So you want to be an Adjuster?

Not sure if anyone actually sets out in life to become an Insurance Adjuster!  During my early days in High School and College (60’s and 70’s) I don’t recall any classes or topics or discussions about that particular career path.  Yes there were courses designed for those that wanted to sell insurance or possibly do Risk Management, but again don’t recall any specifics about becoming an Adjuster.

Fast forward to mid 70’s when I working in sales and contemplating marriage, and then came along a company that replaced Electronic Equipment and Tools (Craftsman) for one of the big carriers.  As I was in sales, they offered me a job which was my introduction to adjusters and claims adjusting.  Next thing I know I’m sitting behind a desk handling first party property claims.  The company did send me to a two week training course where it seemed socializing was more important than actually learning how to adjust a claim.  In particular was this one guy from New York that did not seem to be interested in learning anything about adjusting.  When I asked him why he was not actively involved in the studies his reply was that he would use the “contractor” who not only wrote the estimates for him, but would put the most cash in his pocket.  Interesting way to handle claims, and little did I know that this was more the “norm” for adjusters, mostly those in the field even to this day!

Another interesting side note was that most of the Managers in the 70’s and 80’s could be found during the Christmas Holidays in the parking lot picking up their cases of alcohol and turkeys from the various vendors.  Even into the late 90’s I recall one contractor that would leave envelops with cash in his office top drawer and on Fridays adjusters would come by and pick them up.  Maybe this is why there were never any legitimate adjuster courses.  Like a person getting introduced to low level drugs, and then moving up the drug ladder until you were finally addicted.  Bottom line was that you could take two paths in becoming an “adjuster.”  The one path would be the adjuster that actually did their job, took the classes and was not only looking out for the best interest of the company, but making the insured or claimant whole after the loss.  Than of course there was the path to riches, or at least perceived riches, which reminds me of the claims manager that had a swimming pool put in his home at a much reduced price.

So you want to be an adjuster?

Frank Rogers

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