One Door Closes, another opens...

Well, friends, after almost 9 years of service, my employer terminated me on 9/13/22. I had started on 12/06/2013 and worked hard for many years to get where I was, building up a book of business as an insurance agent in a startup agency.
After regularly outselling each and every other member of the constantly changing team, and working on my own (the rest of the team was always in Nebraska, Blair or Omaha and I've always worked in Sioux City, IA), they decided to let me go even though I was the hardest worker and best selling agent.
The guy that made the decision to terminate me now benefits from my renewal commissions as he's taking over all of my accounts (I had outsold him 3 to 1), so his book just grew by 4 times.

Ugh. Very disappointing and for a couple of weeks, terrifying. I started to apply elsewhere and quickly found a great position with another local agency, although this one is MUCH bigger and better in many, many ways.
Still working in insurance, still an independent sales agent, was only out of work for about 4 weeks, so thankfully I found something quickly and didn't loose too much income.
Now, I'll have to rebuild my book of business, but my experience granted me a guaranteed salary at the new job (I was straight commission at the old job).

That's what's new, thanks for letting me vent and Happy Halloween, everyone!

JS

Sorry to hear about the stress.

I always work to my best ability and have regularly been rewarded with phrases like.
"We can't promote you because we can't get anyone who can do the work you do. We are giving Billy that promotion".

Side Note: Billy was later sent to a different location to be fired to prevent the local crew from knowing they screwed up. I worked a few more months and moved on.

I learned from experience that business will continue on when I quit and I will continue on if they let me go.

I still do my best work no matter what, but I know that at the end of the day the only thing I should expect from a company is a paycheck no matter how hard I work.

Hopefully you kept a list of clients you can call on.

Sorry to hear that. Was it the owner of the agency that terminated you?

Thanks

No, not the owner, another employee (and another selling agent that was also named the "director" although he never "directed" anything).
That employee now took my book of business, so his income went WAY up.

That said, I'm on a "one year" non compete agreement. In the meantime, if anyone calls or contacts me, I can tell them where I'm working now and they can come with me. I've moved two already (only a few thousand to go). Many I'll move after 1 year is up, but the folks that keep calling? I'm moving them one by one

JS

So glad I moved on from the insurance industry.

I have a pocket full of horror stories about different agencies/companies and how they treat people. When big commissions are involved all kinds of sliminess happens!

Good luck!

Hopefully you kept your customers contact information so they can use you still for their coverage, correct?
Business is business, let the best survive and thrive

MOST non compete agreements can not be easily enforced.

I was with the same agent and company for 25 years. After 4 "replacement agents" i went to an independent and saved substantially. I am not overly enthused with the independent and will be looking for his replacement next year when all 4 or 5 policies are up for renewal. Do keep in touch with your clients as they may not like the NEW services
Are you able to do nebraska?

How did another employee fire you and take your book of business?

If they terminated you without compensation to cover the non-compete - its nothing more than a piece of paper

Yes, I'm licensed in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota
and, yes, as my new agency has informed me, most non competes aren't worth the paper that they are written on (you can't hold clients captive, in other words, it just stops me from sending out mass emails to former clients to let them know where I've gone).
I can post my new job on Social Media, though, and let the chips fall where they may...:)

(I can't stop people from calling me!)

JS

Thanks, everyone!

How did another employee fire me and take my Book of Business? He's a friend of the owner, that's how. He's made more mistakes than I can count, but nothing ever happens to him, but bonuses and promotions.

I'd write $50K to $60K in new business in one month, and he'd write $20K and get praised publicly. ??

JS

You don`t need to do a good job if you are a real good butt kisser. There is always a few of them at every job.

PM me your contact info so I can find you at renewal time

A good friend of mine once told me: "It's the horse that pulls the hardest that gets whipped the most."

PM sent, thank you!

JS

Too bad it's quite often the harder workers that get the shaft.

Sorry to hear this but glad you found what sounds like a better place to work. Best of luck to you.


Tim

I'd have my attorney take a look at that non compete and the termination itself. As has been pointed most non competes are difficult to enforce and if there is no consideration given I suspect it's not worth the paper it's written on. If the lawyer agrees with that I'd go full tilt to reduce the [censored]'s book by whatever means necessary.

Kevin

An implement of feminine hygiene is censored? Lol

Kevin

I would contact all our former clients and offer them a better service.

legal “non compete” clauses in employment contracts probably are already illegal in many of the 50 States,
but should probably be limited nationally to some short period like 60 days.

The Dodge Brothers were not, and should not have been,
legally prevented from competing with Henry Ford.

Walter Chrysler made things better by competing with General Motors.