| Becoming an insurance adjuster is probably not on | | | | automatic employment or even that you are actually |
| most third grader's list of whom they want to be | | | | qualified to do the job. Further training is |
| when they grow up. It certainly wasn't on mine. But | | | | recommended to supplement deficiencies in your |
| when reality sets in, as it has a habit of doing, and | | | | professional profile. A sound claims adjuster must |
| you find that age 28 you still haven't fulfilled your | | | | posses strong people skills, above average computer |
| third-grade destiny as zookeeper or astronaut, its | | | | proficiency, and some construction and insurance |
| time to look at some alternative career options. As I | | | | policy related knowledge. That said, many hiring |
| discovered, through good fortune, insurance claims | | | | companies, especially in catastrophic scenarios, will |
| adjusting happens to be a seldom considered gem of | | | | greatly assist their adjusters in obtaining the proper |
| a career move. Working as a claims adjuster, | | | | job training. |
| specifically an independent insurance adjuster, has | | | | Becoming a doctor takes 8 to 12 years out of high |
| some extremely attractive features that may | | | | school. You can become a licensed, trained, and |
| surprise you. Here are just three: | | | | mobile claims adjuster ready to begin your career in |
| Benefit 1: Outstanding income potential | | | | under a month. |
| If you were told you could make $1,500 a day | | | | Benefit 3: Be your own boss |
| working as an independent claims adjuster you might | | | | Working as an independent adjuster means just that |
| reasonably assume that the person who told you this | | | | - working independently. Claims adjusting is not a 9 to |
| was unwell or trying to sell you something. Those | | | | 5 office job where you punch a time card. You are |
| numbers, when stretched over a period of several | | | | giving a set of claims, usually electronically, and are |
| months, approach salaries of accomplished doctors, | | | | expected to author the claims handling procedure |
| attorneys, or business execs. Unbelievable? I would | | | | yourself from start to finish. This means your time, |
| think so. But the reality is this - every year | | | | space, and resources are your own. You determine |
| independent claims adjusters make tens of thousands | | | | just how good you are - not your boss. You |
| of dollars in very short periods of time working | | | | determine how long of a day you will work - not |
| catastrophic insurance claims. After Hurricanes Katrina, | | | | your boss. And you decide ultimately how much |
| Wilma, and Rita hit in 2005, thousands of independent | | | | money you will make. This is a liberating and |
| adjusters working the affected regions averaged | | | | empowering feeling. |
| $300 to $400 per claim they closed. A catastrophic | | | | There is a mistaken notion that any career |
| adjuster with basic proficiency should close 2-3 claims | | | | associated with insurance is inherently dry and |
| per day. That equates to $800 to $1200 daily. An | | | | uninteresting and tangled in convoluted policies and |
| outstanding adjuster can close in excess of 5 claims | | | | unsavory business tactics. Claims adjusting proves |
| per day. Career cat adjusters can earn well in excess | | | | this false. Imagine the prospect of navigating through |
| of $100,000 yearly. Further, many adjusters will make | | | | disaster-stricken neighborhoods in an effort to help |
| all of that money in only three to six months out of | | | | people get their lives and homes back together. |
| the year. The rest of the time can be spent | | | | Imagine the sincere gratitude and respect with which |
| however they wish. | | | | most claimants greet you as you take on their claim. |
| Be it hurricane, tornado, hail, or earthquake - when | | | | And when you consider that you are not really the |
| the seasons bring inclemency, independent adjusters | | | | strong arm of Big Insurance but the firm hand picking |
| arrive to help pick up the pieces. They are | | | | up those who are down, its evident that claims |
| compensated extremely well for their efforts. | | | | adjusting isn't your typical insurance gig. |
| Benefit 2: Relative ease of adjuster certification | | | | The bottom line is that you can make a fantastic |
| Most careers with earnings potential comparable to | | | | living helping people put their lives back together and |
| independent insurance adjusting require 4 to 8 years | | | | without your boss looking over your shoulder. |
| of college and post graduate study. You can become | | | | You may not have had a career as an insurance |
| a certified claims adjuster in 3 days. Online and | | | | adjuster on your list of who you wanted to be when |
| classroom pre-licensing courses, which are available | | | | you grew up, but you probably did have something |
| especially in Texas and Florida, can help you obtain | | | | that was adventurous and helped people. It may |
| your required certification in less than a week. These | | | | come as a surprise but insurance claims adjusting |
| courses can be intense, but just about any individual | | | | offers just that, and the added opportunity to make |
| who wants to pass can do so. | | | | an outstanding income while doing so! |
| Obtaining certification obviously doesn't mean | | | | |