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Posted By BennyBulger on 23 Oct 2009 11:56 PM
MOCO,
You are absolutely correct with your statement about a degree. Look for my book in the future "The ignorance of corporate America". They would rather have a person with a basket weaving degree over a middle aged person that has forgotten more than the person in charge of hiring will ever know. If you don't know the job how the hell can you be in a position to hire for the job. OH, OH I know........it's because you have a degree.
Seriously, I am writing a book on that very subject.

That's what i cannot figure out.. Maybe if i had a degree it would come to me. Not to say that i am against someone pursuing higher education, after all i wish that i would have, and push my kids toward it. My oldest daughter is in her second year at UA. But, on a real note if i have experience giving an me edge then it makes no sense to favor the degreed person, at least no sense i make of it. It seems a more costly avenue for the carrier. The untrained person has to be trained and taught policy language, software, procedures, construction techniques, material etc. As i stated before if we were equal in knowledge and experience,then absolutely kutos to that person who has edge. I can only assume one or several of the following: 1) degreed persons have earned their rights of passage 2) an overall belief that degreed persons are brighter (which may or may not be the case) 3) the view that degreed persons are not worthy. In todays times a degree is very important, but depending on the job at hand not neccesarily needed. Working claims is not an easy occupation and is not easily learned. There are many hours and years involved with reaching the top of the game. But if i had a degree, or decided to pursue one then i certainly would not have my sights on being a claims adjuster, but something more stable and with a little better compenstaion involved than a typical staff salary. I could work industrial construction and make as much if not more than most staffy jobs pay.
 

Part Numero Two:

Ya see compadres, in this brave new corporate world, the MBA's from all your high flung institutions are altering the playing field by seeing business no longer as an internally cooperative enterprise with the competition being the guys down the street or across the waters deep. The concept of 'competition' is now defined as adversarial with everyone within and without the organization. In the insurance bidnez, the Claims department has always been seen as the anal orifice of the corporate beast draining away funds that could be better used on investment ventures. Only the old time claims guys that reached the upper echelons of the executive level held the threat of change to the claims operations in check. Once they passed out of the orgainzation, the reins of common sense loosened on the internal forces to change the fundamentals of how the core intent of the insurance operations functions. That is why the over dependence of call centers, for claims and marketing, computers and software programs to control and predict claims costs, and the elimination of people, particularly experienced aka expensive people. Recall the marketing ploy of IBM back in the sixties and seventies where they intoned, " A computer will never fire someone, it'll just eliminate the need of hiring someone." So, increasingly the focus is to automate to cut business costs. The customer will gradualy accept this as it is presented as a way to save them money. Saving money will always win out over service no matter how dramatic the difference between the new spartan and impersonal way and the traditional methods of the one-on-one personal human touch.

That's where we are and the effect will only increase. The Money Boys will have their way and we out here, the disposable Human Chattel will be shunted away, discarded like one of our old ladders until the need rises again for our services when an earthquake rumbles, a hurricane roars, or the wind and hail rattles the roof causing the customer to scream to the government to get the insensetive greedy corporate entity to do what their insurance contract says it is supposed to do.

If it is any comfort, there is nothing wrong that we have done or could have done to prevent this from happening. After all as small business men we have changed and adapted far quicker than any large business could, particularly with regard to computerization. But when the fundamentals are changed by the new breed of MBA executives who seek each quarterly profit to far exceed the last, then we on our level can do naught. It is out of our control. This is why those who seek to join our ranks need to pause and research the harsh realities we advise them. Had I conferred with my crystal ball back in 1976, my life would be far different.

Ol' Ghost

Regular Calims for New Adjusters Only- Learn under an EGA

You must live in the Houston area, willing to work on a 24/7 notice and have Excatimate leased. I will be the co-afjuster on all losses. Must be able to climb roofs and have all the tools.The claims losses will be Homeowners, Commercial, Inland Marine, Auto-casualty, commercial liability. I will be with you on ever loss from start to finish. We will split the fee bill 50/50. I do not travel on storms. We will both market for this very competitive business in this area under this agreement. Let me hear from you.

The above post also is also open to adjusters with some property experience, but need commercial, inland marine and all the liability lines type claims.

Posted By BrianTonia on 31 Aug 2009 01:15 AM

 I am interested in becoming a CAT adjuster and need some pointers.  First off from reading the posts on this website it seems that attending an actual classroom is no better than just doing it online at home.  I want to get off on the right foot and make myself stand out so I can be successful. 

Once I have done the training and receive my license what is the best avenue to take getting in as an independent adjuster with a company? As an IA do you have to get your own hazard insurance to protect you while on the properties your adjusting?

Having no experience in adjusting, any comments or suggested paths for training and employment would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Get a job as a staff adjuster with a carrier or large independent and work for at least 5 years. If you cannot do that the best thing you can do is consider another field of endeavor. Your three day all lines license may be useful as a paper airplane...not much else.

 

Well you believe what you want to believe about TX license reciprocation.  You come to GA 60 days after a catastrophe and see how much work you will get without a non-resident GA license.   How do I know this?  Cause I got a FL adjuster license that reciprocates with GA just like your TX license will.

Crawford & Co has given me and all who attended their May 31 to June 5 Atlanta claims training XM8 25.1 that is a "real working version" that I have heard will disappear effective Jan 11, 2010.  Which means I will have to pay for it.  About me.  Well I was an agent for 10 years but hated it. So I quit insurance completely from 1999 until 2008.  I got re-licensed as an agent and adjuster in 2008.   Back in 2006 I let the lady from the Insurance Institute of America talk me into taking the Program in General Insurance.  I still wish I took the Accredited Advisor in Insurance cause it is better for an agent and a little more in depth on policy.  Anyway my scores were very good and I got my certificate.  I just completed my first AIC exam and scored very well. This was AIC 33 Claims Handling.  Now I am studying for AIC 35. Property Loss Adjusting.  If I pass this exam I will only need 1 more exam to have the AIC designation.  Currently I am Xactimate 25 Level 2 certified.  I will tell everyone on this site that all of these classes are not that great.  I actually learned more and knew more as an insurance agent selling insurance with experience than I ever learned from books.  After I get my AIC designation I will then only study construction and just keep an HO3 book from Rough Notes and maybe a BOP and CPP book from Rough Notes or National Underwriter.  I still have 3 excellent CPCU books I got off eBay for $25 each.  Anyway...  I am really ready to learn some "real world" stuff.  If I am not happy as an adjuster I am gonna go to LAW SCHOOL TOO like Ghosts friends!  Hopefully my AIC designation will help me in the field of law.  I will just take a $20 to $30 Paralegal job while I go to law school.  Anyway... liking to meet up with Ray in Houston in December and start looking at some real world working with you.

I can help you.  

(Edit by Admin: Link removed it just went to a domain parking page.)

I agree with Ranger 100%. But if you want to learn I have the best 5 day school to learn how to scope, write estimates for $400. (10.00 per hour) limit 15 students. Bunk bed in cabin with 2 baths and 1 kitchen for $20.00 per night or $100.00   rhrayhall@gmail.com

Well now this is good offer from Gwright, but who would you trust someone who is twice as old as me and charges much more and we all know all the good adjusters schools are in Texas.