The Ontario Broker - Volume 22, Issue 3 - 13

TalentTALENT
FEATURING
Richard Zehr
VP Of Operations Zehr
Insurance
Thomas Thompson
Co-op Student
Zehr Insurance
Asif Neaz
Client Solutions Associate
Gallagher
Sara Runnalls
VP of Operations & Client
Solutions, Gallagher
T
he insurance industry is big and complex, and it can
look very different based on where someone is in
their career. To capture the ranging perspectives
within brokerages, we posed the same questions to a
leader and an insurance rookie in each brokerage -here's
the take from Zehr Insurance and Gallagher.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE A CAREER IN INSURANCE?
RZ: Super unoriginal, but I got into insurance because it's a family
business. I've been fortunate to be around insurance and the
brokerage office my entire life and saw from an early age that it
was a gratifying career. Seeing how excited my dad was about his
business and his clients really cemented that the industry was a
great place to be. As I've continued to work and learn within the
industry, I could not imagine choosing a better career. There are
so many learning opportunities, and every day is different. Believe
it or not, insurance is an exciting and adaptive industry.
TT: My decision to pursue a career in insurance was mainly
influenced by the fact I had a friend who worked in the industry.
The positive experience that my friend had in developing their
career motivated me to explore my options in insurance. I was also
looking for a change in my life as I wanted to build a career on a
solid foundation. That is why I decided to enroll in the BusinessInsurance
Co-op program at Conestoga College.
SR: I originally didn't plan to go into insurance, in fact, it's my
second career-my first career was as a professional show
jumping rider and equestrian coach. I was supposed to go into
investment banking, but a twist of fate and a trusted family friend
had me taking an entry-level position with a reinsurance company
instead. I deliberately entered the broking world in 1998 by
applying to my parents' horse and farm insurance broker. It was
a great entry into the industry for me because I was able to use
my extensive knowledge of horses and apply it to the insurance
needed for the industry. My experience made it easy to talk
with my clients while I was building my confidence in providing
insurance advice.
AN: Like many other people, I kind of fell into this industry. It was
the summer of 2019, and I was looking for programs to apply
to when I came across this Insurance Management program at
Humber College. It was quite late and most of the other programs
that I was trying to get into were already filled, so I admitted
myself to this program. Little did I know that it was one of the
best decisions of my life. As I started the program, I learned about
this amazing industry and that insurance was not just about
calling clients to sell insurance, which was the perception I had of
this industry.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES IN
INSURANCE?
RZ: From a brokerage perspective, I would say that learning is
the biggest opportunity. Whether it's learning about the products
available within our industry or learning about your clients and
their own businesses. Insurance policies are technical contracts,
meaning that it takes a deep understanding of policy inclusions
and exclusions to speak intelligently about the services we
provide. If you're a new broker coming into a brokerage it's
important to understand that everyone around you wants you to
succeed and will help you as much as possible. Bringing forward
ideas or viable solutions is an important learning curve to take,
even if you might be incorrect.
TT: As someone just entering a career in insurance, there are
many different roles available. The one thing I have observed
is that someone entering the industry can really shape their
own career track. The tremendous support that exists within
the insurance industry is amazing. People established in the
industry have a genuine interest in mentoring new talent to have
the best possible outcomes for their career goals. Also, industry
organizations such as the IBAO have several tools and resources
to plan your career and education goals as you enter the industry
and continue to develop in it.
SR: The cool thing about insurance is that it has no choice but
to adapt at the same pace as the rest of the world around us.
VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 3
13
The Ontario Broker - Volume 22, Issue 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Ontario Broker - Volume 22, Issue 3
