YAC Spotlight: Nicole Coppock

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Modified: September 27, 2023

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Author: FAIA Newsroom

For our next YAC Spotlight, we sat down with the personal lines account manager and personal finance assistant manager of Frank H. Furman Insurance Agency, Nicole Coppock. A longtime YAC member, Nicole told us who’s had the biggest impact on her career, shared her favorite aspect of her job, and explained why she thinks the Young Agents Council is a great group to be a part of.  

Nicole Coppock

Personal Lines Account Manager & Personal Finance Assistant Manager, Frank H. Furman Insurance Agency 

Location: Pompano Beach, FL
Years as a YAC member: 17 years

 

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

  • Like everyone else, I kind of fell into it. In my final year of high school, I took the INVEST course, and I was already working at Furman, so after graduating, I continued working at the agency, and here I am 17 years later.   

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

  • I owe a lot to FAIA Past Chair Dirk Dejong. Because of him, I got into FAIA, the Young Agents Council, and our local chapter, and he’s allowed me to grow in the agency. And if not for my manager, Susie Krix, letting me do the things that I’ve been able to do, I wouldn’t be where I am today.  

Why did you choose to join the Young Agents Council?  

  • I love the camaraderie. As a young agent, even though I've been in it for 17 years, I feel honored to be a part of it, and get to counsel, bring in and show people around, and introduce them to the world of insurance. They've become my lifelong friends. When we see each other out and about, it's a great way to network and get to know everybody. And, once we're all together, we ride around in a pack, and we’re a force to be reckoned with. 

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

  • I would say definitely stick with it. Find a niche and become fluent with it and find a mentor who can show you the ropes. When you get into a specific niche, it sets you apart from just being an insurance professional. I would also say to be involved and network. Getting involved with FAIA and with the local chapters around the community is really impactful.   

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

  • It’s important because no one knows everything. There are spheres of influence in the insurance community that you can go to once you’ve built those relationships, and they’re willing to help you, give advice, and give you an idea of where to go in the marketplace if you’re struggling with a difficult risk. When you get to bounce ideas off others who have been in the industry for many years and know these markets in and out, it’s a really great thing to be able to go to them and ask them questions when you need to.  

What is your favorite aspect of the job?  

  • I like to get up and interact with people at the office. I like to put on my professional attire and my high heels and go to the office and look the part. To me, dressing the part helps me get on the phone with confidence. And then explaining insurance and seeing that “Aha moment” when the insured gets it is rewarding.   

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

  • Being willing to work well with others. Also, being eager and humble enough to learn from your peers. There’s a lot more involved with insurance and the day-to-day activities that you don’t necessarily learn when going to college. You’ll grow; just be patient. You've got to start somewhere, so just be willing to start and then grow. 

What is your favorite food/restaurant?  

  • I could eat tacos every day. I’m always down for tacos, margaritas, chips, queso, salsa, and all that fun stuff.   

Who do you admire and why?  

  • I admire my manager, Susie. She has been behind me since day one. She’s let me grow and let me be me. She lets me blossom, knows how to reel me back in, and we have a great working relationship. Thanks to her and her voice of reason, I am where I am now, and I can’t thank her enough.   

How would your best friend describe you?  

  • I’m not the friend that you put on speakerphone. You never know what's going to come out of my mouth. I don't even know what's going to come out of my mouth. Either that or they would say they would love to be one of my clients because of the way I speak to them versus the way I speak to my friends.