Adjuster Talk

A former professional in the aerospace field, Crystal Dubois made an astonishing career shift when an opportunity in insurance adjusting presented itself to her shortly after her work in the aerospace industry ended. Crystal traveled to Texas for training during the course of a major disaster and now is called out to do a variety of insurance adjusting inspections.

Crystal joins us today to share how she balances work, family, and learning the skills she needs to grow her career as an insurance adjuster.  She also explains that being part of the Texas Rebuild Program has taught her valuable adjusting skills, which she’ll soon need for more contract jobs.

“Independent adjusting is changing the face of the industry with more women needed in the workforce.” Jason Heenan

In this Episode of Adjuster Talks:

• What are the essential skills a beginner adjuster needs to close a claim
• How opportunities in adjusting are popping up across Texas
• Learning organization strategies from a novice adjuster
• Why a career change is sometimes a good thing for your life

Resources:

• Texas Rebuild Program
• Adjusters Gone Wild Facebook
• Adjusterology
• Jeremy Rettig - Adjusting To 6 Figures Business

Connect. Share. Inspire.

Thanks for tuning in to the Adjuster Talk podcast with your host, Jason Heenan! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to subscribe to the show and leave an honest review. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. 

If you’re interested in working with us, please feel free to email Jason at [email protected] or Mindy at [email protected] with your resume to apply to be on our approved adjuster roster today!

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Join the Royal Adjusting Services roster at RoyalAdjustingServices.com

Download the "Steps to Becoming an Adjuster Guide"

Free 7 Day Trial to the IA Path Adjuster Mentorship Community at AdjusterTalk.show

AT038 Checking Back In with Westin Vance

Westin Vance obtained his insurance adjuster license shortly before Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc for millions of American homeowners. Prior to becoming an adjuster, Westin graduated from college and was working in a law firm while preparing to attend law school. He quickly realized that working in the law industry wasn’t what he truly wanted for his career. He became a Jiu-Jitsu trainer and business owner while learning the ropes of independent insurance adjusting.

Westin joins me on today’s episode to recap his career in the insurance adjusting industry since our last discussion on episode 30. He explains what the Texas Rebuild Program is and what it’s like to work for a government-funded program, the opportunities available to independent adjusters through the slower winter season, and the importance of prioritizing your health, fitness, and wellbeing while working insurance claims. He also explains the mindset required to be successful in the industry and the importance of seeking help, guidance, and resources as a new insurance adjuster.

“It’s all about being flexible.” - Westin Vance

In This Episode of Adjuster Talks:

• Adjusting opportunities during the winter season.
• What is the Texas Rebuild Program?
• What it’s like working with FEMA’s Texas Rebuild Program and government-funded programs.
• Challenges associated with the Texas Rebuild Program.
• The importance of building relationships.
• The importance of prioritizing your health, fitness, and getting adequate sleep as an adjuster.
• The importance of properly scheduling your claims and calling customers.
• The mindset required to become a successful insurance adjuster.
• The importance of seeking help, support, and resources as a new adjuster.

Resources Mentioned:

• Texas Rebuilds

Connect. Share. Inspire.

Thanks for tuning in to the Adjuster Talk podcast with your host, Jason Heenan! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to subscribe to the show and leave an honest review. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. 

If you’re interested in working with us, please feel free to email Jason at [email protected] or Mindy at [email protected] with your resume to apply to be on our approved adjuster roster today!

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Join the Royal Adjusting Services roster at RoyalAdjustingServices.com

Download the "Steps to Becoming an Adjuster Guide"

Free 7 Day Trial to the IA Path Adjuster Mentorship Community at AdjusterTalk.show

AT021 The World of Auto Industry Claim Adjusters with Chris Stanley

Chris Stanley is the author of The Hail Adjuster’s Playbook and founder of Independent Adjuster Path (IA Path), a company dedicated to helping people learn the necessary skills to become an independent auto adjuster through online education, support, tools, and services. Chris started his career as an independent auto adjuster specializing in catastrophe and hail damage claims. Throughout his career, he realized the underserved market for training new adjusters the skills they would need to become successful in the field.

Chris joins me today to share his experience as a damage appraiser for the automotive industry. He explains how your network impacts your skill level and opens new doors of opportunities, the types of deployments you can expect as an auto catastrophe adjuster, and the importance of having perspective throughout your career. He also explains why auto adjusting is often one of the best ways to “sneak into” the property adjusting side of the industry.

“It’s really the entrepreneur’s playground in the adjusting world.” - Chris Stanley

In This Episode of Adjuster Talk:

• Why building your network is critical to your success as an automotive insurance adjuster?
• Qualities of an “A-List” adjuster.
• The importance of managing your schedule.
• How demographics can affect your workload.
• How supplements work in the auto adjusting industry.
• What it’s like to work with automotive dealerships.
• The importance of creating a Plan B.
• How entrepreneurial skills can be beneficial for automotive claim adjusters.
• Scaling your auto adjusting career.
• The importance of gaining perspective.
• The importance of being prepared and how it can help you advance your career.
• Overcoming the “mental barrier of entry” into the adjusting industry.

