YAC Spotlight: Haley Daughtry

When and why did you decide to pursue a career in insurance? 

• My first job was with a workers’ compensation agency when I was 17, and during that time, I decided insurance wasn’t for me. I ended up at an accounting firm for a while, but during lunch with a family friend, they convinced me to get my license. So, I did, and have enjoyed being back in insurance ever since. 

Who has made the biggest impact on your career up to this point? 

• My entire team here in Jacksonville. When I started at my agency, it was all hands on deck. They got me up to speed, where I felt confident enough to know what I was doing. 

Why did you choose to join the Young Agents Council? 

• I actually did not know anything about what I was joining but joined YAC right when I switched back to insurance. Ever since then, the Young Agents Council has gotten me out into the insurance world and helped me realize how big the insurance world really can be. Since moving to Jacksonville, I’ve enjoyed helping plan YAC events. My favorite part about YAC is meeting other agents and the community service aspect of it. 

What advice would you offer college students unsure of majoring in Risk Management? 

• Working in commercial insurance has allowed me to gain insight into a wide variety of the business world, it is a great opportunity to learn about the different roles and structures within a business. Pursuing a career in insurance can be a great choice for college students because it offers opportunities to develop skills in risk assessment, communication, and problem-solving while providing a stable and rewarding career path. 

Tell us about the importance of building and maintaining relationships in the insurance community as a young agent.  

• The relationship with the client, or even with your brokers and underwriters, is everything. If you have someone who is always going to pick up the phone or quickly answer an email, that's the first person I go to, and vice versa. If my insureds can always trust that I am only a quick phone call or email away, they're much more likely to continue to want to work with our agency. 

What is your favorite aspect of the job? 

• Every day is different. No matter how organized or ahead I am at work, I can walk in and have no idea what my day is going to look like. No matter my plan for the day, inevitably, something comes up, and it's time to problem-solve an unexpected task. 

In your opinion, what is the most valuable skill that a young agent can have? 

• Multitasking and prioritizing. If you have worked in insurance for a while, I think that is self-explanatory! 

Who do you admire and why? 

• In my office, it is a mix of personalities and more than one person I admire. On the account management side, my coworkers exemplify a lot of patience and detail-oriented work, and I respect that. On the sales and marketing side, you get to work with the charismatic personality type. As a team, there is something admirable about each personality coming into play to make for a happy client. 

What is the last book you read? 

• The last book I read was Verity by Collen Hoover.  

Are cats or dogs better and why? 

• Dogs, because I’m allergic to cats... I’m also allergic to dogs, but I’ve always loved them for their loyalty and happiness. They’re worth dealing with the allergies!