YAC Spotlight: Tyler Pittman

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Modified: December 9, 2024

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Author: FAIA Newsroom

For our next YAC Spotlight, we sat down with Tyler Pittman, an insurance agent at Advance Insurance of Northwest Florida, Inc

Tyler credits his father for introducing him to the field of insurance and emphasizing the importance of building relationships within the insurance community. He is passionate about helping clients, especially first-time homebuyers, and believes that the Young Agents Council plays a crucial role in attracting younger individuals to the insurance profession.   

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Tyler Pittman 

Insurance Agent

Agency Name: Advance Insurance of Northwest Florida, Inc
Location: Pensacola, FL 
Years as a YAC member: One year

 

When and why did you decide to pursue a career in insurance?
  • Ten years ago, I was out gallivanting, being young, and having fun, and my dad said it was time for me to get a real job. The real job was working in his insurance agency. In the beginning, it was frustrating working indoors because I was used to working outside, but it turned out to be a great and rewarding career path for me.
 
Who has made the biggest impact on your career up to this point?
  • Absolutely my dad. He was the one who pushed me to get into this. I didn't know anything about insurance or even business for that matter, and he’s been a great mentor and role model for how to get things done, how to treat customers, and how to lead with integrity.
 
Why did you choose to join the Young Agents Council?
  • A gentleman recommended me for the Florida's Future Insurance Leaders (FFIL) program, and that’s what started my journey to the Young Agents Council. I had to join YAC to get into FFIL and, while I was reserved and hesitant about it at first, it’s been such an awesome thing to be a part of. Even with the little bit of involvement I’ve had in it at the Second Harvest charity event at Capital Days and the YAC Golf Tournament at Convention, it’s been a lot of fun.
 
What advice would you offer college students unsure of majoring in Risk Management?
  • It is definitely a long-term play. It’s not glamorous initially, but you do get to help clients and hear feel-good stories from families you’ve helped. Helping others makes you feel good. but there's also an opportunity to make good money for your family in the long run.
 
Tell us about the importance of building and maintaining relationships in the insurance community as a young agent.
  • I have a buddy who is in Madison, FL, and I met him through a company deal we did in Michigan one year. It’s great to have that partnership because I can call and say, “Hey, I’m running into this issue, do you have any advice?” They may not be in the same market as you, but they can help point you in the right direction or connect you with another resource. It’s nice to be able to call someone in your industry and bounce ideas off of them.
 
What is your favorite aspect of the job?
  • We do a lot of homeowners insurance and so my favorite part is watching people, especially first-time home buyers, and helping them through our side of the process. I also like knowing that they’re going to be protected in the event something happens.
 
In your opinion, what is the most valuable skill that a young agent can have?
  • I think communication. I think that's number one, whether it's with your clients or with your underwriters. It’s important to be able to express exactly what the risk or need is.
 
What is your favorite food/restaurant?
  • A local diner in Pensacola called Jerry’s Drive In. It’s been around since 1939. It’s simple and straightforward with cheeseburgers, milkshakes, and fries.
 
What do you do for fun?
  • Spending time with the family. I have a five-year-old daughter; so, in October, it was going to the pumpkin patch. But we also like being on the boat, fishing, or hunting. We like the outdoors.
 
We interviewed Laura Iten before you and she had this question for you: “What’s your favorite college football team?
  • My favorite college football team is, through and through, the Florida State Seminoles. Even though we're not doing the best this year, it is, without a doubt, the number one college football team.