Independent Adjuster's Playbook: Step by Step Guide & Roadmap to Becoming a Successful Independent Adjuster: IA Playbook Series, #1

By Chris Stanley

Are you ready to start working as an independent adjuster? Sick of waiting?

Would you like to own your own business in a recession-proof industry and requires no college education?

Do you need a map that will take you from having zero experience to getting claims as fast as possible... without the frustration, heartache, and the dreaded waiting…?

In this conversational and action-oriented book, Chris Stanley presents a proven solution and underground playbook that will take from zero experience to working independent adjuster in as little as 30 days.

In the Independent Adjuster's Playbook. you will find:

 

• Chris's 3 different roadmaps takes you from inexperienced to working, in as little as a month (become an IA FAST)
• Playbook with the 5 rules of the game and plays you can use to put the odds of becoming a successful adjuster in your favor.
• How to save thousand's of dollars in travel, courses, and trainings that don't produce results... allowing you to become a "qualified independent adjuster" on a budget.
• The 13 steps you can use to successfully get your first claim… even if you don't have any experience in the claims industry.
• How to sneak into the catastrophic adjusting field without going to the back of the line!
• Easy to follow instructions every step of the way so you never get stuck or wonder what to do next in your adjusting career

The Independent Adjuster's Playbook equips readers with the key to unlocking their dreams of becoming an independent adjuster and the freedom that comes from owning your own adjusting business.

IA Playbook. turns aspiring IA's into qualified adjusters.

IA Playbook. helps you grow your income, skills, and business through getting you claims to work.

Don't wait.

This book is a call to action allowing you to embrace your dreams of becoming an insurance claims adjuster so you can claim your life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chris Stanley
• Release date: Mar 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393029731

Book preview

Independent Adjuster’s Playbook

A Step by Step Guide & Roadmap to Becoming a Successful Independent Adjuster

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by Chris Stanley

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1st Edition September 2018

2ND Edition August 2019

3rd Edition September 2020

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Free Video Course

Part 1: The Decision

What Is an Independent Adjuster?

The Pay of an Independent Adjuster

4 Core Functions of an Independent Adjuster

The Career Options of an Independent Adjuster

Part 2: The Strategy

The Typical Way of Thinking

The House Advantage

Rules of the Game

The Independent Adjuster’s Path

Part 3: Playbook

Roadmap #1: Auto Appraiser’s Path

Roadmap Phase 1: Create Your Business

Step 1: Get a License

MILESTONE #1: Licensed!

Step 2: Start Auto Adjuster Training

Steps 3-7: Start a Claims Business

MILESTONE #2: Open for Business!

Phase 2: Promote Your Business

Step: 8 Get Software Training

Step 9: Resume

ATS – Applicant Tracking System

Three Os of a Resume

C.L.A.I.M. Resume Method

Step 10: LinkedIn and Indeed

Setting Up Your LinkedIn Profile

Creating Content on LinkedIn

Using Job Boards

IAJobs.online

Step 11-13: Get On Rosters & Purchase Software

Milestone: Get Your First Claim!

Summary of the Auto Appraiser’s Path

Roadmap #2: Catastrophic Adjuster’s Path

Step 1: Get an Adjuster's License

MILESTONE #1 Obtain Your Adjuster License

Step 2: Obtain Proper Insurance

Step 3: Get on Rosters

Step 4: New York License

MILESTONE #2 Open for Business!

Step 5: Auto Training

Step 6: Attend Orientations

Step 7: State Farm Auto Certification

Step 8: Property Training

Step 9: State Farm Property Certification

Step 10: Liability Training

MILESTONE #3 Trained!

Step 11: New Mexico License

Step 12: Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Property Damage Appraisers License

Step 13: More Rosters

Step 14-16: More Licenses

Roadmap #3: Property Adjuster’s Path

Phase 1: Prepare Your Business

Step 1: Ride-a-Long

Step 2: Laptop

Step 3: Adjuster License

MILESTONE #1: Licensed!

Step 4: Gear

Phase 2: Train Your Business

Step 5: Xactimate Training

Step 6: Construction Training

Step 7: Job Training

MILESTONE #2 Trained!

Phase 3: Promote Your Business

Step 8: Conferences

Step 9: Resume

ATS – Applicant Tracking System

Three Os of a Resume

C.L.A.I.M. Resume Method

Step 10: LinkedIn and Indeed

Setting Up Your LinkedIn Profile

Creating Content on LinkedIn

Using Job Boards

IAJobs.online

Step 11-12: Get on Rosters

Step 12: Get on 10 Smaller Rosters

Step 13: Carrier Certifications

MILESTONE #3 Certified!

Phase 4: Fund Your Dream

MILESTONE #4 Working!

Step 14-15: Fund the Dream

Step 16: Be Ready and Available

MILESTONE# 5: Get Deployed!

Next Steps

Personal Request

Introduction to the Auto Adjuster’s Playbook

Adjuster Mentorships by IA Path

Other Books in This Series

Acknowledgements

I saved writing this part for last, because I am terrified of leaving someone out who has had a great impact on me, but I will do my best. The list is too long to list everyone in this book, but the people listed here DESERVE my respect and honor, they have helped shape me into who I am today in a major way.

