While the IT sector prefers young workers, insurance companies prefer those in the 30-35 age bracket, said G Srinivasan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of New India Assurance Company.

“Youngsters are not keen on agency business in the first place; even if they do, they quit within three months or as soon as a better offer comes their way. Our efforts at training youngsters goes waste,” Srinivasan said.

He said the company targets those beyond 30 years of age as most in the mid-30s are fairly settled in life and take their jobs more seriously. He added that retention rate was better amongst older people.

“Retired government servants and those who have served in financial services sector can actually be active at least for 10-15 years after retirement. And they take agency business more seriously. Our agent force includes retired LIC agents and mutual fund advisers. Many of them offer a gamut of services,” Srinivasan added.

The company plans to add 10,000 agents to its existing 70,000 this fiscal. “We have already added 7,000. The rest will happen in the next couple of months,” he said.

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