Why You Need to Become a TRA

The Trusted Risk Advisor (TRA) Certification is for agents and brokers who want to push ahead of their competition. Having a TRA certification will show others in the industry that you have mastered consulting, diagnosing, and treating risk, and is a symbol of professional excellence in the industry.  

This training is a fit for you if you are often concerned or frustrated with the industry perception, commercialization, and the forces standing in the way of your individual success in the industry. You are not alone in feeling like this. Research by Beyond Insurance has shown that over 90% of agents and brokers share your feelings. Becoming a TRA will help broaden your mindset, build your credibility, and take control of the public’s perceptions of the industry.   

Accreditation that will represent your position in the industry 

The TRA training and accreditation will give you enhanced knowledge about the industry. There are benefits for you whether you are just entering or are experienced in the industry. To someone just entering the industry, the processes behind being an agent or broker will become demystified. As an experienced professional, it will tie processes together and will add irreplaceable value to your clients.   

Clients need a risk advisor who works with a disciplined approach, planning process, and service standards, and has the skills they see in professional advisors of other sectors. You will have access to methods, processes, and frameworks that regular agents and brokers don’t that will help to push yourself ahead.  

Growth Mindset  

Becoming a TRA will transform your fixed mindset into a growth mindset. A growth mindset allows you to improve upon your skills and take risks and gain feedback to help you improve. This change will give you control over the outcomes of your actions and will improve the way you think, act, feel and handle situations. Your drive to take on harder or more complex tasks will show your clients that you are here to embrace these challenges and will work hard for success.   

Changing the Perception of our Industry 

Your mindset won’t be the only thing that changes; with your new skills, you will be part of changing the public’s perception of our industry. With your advanced skills, you will be able to better manage your clients’ risks, which will lead to a higher level of trust from them. With higher trust comes a deeper relationship that will make our industry more personable to your clients.   

Competitive Advantage  

Clients naturally gravitate towards professionals they think are qualified and can trust. Having a TRA certification will show your clients that you are both of those things. Because of this, they will seek your advice and be more inclined to act on your recommendations. Your ability to influence current and future clients will increase exponentially as your elevated status will show heightened responsibility, prestige and credibility.  

Step by Step Guidance  

Using the Risk Decision Matrix, you will be able to guide your clients through primary means of dealing with risk: avoid, reduce, transfer, and retain. This method leverages all elements of the risk management process and is a five-step, results-oriented enterprise risk management (ERM) framework.  

1. Risk Identification  

2. Risk Assessment  

3. Risk Evaluation  

4. Risk Action  

5. Monitoring the Plan  

IIANC has put together a four-course series to help you earn this certification. All agents and brokers must compete in all four sessions entirely. Once you are a TRA, you are a TRA for life. There are no required updates! TRA is a national designation so anyone is welcome to take this course. Search on our class page for the next session dates or email education@iianc.com to get more information!