I consider myself to be a professional insurance agent. But by what standards do I consider myself professional? As a property-casualty insurance agent, I have no real industry standards to measure my professionalism. Of course, there are legal standards I must conform to, but is there a “code of practice” with which I must comply? Other than individual state requirements for licensing and continuing education, I know of none.
Do we need to become professional? Do we need to have a “standard of care” which is uniform throughout the U.S.? I believe we do. When I testify in a deposition as an expert witness defending an insurance agent in an errors or omissions claim, the first question I am asked by the plaintiff's attorney is, “What is the standard of care that is owed?”
While I believe the “standard of care” depends on the education, training and experience of the agent providing the coverage, many attorneys and consumers think all insurance companies, insurance agencies and insurance policies are the same. This perception is a problem for our industry.
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