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State Farm Agent
Matt Vierk
By
Rod Brandt |
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"You
go into a big pool of approved candidates,”
said Matt. "There’s probably 50 candidates
in Toledo that are approved for agency."
"That
was the big turning point for me, when I had to hang
up the glove,” said Matt. "I just decided
to pack it up and come home.”
“You’re crazy. No way!” That was
Matt Vierk’s response when a friend suggested
he look at a career in the insurance industry. “I
don’t know anything about insurance,”
he said.
It was time of transition in Matt’s life. He
had just left his job as a representative for a Toledo
construction firm. “That was my first real experience
in the real world,” said Matt. The job was initially
exciting and adventuresome, but eventually began to
grind on him. “It was 10- to 12-hour days,”
said Matt. “We were driving down to Lima, up
to Jackson just to provide free estimates. There was
no base salary there. You eat or die by the sale.
It was tough.” In less than a year, Matt was
burned out.
After thinking it over, Matt changed his mind about
the insurance opportunity and decided it couldn’t
hurt to take a closer look. He was introduced to a
State Farm agent in Maumee. “After I sat down
and talked with him,” said Matt, “realizing
the opportunities that would be provided to me if
I was successful, it was worth it for me.”
Within 18 months in the insurance business, Matt had
decided he wanted to pursue his own agency. He was
required to take an aptitude test and submit an application.
“You go into a big pool of approved candidates,”
said Matt. “There’s probably 50 candidates
in Toledo that are approved for agency. The only problem
is there are not that many openings. So, getting into
the pool is one hurdle, and then you have to interview
against what are high-quality people.”
When the opportunity to run his own agency in Toledo
wasn’t available, Matt took a job as a field
specialist for the State Farm Field Office in Detroit.
“Excited to start up my own business, I wasn’t
sure if taking the position in Detroit was the best
thing for me. But, as it turned out, it was a fantastic
opportunity.” Working as a consultant exposed
him to a wide array of philosophies and marketing
practices. “I worked with 72 agents, helping
them build their businesses,” he said. “Whether
it was their marketing plan, actual product knowledge,
some of the agents who were kind of withdrawn from
the business trying to get back into the swing of
things, anything I could do to help support their
business was pretty much my job.”
He worked with agents whose tenures ranged from one
month to 30 years. The knowledge he gained from that
experience formed the foundation for his own future
agency. “I built my arsenal of my office systems
off of what I learned from all those different agents,”
said Matt.
When the opportunity came, Matt was ready. He returned
to Toledo to take over an existing agency in September
2007 and put his plan to work. Matt’s Central
Avenue office runs quite differently from what is
typical in the industry. Instead of his staff members
having general knowledge of State Farm’s more
than 110 products, each specializes in a specific
product line.
Matt has a home and auto specialist who writes new
insurance quotes; a banking specialist who handles
vehicle refinancing, dealer purchases, and checking
and savings accounts; an office manager who services
existing clients; and an outside sales specialist
who generates new business and follows up on referrals.
Matt specializes in life and health insurance and
the financial services products while also acting
as CEO. When there is a question, someone in the office
has the answer. “It’s better for the customer,”
said Matt. “I’ve put together what I think
is the agency of the future.”
Everyone is a potential customer for Matt, but if
he has a niche, it is younger professionals, newlyweds
and growing families. “We relate well because
we’re in the same age group,” said Matt.
“But I relate just as well with my 50- and 60-year-old
clients who are shopping their insurance or (need
help) with financial services.”
Matt believes that his early sales experience and
a degree in public relations from the University of
Toledo in 2003 have served him well in the insurance
industry. “Good communication skills, being
able to relate with different customers, is vital
in the business world,” said Matt. “Knowing
what’s important to them is what bridges that
gap between my younger customers and my senior customers.”
Growing up, Matt had his sights set on professional
baseball. “I thought that was going to be my
ticket to everything,” he said. He played one
year of college baseball at Ohio Wesleyan University
before an injury ended his career. “That was
the big turning point for me, when I had to hang up
the glove,” said Matt. “I just decided
to pack it up and come home.” He enrolled at
UT and worked his way through school at a furniture
store.
As it turned out, his future was not athletics, nor
was it public relations. Matt would tell you it was
something much better. Call him crazy, but it appears
Matt Vierk has his future insured.
STATE FARM INSURANCE
Matt Vierk
6050 W. Central Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43615
Phone: 419-843-4001
Website: www.mattvierk.com
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