Chris Stanley’s Advice for New Auto Adjusters:

1. The number one thing you have is your network.
2. It’s not your skill that people are interested in, it’s you. If you’re not interesting, it’s going to be hard to get work.
3. The people who want to make this work will find a way to make it work, no matter what it takes.

Connect with Chris Stanley:

• IA Path
• Chris Stanley on LinkedIn
• IA Path on LinkedIn
• Independent Adjuster Podcast
• The Hail Adjuster’s Playbook book or Audiobook

Connect. Share. Inspire.

Thanks for tuning in to the Adjuster Talk podcast with your host, Jason Heenan! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to subscribe to the show and leave an honest review. You can

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Join the Royal Adjusting Services roster at RoyalAdjustingServices.com

Download the "Steps to Becoming an Adjuster Guide"

Free 7 Day Trial to the IA Path Adjuster Mentorship Community at AdjusterTalk.show

AT020 Climbing the Adjusting Corporate Ladder with Chris Smith

Chris Smith is a former insurance adjuster who has climbed the corporate ladder within our company, Royal Adjusting Services, to become the Director of Claims. Over the last two years in this position, he has helped streamline many of our internal and external processes to run more smoothly, educate new adjusters, and work seamlessly and more easily with the adjusters within our company.

Chris joins me today to share his experience of starting as an independent insurance adjuster to being promoted up the corporate ladder to the position he holds today. He shares is work-life balance strategies and explains the importance of prioritizing your day to maintain productivity. He also explains why networking and being ambitious are the keys to advancing your career as an insurance adjuster.

“Connecting with people, connecting with other adjusters and companies, is where you build relationships.” - Chris Smith

In This Episode of Adjuster Talk:

• His responsibilities as the Director of Claims
• How he advanced his career to the position he holds today.
• The importance of making your first contact calls on insurance claims.
• The importance of surrounding yourself with good, like-minded people.

Chris Smith’s Advice for New Insurance Adjusters:

1. Connecting with other adjusters, other people within this industry, is what’s going to help you succeed even further.
2. Take every attribute you have and utilize them to your benefit to help other companies.
3. If you don’t know something, go out there and learn it.

Connect. Share. Inspire.

Thanks for tuning in to the Adjuster Talk podcast with your host, Jason Heenan! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to subscribe to the show and leave an honest review. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. 

If you’re interested in working with us, please feel free to email Jason at [email protected] or Mindy at [email protected] with your resume to apply to be on our approved adjuster roster today!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Join the Royal Adjusting Services roster at RoyalAdjustingServices.com

Download the "Steps to Becoming an Adjuster Guide"

Free 7 Day Trial to the IA Path Adjuster Mentorship Community at AdjusterTalk.show

Anssi Viljanen is an independent insurance adjuster from Los Angeles, California. He has worn many hats and tried a variety of jobs - from real estate to solar energy and driving a limo before beginning his adjusting career. He found his true calling when he listened to an episode of the Adjuster Talk Podcast and took it upon himself to offer his assistance on an entirely new career as an adjuster after Hurricane Harvey.

Anssi joins me today to share his journey after one year of becoming an independent adjuster. He shares how he manages his time while handling over 700 claims in his first year and how hiring a driver helped him be more productive and economical. He also shares why he finds this career so rewarding and how he determines whether a water damage claim requires a simple repair or a complete replacement.

“It’s a special feeling when you help a homeowner with a flooded kitchen and you wake up the next morning with a short text that just says ‘Thank you.’”

Connect with Anssi Viljanen:

• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

Enroll Today for the Royal Adjusting Services Academy!

Are you ready to take your independent adjusting career to the next level? Royal Adjusting Services and Adjuster Talk Podcast are excited to announce our new insurance claim adjusting school - Royal Adjusting Services Academy. At Royal Adjusting Services Academy, you will learn everything you need to know to take your career to the next level, including a curriculum in dynamic, custom, and mock-up rooms and roofs as well as other cutting-edge techniques to help you become successful in the claim environment.

Visit our Royal Adjusting Services Academy website or email [email protected] to apply for your curriculum scholarship today!

Connect. Share. Inspire.

Thanks for tuning in to the Adjuster Talk podcast with your host, Jason Heenan! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to subscribe to the show and leave an honest review. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. 

