Darren Hasson, owner of WHINS Insurance Agency
College: California State University Northridge
Organizations: 2011 Maurice Herndon Scholarship Award, Encino Chamber Member of the Year 2010

Who is your primary contact at your top 3 insurers? How often are you in contact with them? Travelers’ Sharon Graeter, CPCU marketing director, comes into the office every month and is also available by phone and email. Allied’s Julie Ann De 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 with your carriers in terms of personal interaction or the products they offer? Although our carriers are up to date with their insurance policies and coverages, they fall a bit behind when it comes to personal interaction. This is where WHINS Insurance agency is able to step in. Because we are a company of this new generation, we have mastered the ability to use social networking to communicate with our clients at a fast pace using personable methods.

Do your top carriers recruit young workers? The top carriers know that young workers have the energy, motivation and wherewithal to help grow their company. In this way, a strong merger is created with the experience of the top carriers and the passion of the young workers.

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

Read on for more from Darren Hasson

How does technology fit into your work strategy? Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Yelp and our own website help to service our clients and perspective clients more efficiently. We can supply valuable information 24/7 and we are able to reach many people in a very short period of time.

What are your future goals in this industry? I would like to see WHINS be at the forefront of the insurance industry and, thus, providing an opportunity for individuals to acquire insurance that fits their needs. My goal is to continue to become an integral part of the community by educating people of their insurance options.

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

How does your office reflect how you work? We are set up to deal directly with our clients as we feel that it is important to establish a personal connection with each and every one. We want clients to feel that they are an extended family of the 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 personable atmosphere supporting people to feel confident and secure.

What is an important lesson you learned when joining a professional working environment? If you are a professional act like one! Appearance, language, organization and staying informed in your field convey to a client that they have 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 direction would you like your career to go? I would like to be in a financial position where I can devote time and energy to giving back to the community and still be a vital and integral part of the insurance industry.

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

Many young agents enter this industry because other family members work in insurance. What advice do you have when working with family? When working with family it is imperative that you sit down beforehand and go over expectations that you have for the company and for each other. Establish a clear cut line of job responsibilities and respect one another’s position—then put it in writing.

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

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

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

Special Reports /

Darren Hasson Continues Young Agent Discussion - nGI

Related Stories

Recommended For You