Insurance Business recently released this year's rising stars in the Australian insurance industry, a bunch of outstanding professionals age 35 or under as of May 31, 2022. Aaron Scutts, a 31-year-old head of renewals at Shielded Insurance Brokers and one of this year's winners, shared some tips on becoming successful early in a career.
In an interview with Insurance Business Australia (IB), Scutts said he lacked previous industry experience when he joined Shielded Insurance Brokers in 2019. However, in the past two years, he has risen to managing renewals for a vast book of clients, and has led a 10-person team.
On his secret to success, Scutts said: “I don't really consider myself a salesperson. I just let my product knowledge and attention to customers speak for itself. I think clients appreciate that. They just need someone [who is] attentive [and] knowledgeable [and] listens to them and finds a solution.
“Instead of seeking those with previous broker experience for the role, we've had a lot more success with hiring those just with a client or strong client service background - being able to start with a good base and then building knowledge from there.”
Shielded Insurance Brokers has over 4,000 five-star reviews, while Scutts and his team manage a portfolio of more than $30 million in gross written premiums (GWPs).
Reflecting on his journey as a young insurance leader, Scutts emphasised the significance of building a strong knowledge base by keeping on top of industry changes, trends, and client needs.
“As a young person, you might feel like you have no experience or haven't paid your dues,” he said. “I just feel like that makes the industry stagnate. We want it to innovate, evolve, [and] use technology.”
