Farmers Insurance plans to expand its agency force over the next year and expects to appoint nearly 1,700 new agency owners. The company said this would rank among the largest one-year expansions in its history.
The hiring push is meant to drive organic growth and give its distribution network a jolt. Farmers is also rolling out a new Elite Owner Program aimed at high-net-worth agency owners, with added support and financial incentives tied to faster expansion.
Ken Walton, president of distribution at Farmers, said the company is putting more weight behind the entrepreneur model as it enters its next growth phase. He said the plan centers on speed and scale.
By adding 1,700 agency owners, including an Elite tier made up of well-capitalized business operators looking to build or expand a portfolio, Farmers expects to bring new momentum into the distribution force.
Farmers said the Elite program will sharply increase agency appointments across the country by targeting owners with at least $500,000 in capital.
Those recruits will qualify for tiered benefits, including stronger support access, priority service help, and extra startup and marketing incentives.
The company said these agencies are expected to produce policy sales and premium growth at a faster pace than agents brought in through other channels.
New agent appointments were already up 34% through February compared with the same period last year.
Farmers said the latest recruitment push comes as market conditions improve, giving the company a chance to build on current momentum, deepen its reach in underrepresented markets, and respond to shifting customer demand.
Farmers will keep hiring through its existing routes as well. Those include the Retail and Acquisition programs, where agency owners either launch from scratch or buy an existing business, along with specialist tracks such as the Financial Services Agent program and the Business Insurance Agent program.
