This first section gives you immediate clarity about what to do next. Follow these steps to start your new career with confidence and momentum.

First Hour Checklist

• Bookmark AgentTraining.info.
• Join your agency’s communication channel (your mentor will provide the link).
• Add weekly team training calls and the Daily Workroom Zoom link to your calendar.
• Send your mentor your current licensing status (licensed / in progress / not started).
• Open the Getting Licensed page and review your state-specific steps.

This page is your home base. Everything you need to launch your business successfully is here. Follow the sections from top to bottom. Each part includes explanations, links to training on AgentTraining.info, and a checklist to keep you on track.

Your First Week Checklist

• Complete or make strong progress in your pre-licensing course from the Getting Licensed page.
• Schedule your licensing exam as soon as eligible through the link provided on the licensing page or by your state.
• Attend at least one Daily Workroom session using your team’s Zoom link.
• Attend at least one Smith Agency team Zoom call this week.
• Open the Basic Training: 10 Steps to Excellence page and read through the overview.
• Schedule a roleplay session with your mentor using the call scripts and tools on the Calling Leads page.
• Place your first lead order with your mentor’s guidance (see the lead information under the 10 Steps resources and your Order Leads page).
• Set up your workspace and calendar based on the structure recommended in the 10 Steps and Create a Plan.

Use the Getting Licensed page as your main guide through each of these phases. As you complete licensing and begin contracting, you will unlock access to more digital tools and carrier systems.

Phase 1: Pre-Licensing

• Enroll in your pre-licensing course using the instructions on the Getting Licensed page.
• Complete the required chapters and practice tests within your target timeframe.

Phase 2: Exam, Fingerprints, NIPR

• Schedule your state licensing exam following the guidance on the licensing page or your state’s department of insurance site.
• Complete fingerprinting if required by your state.
• Apply for your license through NIPR using the link and instructions on the licensing page.

Phase 3: AML, E&O, Onboarding & Contracting

• Complete your Anti-Money Laundering (AML) training through an approved provider.
• Purchase Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage as required and keep your certificate accessible.
• Begin carrier contracting using the instructions on the Contracting & Appointing page (including SureLC setup and carrier selection).
• Submit any required onboarding documents following the guidance provided by your agency and HQ. Once contracting is complete, you will have access to HQ, SureLC, OPT, and other carrier tools.

Before your contracting is complete, you will primarily use AgentTraining.info and your team’s live training environments. These tools will help you build a strong foundation while you work through licensing.

• Log into and bookmark AgentTraining.info as your main training hub.
• Review the Basic Training: 10 Steps to Excellence page so you understand the full process from new agent to getting paid.
• Use the Getting Licensed page as your central guide for pre-licensing, exam, and NIPR steps.
• Attend your agency’s Daily Workroom Zoom sessions and weekly team calls to hear live training, roleplay, and call examples.

Once your contracting is complete and you are fully onboarded, you will gain access to additional tools that support quoting, applications, tracking business, and growing your agency.

• Log into HQ and verify your profile information and carrier appointments once your access is granted.
• Use SureLC (linked from HQ and explained on the Contracting & Appointing page) to manage your carrier contracting and appointments.
• Log into your business and lead tracking system (for example, OPT or your agency’s CRM) and bookmark the login page for daily use.
• Review your agency’s funnel resources, including the Switchboard Funnel, and learn how leads or recruits are moved through your pipeline.

If you have not already completed Step 1 on AgentTraining.info, work through the checklist below to confirm all systems are in place.

• Create your dedicated business email (for example, firstname.lastname.insurance@…).
• Add a professional email signature using the example provided in your onboarding or on your team resources.
• Confirm your ability to log into HQ, SureLC (once contracting is started), your CRM/OPT system, and AgentTraining.info without issues.
• Share your contact information (email and mobile number) with your mentor and confirm your primary communication method.

Use the training for Step 2 to build a clear, realistic plan that connects your activity to your income goals.

• Define your monthly income goal and review it with your mentor.
• Translate your income goal into weekly activity (appointments, applications, and dials).
• Time-block your weekly calendar to protect dialing hours, training calls, and family time.
• Set a date with your mentor to review your plan after your first two weeks of activity.

Leads are the foundation of your appointment activity. Follow the lead training and use this checklist to put it into action.

• Review the lead overview and lead types on the Order Leads page and any additional AO lead resources you have been given.
• Schedule a brief Zoom call with your mentor to place your first lead order together.
• Confirm how often you will order leads and the weekly budget you will commit to.

Calling leads is a skill that grows with repetition. Stay plugged into the Workroom and follow the call process outlined in your training.

• Attend the Daily Workroom and listen to a few calls before making your own to hear how successful agents follow the script.
• Use the call scripts, talk tracks, and training videos on the Calling Leads page for your phone sessions.
• Track your daily dials, contacts, and appointments using your CRM or the tracking tool recommended by your mentor.

This step helps you understand which products fit which client situations so you can make confident recommendations.

• Learn which core products your team recommends for the most common client situations using the Best Product training and your carrier guides.
• Review any quick reference charts or product comparison tools shared by your agency.
• Discuss at least one case and product choice with your mentor each week in your first month.

Preparing clear, simple options makes it easier for clients to say yes. Use your quoting tools and this checklist to get ready for each appointment.

• Use your quoting tools to prepare two or three clear options for each appointment (for example, good, better, best).
• Write a brief explanation of each option in plain language so you can present confidently during the appointment.
• Review more complex cases with your mentor before meeting with the client.

A strong presentation follows a clear structure: connection, discovery, education, and recommendation. The training for this step walks you through that flow.

• Review the client presentation training and examples for how to open, ask questions, and transition to recommendations.
• Practice your opening, fact-finding questions, and closing with another agent or your mentor before your first few appointments.
• Ensure your Zoom or meeting setup is professional and distraction-free for every appointment.

This step focuses on accuracy and completeness. A clean application moves through underwriting faster and leads to more issued business.

• Complete a practice application (often on yourself) to learn the e-application process without pressure, following the steps shown in your training.
• Follow the e-application instructions for each carrier and double-check all client details for accuracy before submitting.
• Ask your mentor to review your first submitted applications to catch any patterns early.

Submitting business is more than hitting “send.” This step focuses on tracking, follow-up, and keeping your pipeline moving.

• Enter every application into your CRM or submission system as your team instructs (including notes and follow-up dates).
• Track policy status (pending, approved, issued) using your agency’s tracking process and the guidance from your training.
• Respond quickly to carrier or client requests for any additional information.

This step connects your activity to your income. Understanding how and when you get paid helps you plan your cash flow and stay motivated.

• Confirm your direct deposit information is correctly set up with the appropriate carriers or central pay system.
• Review how to read your commission statements using examples provided in training or by your mentor, and compare them with your expectations.
• Track your issued paid business weekly and compare it against your goals from Step 2.

This handbook, your mentor, and AgentTraining.info are designed to give you a clear, repeatable path. Your responsibility is to stay connected, communicate often, and keep moving through the steps. When you are consistently writing business and comfortable with the 10 Steps, you will be ready to explore the resources on the Building a Team page and begin growing your own agency.

• Revisit this handbook weekly during your first 90 days and update your progress.
• Use AgentTraining.info as your primary training hub for refreshers, new skills, and eventually for team building through the Building a Team resources.