Q&A with Susie Atwood (State Farm)

Susie Atwood is a State Farm Insurance Agent, and she helps people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams!

What sort of purpose do you feel in your job and/or why do you believe your line of work is important and meaningful?

I like working with our clients and making sure their lives are protected. Our goal is to make sure when you have a claim, State Farm is going to cover that claim----not you personally. Educating the client about any gaps in their insurance can make a huge financial impact on their life.

What is the most exciting part of your day-to-day work?

No day is ever the same –you never know what to expect. It is always a good feeling when a client shows their appreciation for assisting them in getting a claim paid.

What do you think the future of your industry looks like, let's say in 15 years? What impact will it be making? How will it be different from what you do now?

I believe the insurance industries are here to stay. Like everything else, it is an ever changing business. State Farm continues to maintain agents who can provide you the personal service if you desire or a more hands off or do-it-yourself approach if you prefer.

When did you decide you wanted to enter this field? What steps did you take to make that decision a reality?

I don’t think that most people dream about going into the insurance business—I certainly did not. However, I was recruited by State Farm and learned quickly about the unique opportunities they could provide. I also liked the idea of being entrepreneurial. It took a few years of working in predominantly sports related fields before I was ready to commit to a lifelong career at State Farm. It has exceeded any expectation that I ever had.

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For any students, age 12-18 who think your job sounds interesting, what advice would you give them to help them learn/train/explore your field?

One of the most important factors is learning how to deal with people. I think it best to have a business or financial background although that was not my strength. A four year degree is a minimum to be a State Farm agent. The more knowledge you have ---the more relatable you are with clients in any business .

What makes Long Beach a great place to live and work as it relates to your industry?

Since I was born and raised in Long Beach--attended Newcomb and Millikan, I have long term relationships that I developed with the community and my clients. Long Beach is a large city—that feels more like a small town. I love that I can work and live in Long Beach –it always feels at home.