If you’re interested in working with us, please feel free to email Jason at [email protected] or Mindy at [email protected] with your resume to apply to be on our approved adjuster roster today!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Join the Royal Adjusting Services roster at RoyalAdjustingServices.com

Download the "Steps to Becoming an Adjuster Guide"

Free 7 Day Trial to the IA Path Adjuster Mentorship Community at AdjusterTalk.show

Chris Stanley is the founder of IA Path, a company dedicated to providing independent insurance adjusters with the best online training, support, and networking opportunities to begin and excel as an insurance adjuster. He has over a decade of experience as an insurance adjuster and appraiser, working primarily with automotive catastrophe claims. In addition to transforming lives and impacting careers, he is the author of the Amazon bestseller, Hail Adjuster’s Playbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Being and Becoming a Catastrophic Independent Auto Hail Adjuster.

Chris rejoins me this week to discuss his upcoming book and how it aims to help more adjusters get started in the industry on the right foot. He shares some of the initial steps adjusters need to take to succeed in this industry as well as mistakes many new adjusters make as they begin their career. He also explains the three key phases of an insurance adjuster’s journey.

“Learn how to actually do something in claims before you even get your adjuster license because getting your adjuster license is a journey all on its own.” - Chris Stanley

In This Episode of Adjuster Talk:

• How his upcoming book can help new adjusters get started and become successful.
• The steps required to become a successful insurance adjuster.
• The 3 phases of becoming a successful adjuster.
• The importance of treating your adjusting career as a business.
• Mistakes to avoid as a new adjuster.
• The importance of separating your business and personal finances.
• How to promote your adjusting business.

Connect with Chris Stanley:

• IA Path
• Hail Adjuster’s Playbook: A Step by Step Guide to Being and Becoming a Catastrophic Independent Auto Hail Adjuster
• LinkedIn

Adjuster Talk Exclusive Offer!

Learn how to set up your auto adjusting business the right way with IA Path’s Auto Adjuster’s Crash Course LIVE training series! This course will show you the step-by-step process of starting your career as an insurance adjuster - from how to start your business to how to write an estimate and assess auto damage… and so much more!

This course alone is valued at $500, but as a loyal listener of the Adjuster Talk podcast, you’ll also receive an exclusive offer - a full suite of valuable, archived training - that’s OVER $2000 VALUE for only $500! You’ll learn how to handle claims such as hail, flood, CCC1 and more.

Visit AdjusterTalkAuto.com to claim your exclusive offer today!

Enro

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Join the Royal Adjusting Services roster at RoyalAdjustingServices.com

Download the "Steps to Becoming an Adjuster Guide"

Free 7 Day Trial to the IA Path Adjuster Mentorship Community at AdjusterTalk.show

Chris Stanley is the founder of IA Path, an organization dedicated to helping independent insurance adjusters get the training and support they need to succeed in the industry. He is the author of the Amazon bestselling book: Hail Adjuster’s Playbook: A Step by Step Guide to Being and Becoming a Catastrophic Independent Auto Hail Adjuster. As an independent adjuster with over a decade of experience, he is committed to helping others transform their adjusting career into a vehicle to achieve their goals and realize their dreams.

Chris joins me today to share his journey as an independent auto adjuster and the high and low points of his adjusting career. He shares how he realized the dire need for training and support services for auto adjusters and what inspired him to create materials to help other adjusters get started in the industry. He also explains the importance of having reasonable expectations on the financial aspects of being an insurance adjuster, why adjusters need to consider themselves as business owners instead of employees and shares a behind-the-scenes glimpse of his upcoming book project.

“You can’t expect to walk into any industry - much less adjusting - if you don’t have reasonable expectations about what you’re getting into.” - Chris Stanley

In This Episode of Adjuster Talk:

• The high points of his auto adjusting career.
• How working as an auto insurance adjuster has empowered him and his family to achieve their goals and dreams.
• How he identified the need for auto adjusting training services.
• The importance of having reasonable expectations before deciding to become an insurance adjuster.
• The importance of thinking like a business owner instead of an employee.
• His latest book project.

Connect with Chris Stanley:

• IA Path
• Hail Adjuster’s Playbook: A Step by Step Guide to Being and Becoming a Catastrophic Independent Auto Hail Adjuster
• LinkedIn

Enroll Today for the Royal Adjusting Services Academy!

Are you ready to take your independent adjusting career to the next level? Royal Adjusting Services and Adjuster Talk Podcast are excited to announce our new insurance claim adjusting school - Royal Adjusting Services Academy. At Royal Adjusting Services Academy, you will learn everything you need to know to take your career to the next level, including a curriculum in dynamic, custom, and mock-up rooms and roofs as well as other cutting-edge techniques to help you become successful in the claim environment.

Visit our Royal Adjusting Services Academy website or email [email protected] to apply for your curriculum scholarshi

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Join the Royal Adjusting Services roster at RoyalAdjustingServices.com

Download the "Steps to Becoming an Adjuster Guide"

Free 7 Day Trial to the IA Path Adjuster Mentorship Community at AdjusterTalk.show

In last week’s episode, I introduced you to Brock Hargrove, a 5-year independent insurance adjuster with Royal Adjusting Services. Over the years, Brock has not only handled many of our daily claims, but he has also helped train many of our top adjusters through our ride-along training program. He shared some of his insights on a few of the most common challenges that many new adjusters face when transitioning into the field.

