Darren Hasson, owner of WHINS InsuranceAgency
College: California State UniversityNorthridge
Organizations: 2011 MauriceHerndon Scholarship Award, Encino Chamber Member of the Year2010

Read Darren's previous nGI Q&A

Who is your primary contact at your top 3 insurers? Howoften are you in contact with them? Travelers’ SharonGraeter, CPCU marketing director, comes into the office every monthand is also available by phone and email. Allied’s Julie AnnDe Laney, underwriter, is in contact with us every other day.MetLife’s Angie Diaz, underwriter, also is in contact with us.Safeco’s Jill Crutchfield, CPCU, CIC, marketing director, is extremely helpful!

Have you ever experienced any generation gap issues withyour carriers in terms of personal interaction or the products theyoffer? Although our carriers are up to date with theirinsurance policies and coverages, they fall a bit behind when itcomes to personal interaction. This is where WHINS Insurance agencyis able to step in. Because we are a company of this newgeneration, we have mastered the ability to use social networkingto communicate with our clients at a fast pace using personablemethods.

Do your top carriers recruit youngworkers? The top carriers know that young workershave the energy, motivation and wherewithal to help grow theircompany. In this way, a strong merger is created with theexperience of the top carriers and the passion of the youngworkers.

What’s the toughest thing about being a young agent in afield where the average age is 55? The toughest impedimentabout being a young agent in a field of older agents is gettingpeople to look at our business from different perspectives thatcould potentially lead to greater benefits for not only the companybut the customers as well. For instance, understanding thatcutting edge technology now plays a vital roll in the insuranceindustry. People need to recognize that there is a new generationof the insurance business and that we must update this business forthe twenty-first century. While older do agents hold wisdom, youngagents are the key to the next generation of insurance.

Read on for more from Darren Hasson

How does technology fit into your workstrategy? Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Yelp and ourown websitehelp to service our clients and perspective clients moreefficiently. We can supply valuable information 24/7 and weare able to reach many people in a very short period of time.

What are your future goals in this industry? Iwould like to see WHINS be at the forefront of the insuranceindustry and, thus, providing an opportunity for individuals toacquire insurance that fits their needs. My goal is tocontinue to become an integral part of the community by educatingpeople of their insurance options.

How do you balance work and personal life? Verycarefully. In all seriousness, I am very grateful to have a soundworking relationship with my business partner. The fact that weboth share the same philosophy concerning service allows us to carefor each others clients should one of us be shortly occupied. Further, technology also plays a role to able to conduct businessfrom just about anywhere.

How does your office reflect how you work? Weare set up to deal directly with our clients as we feel that it isimportant to establish a personal connection with each and everyone. We want clients to feel that they are an extended family ofthe WHINS Insurance agency and we follow up with newsletters,holiday cards, and small reminders that we are thinking about them.I’d like to think that our office is a warm and personableatmosphere supporting people to feel confident and secure.

What is an important lesson you learned when joining aprofessional working environment? If you are aprofessional act like one! Appearance, language, organizationand staying informed in your field convey to a client that theyhave selected someone who is prepared to handle their business.

Read on for more from Darren Hasson

Where do you hope to take your career? What directionwould you like your career to go? I would like to be in afinancial position where I can devote time and energy to givingback to the community and still be a vital and integral part of theinsurance industry.

Gen Ys often change jobs—7 times in their 20s, accordingto research. How can employers retain young talent? Ithink employers need to provide a wide range of opportunities,growth, and stability for their employees.

Many young agents enter this industry because otherfamily members work in insurance. What advice do you have whenworking with family? When working with family it isimperative that you sit down beforehand and go over expectationsthat you have for the company and for each other. Establish aclear cut line of job responsibilities and respect one another’sposition—then put it in writing.

What new technologies should young agents utilize to geta leg up in this industry? Social Networking, Blogging,Reading the Forums, Yelp and Video messaging all contribute togetting ahead in this industry.

What sales strategies worked for you in 2010?My business partner and I developed, wrote, and executed a businessplan that met both our personal goals and the goals for ourbusiness. Another crucial sales approach entailed communityinvolvement such as getting involved with our local Chamber ofCommerce.

Darren Hasson was featured inthe Aug. 2011 issue of AA&B. He is the owner ofWHINS Insurance Agency.