First off, I’d like to acknowledge my mentor and father-in-law who gave me the knowledge and confidence by having faith in me, my mother-in-law for always being supportive and loving, my parents Dan & Jan Stanley who have lived their life as a shining example of what it means to live for and love others more than themselves, to my brother Nathan who’s kicked my butt when I needed it and hung out for midnight movie runs, my sister Nicki who is always there if I need here and always provides a good laugh and story. Mark D, the Dr. my brother-in-law for all the early morning Starbucks run and making deployments a blast, those memories I’ll cherish forever.

To all the companies and the amazing people inside of those companies that have given me opportunities to work as an IA and supported the IA Path, specifically Trish Burns of Cat Appraisals, Ernie Bray of ACD, Tim Davis Jr. & Colleen Davis of SCA, Amanda Hughes of the Doan Group, Greg Olsen of IA Net for surviving the PDR days with me,  Shawn Wadkins of ADA who was the first to have blind faith in me, Mark Tsurkis & all of the Hi-tech PDR gang for teaching me how to hustle, Ezra Burns of NIA for re-lighting the fire for auto claims inside of me, Bernie Rayoni, Doug Mallory, and the PARS/CSP organization for giving me opportunities I never dreamed of.

Now for the individuals who have helped IA Path and myself stay strong over the last two years, Jeremy Shaw thank you for all your support (even support is bigger in Texas), Joseph Heidel who’s been my best friend in the industry and a faithful friend, Jay Contino, Cody Gailbraith, Shawn Parsons, Brian Jordan, Ken Wittich of theBestIRS, all who encourage me on a consistent basis, Luke Abers for the stealthy and unwavering support, also a big shout out to all the students of IA Path, you are the reason I get out of bed and keep going.

The best group I saved for last, to my two amazing kids Sol & Vox. Thank you for getting daddy off the boat and reminding me that you are the reason why I work, for loving me even when I’m stressed out and always bringing a smile to my face. To my amazing wife Sandi who loves unconditionally through all the manic Mondays and sad Saturdays, for reminding me that people are more important, for not letting me lose myself to myself, for your support and help with this book and for always pointing me back to my loving daddy.... Jesus. I’d be lost without my heavenly father who has given me a 2nd chance at life and taught me how to love, He knew I was incapable, unlovable, and unforgivable, yet He still cared enough to come for me.

Special Thanks to the IA Playbook Book Launch Team!

Kristen Hargroder of Hargroder Claims

ELIZABETH SHETTERLY

Tim Davis of SCA

Colleen Davis of SCA

Sunny Gale

Robin Smith of WEGOLOOK

Isaac Meir Resnick

Keith Homeszyn

Dennis hulse

Brian Higgins

Patrick Kelahan

John Luna

DaTron Williams

Shawn Parsons of Rapid Appraisal Services (Houston)

Kagan Blackburn

Carlos de Armas of Telaclaims

David Milton of Telaclaims

Laura Macella

Anthony Bower

Luis Camacho

Robert Uhler

Kenneth Wittich of theBestIRS

Renee Bryant

Caleb Coin

Joe McCullough

Jason Heenan of AdjusterTalk Podcast & Royal Adjusting Services

Jeremy Rettig of Adjuster University

Ernie Bray of ACD

Gregory Olsen of IA Net

Mitch Whitman of Primeco Claims

Lina Tomassini of Nationwide Appraisals

Mathew Allen of AdjusterTV

Jeremy Shaw of Shaw Auto Appraisals & IA Path

Tony Canas of INSNerds

Nick Lamperelli of INSNerds

Carly Burnham of INSNerds

Mike Boucher

Dan Stanley

Jan Stanley

Trish Burns

Nathan Stanley

Ryan Roberts of QA Claims

Jay Contino of Bassett Services

Shawn Morgan

Andre Shervanian of Claimleader

Foreword

By Mathew Allen of AdjusterTV

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Chris and I stood out in the middle of a Kalispell city park, staring at a whiteboard we'd set up in the grass. Joggers and parents pushing baby strollers passed by, craning their necks to see what we had written on this board we were staring at so intently.

Arms crossed, dry erase marker stuck in the corner of my mouth, I said,

No, let's move 'ride-a-long' over to here.  It's important that new adjusters really see what it's like to be a property adjuster first-hand.  Especially before they spend a lot of money getting into this.

So, they should do that before they get their license? Chris asked, putting the whiteboard back on its stand after getting blown over for the umpteenth time.

Yeah, I think so.  But getting a license should be done immediately the moment they decide they're all-in on becoming an IA, I said over the squeak of the dry erase marker writing on the board.

And so, it continued that afternoon in the warm Montana sun.

The Property Path was born.  

I've known Chris for well over a year now and we've grown to be good friends.  We share a lot of common interests and we both have a strange and wonderful drive to help new people get started off the right way as independent adjusters.

When I got started as an IA, back in 1999, if there were any resources like IAPath.com, I wasn't aware of them.  I didn't even know that daily claims were a thing until after my first couple of years of low earnings.