On today’s episode, Brock shares how he manages to mesh his professional life as a daily claims adjuster and building company owner with his personal life. He shares tips, strategies, and tools he uses throughout his busy work day to keep his schedule straight, plan his workday each day, and stay on top of claim corrections and phone calls.

“You have to stay proactive in it. I think it’s the number one thing to keep up with everything you’ve got.” Brock Hargrove

In This Episode of Adjuster Talk:

• Workday structures and planning strategies
• Using mapping software
• How being readily available and prepared for claim corrections can impact your success and reputation in the insurance adjusting industry
• Productive and efficient ways to map your daily claims route
• Appointment setting techniques and being influential
• Making time for your family as an independent adjuster
• CAT work vs daily claims work

Brock’s Advice to New Adjusters:

• Make the jump, but make a clean jump.
• Keep your head on straight and focus on what you want to do.

Resources:

• Badger Mapping Software

Connect. Share. Inspire.        

Thanks for tuning in to the Adjuster Talk podcast with your host, Jason Heenan! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to subscribe to the show and leave an honest review. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.         

If  you’re  interested in working with us, please feel free to email Jason at  [email protected]  or Mindy at  [email protected]  with your resume to apply to be on our approved adjuster roster today!    

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Join the Royal Adjusting Services roster at RoyalAdjustingServices.com

Download the "Steps to Becoming an Adjuster Guide"

Free 7 Day Trial to the IA Path Adjuster Mentorship Community at AdjusterTalk.show

Many new adjusters ask the question: “What’s the hardest part about working as an adjuster?” Some experienced adjusters may say that the hardest part of the job is leaving their families while others may have a difficult time overcoming the fear of climbing a ladder to inspect a homeowner’s roof, but my guest today shares a unique point of view on what he believes is the hardest part of the job.

Brock Hargrove has been working with our company for about five years as a daily claims adjuster. He handles many of our claims – from fire, wind, and water damage to liability investigations. He is also one of our top picks to send new adjusters to for their first few ride-along training sessions due to his vast knowledge and skill in handling a wide range of claims. In today’s episode, Brock shares his story of how he learned about the real estate adjusting industry, why he took the leap to become an independent adjuster, and an interesting story of a recent ride-along while training a new adjuster and how he turned that experience into a valuable lesson.

“The ‘people person’ part is the stuff you can’t teach.”

In This Episode of Adjuster Talk:

• How Brock obtained his adjusting license online
• How long it took to receive his first claim after receiving his license
• Why developing people skills is often the hardest – and most overlooked – aspect of the job
• Working with homeowners and contractors

Resources:

• Adjuster Pro

Connect. Share. Inspire.       

Thanks for tuning in to the Adjuster Talk podcast with your host, Jason Heenan! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to subscribe to the show and leave an honest review. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.        

If  you’re  interested in working with us, please feel free to email Jason at  [email protected]  or Mindy at  [email protected]  with your resume to apply to be on our approved adjuster roster today!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Join the Royal Adjusting Services roster at RoyalAdjustingServices.com

Download the "Steps to Becoming an Adjuster Guide"

Free 7 Day Trial to the IA Path Adjuster Mentorship Community at AdjusterTalk.show

Aaron Berkowitz joins me once again on today’s episode of Adjuster Talk to share his insight, knowledge, and experience of working as an independent claims adjuster. On today’s episode, he shares tips on working with claims managers and what your goals as an adjuster should be – beyond the money.

He also shares one of his earliest, and worst experiences as a claims adjuster just starting in the field and the lessons he has learned along the way to make his business successful and profitable.

“The smart adjuster doesn’t put pressure on their claims manager.” – Aaron Berkowitz

In This Episode of Adjuster Talk:

• Working with claims managers
• Evaluating expenses
• The pros and cons of being a firm owner
• What your “end-game” goals should really be as an adjuster
• Aaron’s definition of “hard work”

Resources:

• Weather Nation
• The Weather Channel
• Reed Timmer

Connect. Share. Inspire.      

Thanks for tuning in to the Adjuster Talk podcast with your host, Jason Heenan! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please head over to iTunes to subscribe to the show and leave an honest review. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.       

If you’re interested in working with us, please feel free to email Jason at [email protected] or Mindy at [email protected] with your resume to apply to be on our approved adjuster roster today!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Join the Royal Adjusting Services roster at RoyalAdjustingServices.com

Download the "Steps to Becoming an Adjuster Guide"

Free 7 Day Trial to the IA Path Adjuster Mentorship Community at AdjusterTalk.show