--- title: "For Agents: Why It Pays to Be Intentionally Inclusive - InsNerds.com" description: To understand why it pays to be intentionally inclusive, we first need to explore the potential of reaching underserved markets in your community. Before we continue, I’d like to point out that there are dozens of ways we can measure diversity. When discussing diversity, most people immediately think of demographic characteristics such as race, gender, image: https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AW-image.jpg --- 4 min read # For Agents: Why It Pays to Be Intentionally Inclusive [ Amy Waninger ](https://insnerds.com/insights/author/amy-waninger) : Nov 12, 2019 12:00:00 AM [Uncategorized](https://insnerds.com/insights/tag/uncategorized) ![For Agents: Why It Pays to Be Intentionally Inclusive](https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AW-image.jpg) To understand why it pays to be intentionally inclusive, we first need to explore the potential of reaching underserved markets in your community. Before we continue, I’d like to point out that there are dozens of ways we can measure diversity. When discussing diversity, most people immediately think of demographic characteristics such as race, gender, and age.  These are certainly important factors in determining market segmentation. Because of this, most of the available data will focus on demographic traits. In future posts, we will also talk about ways to make space for cultural and language differences, be mindful of different family structures, consider clients with disabilities, and so on. For now, though, let’s look at some U.S. demographic data and consider the implications for your agency. # Snapshot: U.S. Population ![AW image.jpg](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AW-image.jpg?width=612&height=648&name=AW-image.jpg) ![AW image.jpg](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AW-image.jpg?width=612&height=648&name=AW-image.jpg) Here, we see [U.S. Census demographic data](https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/2019/comm/age-race-distribution.html) in terms of race and ethnicity, grouped by age. A few items of note: - Overall population is in decline. People are waiting longer to have children and are having few children than did past generations. - The rate of decline is highest for white, non-Hispanics - Hispanics of all races represent the fastest growing ethnicity in the United States Consider these overall population trends and what signs of change you are seeing in your own community. **Is your agency prepared to meet the needs of – and compete for the attention of – a smaller, but more diverse client pool? ** To explore this question, let’s look at some implications for both personal and small business lines. # Snapshot: Home Ownership ![AW image 2.png](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AW-image-2.png?width=768&height=593&name=AW-image-2.png) ![AW image 2.png](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AW-image-2.png?width=768&height=593&name=AW-image-2.png) This graph from the Brookings Institute shows the [change in home ownership from 2001 to 2015](https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2017/10/09/who-is-the-new-face-of-american-homeownership/), by race and ethnicity. We can see from this data that both homeowners and renters are following overall population trends, with fewer white homeowners and renters over a 14-year period, and an increasing number of Hispanic homeowners and renters. Hispanic consumers, therefore, represent a growing market for agents selling homeowners’ and renters’ insurance. When you further consider that more than [90 percent of new car buyers are also homeowners](https://hedgescompany.com/blog/2019/01/new-car-buyer-demographics-2019/), you can see the cross-marketing potential of these consumers. # Snapshot: Business Owners ![AW 3](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AW-3.jpg?width=800&height=800&name=AW-3.jpg) What about small business policies? A [growing number of small businesses](http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/abs.html) can be attributed to minority and women owners. This snapshot shows that nearly 1.5 million U.S. businesses are owned by racial and ethnic minorities, and more than one million U.S. businesses are owned by women. Veterans account for 360,000 businesses in the United States, though that number shows moderate decline in the past three years. ![AW 4.png](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AW-4.png?width=697&height=201&name=AW-4.png) Furthermore, the Small Business Administration reports that from 2007 to 2012, the percentage of Minority- and Hispanic-owned businesses rose within the small business landscape. Taken in total, agents should realize that a growing percentage of small commercial policies will be purchased by women, Black, Asian, and Hispanic business owners. Accurate data is not available on the number of businesses owned by LGBTQ individuals. However, the [National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)](http://www.nglcc.org) has certified roughly 1,100 businesses in this category. This number is expected to grow substantially as more corporate partners begin to expand their supplier diversity programs to recognize and include LGBT Business Enterprises. The [Small Business Administration’s website](http://sba.gov) advises owners of small businesses to “Get business insurance” as a critical step in the business launch process. The SBA’s guide further advises business owners to “Find a reputable, licensed agent.” New business owners will probably start with the agent they already know: the one who sold them their home and auto policies. # Snapshot: Insurance Agents Relative to the overall U.S. population, licensed insurance professionals are [disproportionately White, non-Hispanic, and male](https://datausa.io/profile/soc/insurance-sales-agents). ![AW 4.png](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AW-4-1.png?width=595&height=322&name=AW-4-1.png) More than 80 percent of Insurance Agents are white, compared with just 73.6 percent of the general population. And while those numbers do roughly represent the demographic proportions of small business owners *today*, keep in mind that those percentages are changing rapidly. Recall, however, that only about 67 percent of new homebuyers and 52 percent of renters are also white, non-Hispanic. Based on [my own research](https://networkbeyondbias.com), most of us tend to do business with people who are already in our networks. And our networks tend to be very homogeneous, specifically, *very much like us *demographically. This means that minority populations are likely underserved by our industry, and therefore may also be underinsured. # Snapshot: Gender Differences To bring this into even sharper focus, consider that 65 percent of agency principals and senior manager are men. (*Source*: Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big “I”).  2018 Agency Universe Study Full Report.) However, [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/bridgetbrennan/2015/01/21/top-10-things-everyone-should-know-about-women-consumers/) estimates that women drive between 70 and 80 percent of all household purchasing decisions. In other words, if women (of all races and ethnicities) don’t feel welcome and comfortable in your agency, you are likely losing a lot of business! # Summary: It Pays to Invite Diversity Considering the underrepresentation of women and minorities in agency leadership, we can imagine how underserved – and underinsured – some members of our communities may be. What can your agency do to attract and welcome a more diverse customer base? I’ll share my thoughts in future articles. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your ideas and questions. ![](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Amy-Waninger-100x100.jpg?width=100&height=100&name=Amy-Waninger-100x100.jpg) ### About Amy Waninger (Pronouns: she/her/hers). As a leader, author, and entrepreneur, my passion is to help others develop their leadership skills and reach their full potential at work. I am the Founder and CEO of Lead at Any Level LLC, and the author of the forthcoming book Network Beyond Bias. I speak and write on leadership, diversity and inclusion, and career management. - [![](https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/web-Jan-03-2025-01-23-09-3209-AM.png) ![](https://insnerds.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/web-Jan-03-2025-01-23-09-3209-AM.png) ](https://leadatanylevel.com/) [![](https://insnerds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Amy-Waninger-150x150.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=Amy-Waninger-150x150.jpg)](https://leadatanylevel.com/) ##### [ Amy Waninger](https://insnerds.com/author/amy-waninger/) [Website](https://leadatanylevel.com/)  |  + posts (Pronouns: she/her/hers). As a leader, author, and entrepreneur, my passion is to help others develop their leadership skills and reach their full potential at work. I am the Founder and CEO of Lead at Any Level LLC, and the author of the forthcoming book Network Beyond Bias. I speak and write on leadership, diversity and inclusion, and career management. ### Related Posts - [Why I Make Insurance Videos](https://insnerds.com/why-i-make-insurance-videos/) Why do you make insurance videos? 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