I have been keeping an eye on the numbers of active agents in our neck of the woods (King County)  for some time, and things are really starting to turn to a downward trend.  From June to end of July,08 there has been a 17% drop in numbers of active licensed agents.  Over 16,000 down to 13,800 in King County.    

              My small company is no exception to this change as I have sent two more licenses back in the last week.

              I am also signing up another agent that is changing companies because that company is shutting down and merging with another. 

              Weather we like it or not, this will continue for at least the next six months.  Cost factor, lack of actual training, not enough help from experienced agents are just a few of the problems companies are experiencing  with regards to retention of good people.

             It seems sometimes we are back to  "only the strong will survive".