Chris Larmore, CIC, CRM
CEO,Parenti & Associates Insurance Brokers, San Carlos, Calif.

Years at company: 4

College: Michigan State University '05

How did you determine that insurance was a viable career choice?
My father worked in the insurance industry so I grew up watching him help clients as they experienced very difficult situations. It impacted me to see how much respect they had for him.

What is one important lesson you learned when joining a professional working environment?
Sometimes slow and easy is the best route. Our generation is so excited to take everything by storm, but that can be perceived poorly by older generations. Knowing what you don't know is more important than what you actually do know.

What legislative issues have your attention?
Workers' compensation reform is long overdue and is costing small businesses a ton of money. I would like reform to focus on providing 24-hour disability coverage with incentives for people to get healthy and back to work. Reform also needs to address workers' compensation fraud, which just leaves both brokers and clients feeling helpless.

How do you balance your work and personal life?
As a broker and company owner I take obligations to our clients very seriously, which leaves a lot of time blended between work and family. I turn off all technology every once in a while to engage 100% in my personal life. After the birth of my daughter, I realized that I need to better manage my work/life balance. The only finite resource is time, and I just don't ever have enough of it.

What's your mantra for success?
Make sure you learn something new every day. When it comes to clients, under-promise and over-deliver. Don't ever take risks with your reputation or act unethically to land short-term premium dollars, because the dollars will fade away and people remember your character forever.

What advice do you have for young agents?
Don't set your sights low. At a young age you can outwork and outlearn anyone else—use that untapped ambition and thirst for knowledge to your advantage. It takes two to three years to get the ball rolling, but once established an insurance career is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding jobs out there, both financially and personally. A mentor will help you through the difficult and rewarding parts of your career growth.

Special Reports /

Profiling Insurance Pros Under 40: Chris Larmore, San Carlos, Calif.

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