A multitude of career possibilities exist in the insurance industry that help you cover consumers and provide protection for pickups, people and property.

 

A multitude of career choices exist at companies that provide insurance products such as motor vehicle, health, life, property and casualty policies. They range from claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators to sales agents and underwriters.

But that’s not all. Fintech is also fast-growing, thereby making it a good area within insurance to consider for a career.

In fact, according to Deloitte’s 2019 Insurance Industry Outlook, 2019 will likely see the industry move past basic education and proofs of concept to preparing for the launch of an increasing number of real-world blockchain applications impacting day-to-day operations.

“While we probably won’t see sudden and dramatic implementation growth in 2019, large carriers and consortiums are expected to launch more impactful blockchain initiatives that could change the shape of insurance operations. This could set the stage for much wider blockchain adoption across the industry going into 2020,” says the report.

What’s more, the report indicates that two thirds of insurers say they plan to increase staff over the next year, thanks to sustained economic growth, rising interest rates and higher investment income that contributed to a strong year for insurers in 2018.

While Deloitte’s report does caution against longer-term challenges such as the potential for economic slowdown, and on-going disputes over tariffs and trade rules, their impact remains very much in each insurer’s own hands.

“It would therefore be prudent for insurers to maintain their growth momentum by continuing to focus on improving operational efficiency, boosting productivity, and lowering costs with new technology and talent transformations, while customizing products and services to meet the evolving demands of the emerging digital economy,” the report advises.

What does this all mean for you? That 2019 is shaping up to be a banner year, and despite what may be around the corner in insurance, rest assured that a career in the industry is something to seriously consider for long-term growth and longevity.

Just ask the six professionals featured here who work in different parts of the industry and in different roles.

 

Fanfan’s Recruiting Strategies Support Guardian’s Agency Growth Efforts

Because Daudley Fanfan understands that having life insurance is important to people, he has spent the last 18 years working in the insurance and financial services industry, beginning with his graduate school job as an advisor for Prudential Financial to his present-day position as senior program manager, agency growth and development, at New York, NY-based Guardian, one of the largest mutual life insurance companies in the U.S.

Fanfan first joined Guardian in 2011 as a project specialist. In that role, he says, “I worked closely with the field vice president in building resources for agency recruiting. I was charged with creating the overall recruiting strategy agencies would implement in their business plan.”

Since then, Fanfan has been promoted, first to program manager, then to his current position as senior program manager, where he works with agencies within The Guardian Network, supporting their agency growth efforts.

“This includes recruiting strategy consultation, building resources and collateral that assist in attracting top talent, and managing programs that encourage quality recruiting standards,” he elaborates.

On a typical day he speaks with agency managers from across the organization and provides recruiting strategy consultation. He also works on department programs to ensure all deliverables are met.

Besides a bachelor’s degree in psychology and social science, Fanfan also has a master’s degree in human resource management, an MBA in corporate finance, and a Chartered Leadership Fellow (CLF) designation from The American College of Financial Services, which focuses on business-building skills, and techniques for financial services and insurance professionals.

Fanfan leads Guardian’s sponsorship of the Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP), which focuses on the advancement and development of African-American financial advisors in the industry. He attends Guardian’s TeamWorks events, where agency leaders bring together experts on topics such as management, marketing, and recruiting, and stays current with industry trends at conferences and seminars outside of Guardian.

He’s a founding member of Guardian’s Black Employee Inclusion Network (BEIN), which is concerned with the professional advancement of black employees, and moving the company’s diversity and inclusion agenda forward. He’s also a member of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) and the Urban League of New York. In addition, he’s a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the oldest African-American intercollegiate fraternity in the world.

He says that cross-functional experiences and job-shadowing have been increasingly popular at Guardian. There are also a multitude of courses and programs Guardian employees can participate in to develop their talent.

Log onto guardianlife.com to find out more about the company, and click on guardianlife.com/corporate-careers for career information. Connect on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.