You see, it took me a few years to really get ramped up into my career as a cat property IA.  I had many dead-ends and wild goose chases before I really got things figured out.   Had I known that I could have used my new skills and license to run daily claims in the off-season, I could have been far better off financially than I was back then.  

Honestly, I kept at this job not because I was doing that well at it, but because I was just too dense to consider doing anything else.  And frankly, what I did earn from claims was still more than I made in my previous career in television.

If I had it to do over again, right now today, I would have way more resources at my disposal for reaching my goals than I did back then.  

These days, IA firms are investing an unprecedented amount into adjuster development.  It's easier than ever to get licensed.  And there are opportunities for breaking into this industry popping up every day on the internet, but there's also a lot more noise around our industry than ever before. 

At the same time social media has made it incredibly easy to connect with experienced adjusters and mentors, it's also made it unbelievably frustrating figuring out fact from fiction.  Everybody seems to have an opinion and very few of them are positive and supporting.

Chris and I had a conversation recently about why there don't seem to be that many people sharing information about becoming an IA like we are.  I mean, if you want to learn how to become a wedding photographer, or a sous chef, or learn how to ski moguls, all it takes is one click and you'll get hundreds or even thousands of how-to videos, podcasts, blog posts, books, and online courses.  

Do the same thing with get started as an independent adjuster and you might come up with maybe a half a dozen IA-specific videos on YouTube - but then the rest of the videos are by roofing contractors or public adjusters or people talking about how to get your insurance company to pay up! and so on.

(And in that same search, Chris has one of the top three video results on YouTube with 24,000 views!)

So why would a career with such a high earning potential and an unbelievable ability to provide an IA with an upgraded lifestyle - all without any kind of college education - be so hard to find good information about?

We theorized that because the earning potential is so high, anybody who might be interested in starting a YouTube channel or a podcast, probably is too busy.  Or doesn't feel the payoff is worth the effort.  On the other end of the spectrum, anybody who can't really hack it being an IA won't stick around.  You're either in or you're out.

No matter the reason, I guess you're stuck with me, Chris, and the handful of other dedicated IA podcasters and YouTubers out there who just can't stop doing what we're doing.

The more I get to know Chris, the more I can see that he's an entrepreneur at heart, but he's the best kind of entrepreneur in that he's got the heart of a servant.  And he's always asking me,

Matt, do you think this is valuable to new adjusters?  I want this to take all of the guesswork out of getting started as an IA.

When you read this book, just remember that Chris can't seem to think about anything other than how he can help you achieve your goals and dreams.  

Becoming an IA is the fastest path I know of to doing just that.

Introduction

You (yes, you!) can become an independent adjuster if you are able to apply the principles and strategies included inside of this book. My life completely changed after I became an independent adjuster, and I am certain it will change your life as well. For over a decade, being an adjuster has empowered a life that my wife and I had previously only dreamed about. We thought that we needed stacks of cash and would have to wait until retirement to achieve the things we wanted, but we were wrong. Travel, adventure, purpose, and a secure career have all become the normal for our young family, and we have not had to sacrifice who we are in the process.

Looking back, I remember how I was NO ONE and how I had NO SKILLS that you would think an adjuster (especially an auto adjuster) would need. I had never worked on a car, never changed my own oil, and my stellar warehouse career (of throwing boxes for a living) was completely unrelated to being an adjuster. Truly, if I have found and achieved a successful career in this fascinating industry, anyone can.

I’ve handled claims locally in my state, traveled across the country chasing hail storms, shown up in the aftermath of catastrophes (like hurricane Sandy) and have been able to connect to people whose lives have been shaken by nature's awesome and terrible power. I have seen the tremendous damage a storm can cause and have heard the stories from people...... REAL PEOPLE, about how their lives were shattered, and I even got to enjoy playing a small part in their life’s restoration. In short, it is an exciting career that pays well while still giving you freedom. However, this is only true if you are able to unlock the many doors that stand between you and the life you have always wanted.

A typical scenario for many new adjusters attempting to enter the industry is finding themselves overwhelmed, confused, misled, and walking for months or years in circles still trying to find a solid way into the industry. Sadly, because of this difficulty and confusion many new adjusters give up. I am here to tell you that the door is unlocked inside of this book.

This book is based on my own experiences and the experiences of dozens of others that I have either interviewed on my podcast (The Independent Adjuster Podcast) or have worked closely with inside the adjusting world. Having heard their stories of how they successfully navigated the industry, I found the correlations between all of our success stories and have created a roadmap for you to follow that will exponentially increase your chances of success in this industry while removing the guesswork from your new career.

There are three main parts to this book. The first section is called The Decision. Inside this first section, we will cover what exactly an adjuster is and will correctly set your expectations about the career, allowing you to make an educated decision on whether to pursue insurance adjusting as a career.

Part two of the book is The Strategy. Here, I will show why the typical way of thinking (that is spouted on the Internet) about becoming an adjuster is highly flawed. I will also discuss the overall strategy that you will need to employ for your new career and why it is important to your success.

The