Life Insurance Agent Job Overview
If you have a strong sense of emotional empathy combined with a fluency for offering advice on long-term payout benefits, then life insurance agent jobs may be for you. This field of insurance focuses on selling policies that provide either lump-sum payments or annuities to a client’s beneficiaries. The most successful agents conduct needs analyses and determine the best products to sell based on customer goals and financial circumstances, while making sure the policies meet regulated suitability standards.
Given that insurance companies rely on an ongoing influx of new clients, you can rest assured that life insurance agents are here to stay. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects about 50,400 openings for insurance sales agents, each year, until 2030. Even if there’s a lot of information about insurance online now, the BLS predicts that most people will still want to speak with an expert to receive advice tailored to their situation. And don’t worry about whispers concerning “marketing automation,” as the human touch will remain very much necessary—from non-AI customer service and social media activations to following up on leads to gain new clients.
Got the gift of gab? Then consider other sales jobs out there. Or you may want to search for the following related positions:
Life Insurance Agent Training and Skills
For most life insurance agent jobs, a high school diploma will suffice. However, some companies who hire “captive” agents (meaning those who only work for one company) may prefer if you have a relevant bachelor’s degree (such as in financial services or marketing). Or you can work for a brokerage as an independent agent (meaning you’d be selling policies from several different companies). Either way, most important is that you have or develop a mastery of sales. Repeat that word: Sales, sales, sales. This is because many of these positions are strictly commission-based, although some jobs will include a base salary too.
The good news: Since many of these positions don’t have a base salary, companies often don’t limit hiring for these roles, so there’s a profusion of available life insurance agent jobs. Also, some states do require that you get licensed before you can sell insurance. But employers may reimburse associated costs after you sell a certain amount of premiums for them.
Once you have a grasp of your market, an established client list, and a persistent lead-generation system, you’ll be well-rewarded down the line. Additionally, if you want to sell products that are deemed “securities,” such as variable life insurance policies or variable annuity contracts, you’ll need a representative’s license registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Brush up on these skills to help you with any life insurance role too:
- verbal and written communication
- customer service
- high-level sales abilities
- confidence and patience
Monster can give you a preview of what to expect with this insurance agent job description.
Update Your Life Insurance Agent Resume
Prior to applying to life insurance agent jobs, you should optimize your resume so that it spotlights your sales and marketing skills, as well as your knowledge of the life insurance terrain. Monster can give you a head-start. Check out our resume sample for an insurance sales professional and browse through our selection of resume writing tips.
Get an advantage by including a cover letter with your application. Got writer’s block? Read our ample collection of cover letter writing guidance.
Interviewing for a Life Insurance Agent Job
You’ll need to go through at least one interview for most life insurance agent jobs, so we’ll help you prepare. It’s essential for you to research the company you’re applying to and gather enough knowledge about their products since you’ll potentially be selling them. You may be judged on your verbal communication approach too, so act as though you’re speaking with a customer. Here are some questions you may be asked:
- What do you enjoy about selling life insurance?
- How will you expand your client base?
- How much do you know about financial planning?
Explore Monster’s recommendations for job interview preparation before you go in.
How Much Do Life Insurance Agent Jobs Pay?
If you stay on top of new leads and continually extend your relationships with clients, you can make a great living in the life insurance field. Currently, the yearly median pay for a life/health insurance sales agent is $74,633 (and salaries can go up to $102,801).
Also, you can use the Salary Tools on Monster to retrieve specific pay details for jobs in your area.
Want to Learn More About a Company You’re Interested In?
At Monster, we can guide you toward life insurance agent jobs that fit your needs and maximize your skills. That’s why we’ve laid out company profiles, where we have:
- practical guides on life insurance companies
- insight into corporate culture and industry trends
- up-to-date job postings
Ready to Help People Get the Right Life Insurance?
We’re here to support you. Enhance your chances by applying to the many life insurance agent jobs available on Monster. But first, set up a free profile so that you can connect with top insurance companies, receive custom job notifications directly to your inbox, and so much more.