First off, this board is great! Now my question. I am currently an independent insurance agent specializing in health and life insurance. That said, I am also thinking about becoming a real estate agent, as well. Is there any issue involved here that would cause a problem - ethical or otherwise? Is this common? Thanks in advance.

Not much, but be careful when you recommend insurance agent for home insurance to your clients. :-)

If acting as a real estate agent, you just have to disclose to your client that you will get a financial benefit if they use you as their insurance agent. Most brokerages around here have standard disclosure forms they use whenever referring a client to a business they have an affiliation with.

One thing to think about though -- is that if you market yourself to agents hoping they refer their clients for you to get insurance -- they may no longer do so when they learn you are a real estate agent. That's because they may think you could potentially steal their client (even if you would never do such a thing).

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Do others find it odd that Insurance Agents DO NOT have to disclose that they work for the Insurance Carriers, and not the Premium Paying PolicyHolders ?

All of their Customers refer to them as "My Agent" when, in fact, they are on the other side of the table, representing the best interests of the Insurance Carriers, who compensate them.

Good move getting out of insurance. This is the next industry to get taken down by the internet.