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Allstate Hiring Agents, Adding Offices

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By RUSSELL RAY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 3, 2009

As some insurers reduce their presence in Florida, Allstate has launched a campaign to hire new insurance agents and add 100 new offices in the Sunshine State by year's end.

Allstate, Florida's second-largest auto insurer with nearly 1.7 million policies wants to write more policies for automobiles, boats, motorcycles and recreational vehicles in Florida. The expansion does not include homeowners coverage.

"This is really a great time for us to attract people who are self-motivated and goal- and success-oriented to own and operate their own business," said Mike Sheely, the company's vice president of field operations for Florida.

Allstate said it is targeting laid-off agents who received hefty severance packages because potential agents will need about $100,000 to open a new Allstate agency.

"Our recruiters are using all the tools in the toolbox to find professionals with financial or sales backgrounds," Sheely said. "Downsized professionals find the prospect of being their own boss and in control of their own destiny particularly appealing. And they have the resources and the expertise to hit the ground running."

State Farm, Florida's largest private property insurer with 1.2 million policies, announced plans this year to get out of Florida's property insurance market after regulators denied the company's request to raise rates 47 percent statewide. State Farm employs about 4,800 people and has more than 800 agents in Florida.

Anyone interested in starting an agency or becoming an Allstate agent can log on at allstateagent.com or call 1-877-711-1006.

Reporter Russell Ray can be reached at (813) 259-7870.

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