Unfortunately, our society is not always critical of wrongdoing. Society values wealth accumulation and ignores the means by which wealth has been gained.
One can see this emphasis on personal financial gain in the insurance industry as financial gain is often held out as the primary measure of success. We are not saying that achieving financial success is evil, it is not. The manner in which one gains financial success is much more important than the financial gains themselves.
Unfortunately, the insurance industry, with its heavy emphasis on production has a tendency to spotlight financial achievement while ignoring the professionalism and integrity of its sales force. Financial incentives such as "APP a Day
Clubs" and "Top Producer of The Month" contests may often lead to bogus business and questionable sales practices.
Certainly, agents should expect to be fairly compensated for success, and production figures are vital to the well being of any agency or insurance company. However, just as important is meeting the needs of clients and the public in an ethical and professional manner.
Ethics does not need to be incompatible with capitalism. Profit is not a dirty word!
If one perceives the insurance professional as a good person then doing business will be that much easier. In the long run, good ethics is good business. Fair competition cannot help but benefit the public. Selling insurance is an aggressive profession, which leads to heightened competition. It is this competition that has led to better products, and services for the general public.
Ethics is personal in nature. Since we have no control over others, we must control our own actions in a professional, ethical manner.
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