Our Broker, Susan Eaglesham explains why she couldn't be happier at Konsileo...
Broker Susan Eaglesham, based near Glasgow, comes from a long line of brokers, and wanted to be able to do the job the way she was brought up to do it.
“My dad was an insurance broker, working alongside his brothers at an independent firm my grandfather set up in the 1950s,” she explains. “For them, the crux of the job was about developing personal relationships – getting to know people first and foremost and in turn learning about their businesses and getting them the right cover. That is how it should work – and that is the kind of service I want to deliver. But it is hard to do that when you are working for a big corporation.
“Being a cog in a machine meant high targets, high stress, and immense micromanagement. With so much internal politics to wade through you become entrenched in a team of unhappy colleagues. The job I loved was not fulfilling my needs – and something had to change.”
Susan began looking for a new role and on researching LinkedIn, she found posts from current Konsileo brokers singing its praises.
“Everyone seemed so happy with the Konsileo way of working,” says Susan. “It was very reassuring to see how successful you could be. But for me, it was more about getting back to my broking values. I wanted the chance to do the job I know I am incredibly good at in the way I know best.
Broking Values
“At Konsileo you get to do old-fashioned relationship-based broking. The system is user friendly and very straight forward. Filing and compliance is built in, so you cannot really go wrong because it is there at your fingertips.
“There is no one sitting on your shoulder telling you what to do or when to do it. I am free to take the time to get to know my clients. And I do not have to filter cases through to a particular insurer, because with Konsileo I can go out to whole of market. That bigger reach is a massive advantage – and to the benefit of my clients.
Collaboration
“What is more, when a client works with Konsileo, they are not only working with one broker but with a whole team of experts. There is a collaboration centre where you can find someone who knows about whatever niche area your client needs, and then you can work together and share the income through virtual team contracting.
“Collaboration is really the key to success here. You can just sit and do your own thing, but you will get so much more if you are working with colleagues – that is the real beauty of Konsileo.”
Compensation and Flexibility
It is not just about job satisfaction. It is also about the compensation and flexibility Konsileo provides.
Susan continues: “What you put in reflects what you get out at the end of each month. The base salary is generous especially up in Scotland where broker salaries tend to be a lot lower than the rest of the UK. For me, it’s their bonus structure that makes the package so appealing. Many brokers do not offer retention bonuses; but Konsileo reward you monthly, across your entire book of business.
“It is also incredibly flexible. You do not need to go into the office every day or spend many hours in and out of meetings. This means you can work when it suits you and your clients. It has been great for me because I have got a very energetic 3-year-old who is generally up to mischief. With this additional flexibility, I have the added advantage of doing my job well, but not to the detriment of being an amazing parent.”
Getting Started
For Susan, working from home was something she was already comfortable with, and her previous connections have stood her in good stead in building her book.
“Recently, Scotland is seeing many unsettling changes within the insurance broking space” she says. “Many small independents have been bought over by corporate brokers, leaving many clients without the client-broker relationship. Konsileo offer that little bit extra many brokers are now missing.
“It is also important to remember that most established Account Execs have been around a long time. I have been doing this job for 25 years – your name alone can stand you in good stead. People knew me and wanted to work with me again, so I got a great start on my book. I am a general all-rounder taking on Professional Indemnity to Commercial Combined to Retail, Contractors Combined, and Motor Fleet.”
Induction
“During induction you get plenty of support from Konsileo. The induction process was well orchestrated and put together. My cohort were a wonderful group of people in the same field as me, ready to hit the ground running! The support of the group was incredible. It was wonderful to have a ready-made team of colleagues to bounce off, a bit of clarity about how Konsileo works, and a very warm welcome into the team.
“For any broker or Account Exec out there who is feeling undervalued, overwhelmed, and underpaid I would say Konsileo is 100% worth checking out. I could not be happier here.”
Get In Touch
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Does Susan’s story resonate?
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