As an insurance broker, you go to great lengths to ensure that your clients are satisfied, or as satisfied as possible, with their coverage. You work hard to make yourself invaluable to your customers. But sometimes clients see that willingness to help as something to exploit. How can you know if that’s what’s happening? What are the signs that insurance brokers are being taken advantage of?

Profit

We certainly don't need to sell you on the necessity of dental insurance, but we also know that, as much as you enjoy knowing that you're helping put people in a position where dental care doesn’t break their banks, you also need to be able to keep yourself from sinking your own business.

This brings us to the first indication that you may need to distance yourself from a client who is taking advantage. Don't put yourself in a position where you're giving a client such a good deal that you're not able to make a profit. By helping them secure the best deal possible, you're doing them a service, and deserve to be compensated for that service.

'Bending' the Rules

One of the real benefits for your clients of going through a personable insurance broker is that you can be a voice of reason to ensure your client doesn't get stiffed by a carrier using a vague set of rules. But this also opens an area up for you to be taken advantage of.

Insurance companies are willing to negotiate terms with those that have brought them business, but continuously seeing rules being 'bent' can take their willingness to negotiate with you and throw it out the window. Don't put yourself in a position where helping your clients compromises your entire business. A select few special cases may require your effort to try and get rules 'bent,' but be wary of doing it too often.

Receiving Payment

Another perk you may provide your clients is a willingness to work with them on payments should that become an issue due to special circumstances. But, yet again, this is an area that some clients may see as a way to take advantage.

While being willing to work with someone when it comes to late or missed payments is important for business, you should always draw a line in the sand. That line doesn't necessarily need to be in the same place for all clients, but it certainly needs to exist.

The bottom line is, as much as you want to be as helpful and generous as possible to your clients, don’t let it be at the expense of your successful business either. By paying close attention to the areas we've covered, you can help ensure that your good nature and willingness to help doesn't get taken advantage of.