When I first came to the adjusting industry, I learned as much as I could as fast as I could. I buried my nose in insurance policies, industry magazines, XM8 Integra-Claim, DDS, construction manuals, basically anything I could find relating to the claims industry. I tried to learn everything I could in regard to the CAT industry. I became well versed in policy, fee schedules, IA firms, estimating software, necessary equipment and everything I thought necessary to become a great adjuster.... read more
Claims Adjusting — It’s Not What You Think
Posted on May 17, 2013My enjoyment of it showed, too. Pretty soon, people I’d meet on inspections would ask me about my job and how to get into it. I could tell them with honest and eager enthusiasm how cool my job was and what it was like. And (if I decided to tell them) people just couldn’t believe how I got paid. I realized that the cycle was repeating itself. The secret was being passed on as it had before: person to person, one experience at a time… and the hidden gem was being passed on with good will to future adjusters.... read more
Who Employs Independent Claims Adjusters?
Posted on April 26, 2020Although I’ve met the odd adjuster with an arrangement to adjust claims directly for the insurance company, it is much more common to find Independent Adjusters working for a claims-handling company. These companies are commonly called TPA’s (Third-Party Administrators), Bureaus, or IA firms (Independent Adjusting firms).... read more
Top 15% Profile Number One: Carla (2 of 2)
Posted on February 28, 2013Anyone could work six hours longer than their coworkers. Anyone could make spreadsheets of policies in their down time. Anyone could master Xactimate late at night after a full day's work. But they don't. they're not willing, an Carla is. That's what makes it so exceptional when someone does do these things. That's what separates the top 15% of adjusters who work all the time from those who wish they could; they're willing to do what others are not willing to do.... read more
Daily Claims vs. Catastrophe Claims Part 2: What’s the Difference?
Posted on June 5, 2013After my first significant CAT deployment, I knew I loved the industry and I knew for certain that I wanted to stay in it. I enjoyed it, I was good at it, and I had never made so much money in my life. Unfortunately, I also knew I had only one season of experience under my belt, and most of the IA firms advertised that they "required" three or more years of experience. I didn't let that get me discouraged; rather, I set about strategically and systematically working to get myself on the rosters of almost every IA firm I could find.... read more
Top 15% Profile Number One: Carla
Posted on January 18, 2013At one pivotal point, a large, nation-wide insurance company asked the manager at the IA (IA = claims-handling company) that Carla was working for if they had a particularly talented adjuster who could help them solve a problem in California. They needed to “shut down” a storm; that is, they needed to close up the remainder of the claims (all “problem claims”) in a mere 30-days. Her manager recommended Carla without hesitation, and of course Carla knocked it out of the park... read more
The 15%
Posted on January 10, 2013He explained that they had a base of about 15% of their total roster of CAT adjusters that they thoroughly trust to get the job done and who, consequently, deploy continuously. But, he continued, 15% is inadequate; they have a genuine shortage of highly-competent, qualified CAT adjusters, and they'd love to have more. I was fascinated by this, because -- as a trainer -- I meet numerous people who would very much like an adjusting career and would love to be counted in this "15%". The fact is that the companies that hire adjusters work hard to recruit and develop more (qualified) adjusters, yet adjusters who want those jobs don't know how to get them. ... read more
Reciprocity….huh?
Posted on May 1, 2013Reciprocity. It makes one feel safe, like the world is a fair place. It denotes acceptance and balance, one imagines mutual exchange....... read more
How much construction knowledge do you need to be a successful adjuster?
Posted on October 31, 2012One of the cool things about being a property adjuster (especially successfully) is that it requires a host of widely varied skills. On the positive side, for those interested in breaking into the business, this means that it’s an opportunity that’s not limited just to people with some specific skill-set, training or work history, such as construction. Folks with a background in technology, customer service, accounting, and more, also have a lot to offer as candidates; indeed, individuals from all sorts of backgrounds find that they bring a lot of essential skills to the table as candidates. On the other hand, there are certain areas of knowledge that require a base level of competence. One of these is - for better or worse - knowledge of construction.... read more
Fine Print
Posted on November 1, 2011Each claim handled with fine print contributes to an overall culture of distrust towards the insurance industry. Each claim you handle with integrity and transparency builds your value as an adjuster, the value of the carrier you're handling claims for, and ultimately builds up the entire reputation of the industry.... read more
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