The digital brokerage isn’t a passing trend – it’s the wave of the future. Amanda Earl (pictured) is a digital insurance broker for MIG Insurance in Manitoba, which sells most of its business insurance offerings, as well as renters’ insurance, online. She has seen the demand among customers for digital transacting firsthand, and told Insurance Business how brokers can adapt to this changing mentality.
Tell us about your career path. How did you end up in the insurance business and a digital insurance broker for MIG Insurance?
I ended up in the insurance business by accident. I was an administrative assistant in the oil and gas industry in 2008. Through the off season, we had to look for other work. I took my resume to a recruitment agency, and landed a position as the personal lines manager for the Co-operators in Alberta. A few years later, I became an insurance broker and loved it!
I moved to Manitoba a few years after that for family. I was able to find a position with another firm as a personal lines/farm insurance broker. But, there was something missing – I needed to look for a brokerage that shared the same values and philosophies that I did. I eventually found my way to the tech savvy MIG Insurance Group. I started as a personal lines broker, however, in a very short time, I became a part of the online team, and soon after that I became the MIG online full-time digital broker.
When you look back at your career, what have been some of the standout moments so far?
Making the big jump from oil and gas to insurance definitely was huge for me. Being a digital broker here at MIG is very exciting. The industry is constantly changing, [and] being in that digital space and being able to do business the way customers need and want to do business is rewarding.
What drew you to work on the digital side of insurance, and what have been your experiences in this role so far?
Digital is where the world is going. I actually finished my high school graduating year through virtual school. I enjoy making things easy for clients. I know how I like to shop as a consumer and I like to be able to provide the same buyer-friendly experience for others. Overall, it has been a very positive experience.
One of the only drawbacks to not having a client face-to-face with you [is] it’s harder to read someone over the phone, and building a relationship through email. Communication is key as you really need to understand how to be clear on the information you are giving to them and trying to qualify what types of insurance they may require.
What role do you see digital brokers playing in the future of the insurance industry as digitalization continues?
Brokers are going to continue to be educators. We are going to continue to try and get the best products in front of our clients. I feel that brokers will help drive the ease of doing business like we always have, but more so by embracing and being able to utilize all the technology we have in order to communicate that out.
What are the challenges affecting your line of work as well as brokers in Manitoba more broadly right now?
The insurance companies are working on selling directly to the public without having the broker involved. As those changes happen, we will have to remind clients the importance [that] a knowledgeable broker will play in the role of making sure that their specific insurance needs are met. It’s not a cookie-cutter approach, it’s very individualized!
If you weren’t working in the insurance space, what would you be doing instead?
I could see myself running an online business in the horse industry, specifically in animal therapy. My passion for animals and horses in particular is where I spend a lot of my free time.
