace?
Younger people grasp onto things really fast. We know how customers shop now, which is through a smartphone. Older generations may prefer newsletters and door-to-door, which I don't think should go away, but having both generations at a workplace means you can learn from one another and implement all these valuable tools in your agency. We all have something to learn from one another. It's all about having an open mind.
Biggest industry challenge?
That mystery that comes with insurance. We need to help younger generations become interested, because let's be honest, we need to prepare the next generation. I tell people all the time that sales is literally 2% of insurance. Don't want to do sales? Customer service, actuary, claims adjuster, paralegal—there's so many things you can do. It's definitely given me the opportunity to be an educator.
AnneMarie McPherson is IA news editor.
