What should you prepare before meeting an insurance agent?

The first meeting is usually a get-to-know-you session. Regardless if they are your friends or an FA who approached you during a roadshow, it is important to use this meeting to know their background, expertise, and how they can help you with your investment and insurance needs.

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Here are some of the general questions that you can ask your potential FA to know if they are suitable for you:
1. What are your professional qualifications and training background?
2. How long have you been in the industry?

3. What is your approach towards financial planning?
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Although you are relying on the potential FA for their expertise, there are certain things that you will need to prepare before you arrange a meet-up:
1. Your spending and budget

2. Organising your existing policies

3. Insurance and/or investment policies that you are curious about

4. Your investment goals

What is the agenda today? - Be ready to discern between sales talk and financial advice. You have every right to walk away if you don't vibe with the agent at all.

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If this is the first meeting, exploratory, fact finding. - How long have you been doing this? Why did you get into this industry? How many clients are you servicing?Think of it as you interviewing your agent, because you are in a sense hiring them to work for you.

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Check their proficiency credentials. Are you CFP® or ChFC®/S certified? - a simple guide to whether the agent is aware of comprehensive financial planning, but doesn't guarantee they wouldn't peddle products with those certifications.

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Sales related titles like MDRT, COT, TOT, Platinum Club, etc. tell you how good they are at deal closing. You decide whether this is an important factor in engaging an agent.

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If 2nd/3rd meeting for presentation of solutions.

Am I expected to make a decision on any products today? - Remember there is always a freelook period for you to decide after application if the product is really a good fit in your plans.

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From table of deductions, if there is any policy illustration presented to you - How much estimated commission will you earn from selling me this product?

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Are there comparable alternatives for this product/solution recommended to me today?