Can anybody sell life insurance?

Asked by: Mandy Balistreri  |  Last update: October 2, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (51 votes)

You'll need to complete your state's pre-licensing education requirements, pass an insurance licensing exam, apply for a license with your state, receive a National Producer Number (NPN), and then either find a job with a life insurance company or start your own.

Can anyone sell their life insurance policy?

A life insurance policy, whether it's a term life or whole life policy, is your personal property. You can sell it just as you would anything else you own, but there are some things to consider.

How difficult is it to sell life insurance?

High Competition: The insurance market can be competitive, making it challenging to establish yourself. Licensing Requirements: You will need to obtain a license to sell insurance, which requires studying and passing an exam. Rejection: Sales can be tough, and you may face frequent rejection from potential clients.

Who can sell life insurance?

To sell life insurance, you must become a licensed life and health insurance agent in your state (or any state in which you plan on selling). The basic insurance licensing requirements include the following: Be at least 18 years old. Complete pre-licensing education.

How much do you get paid for selling a life insurance policy?

While the amount you will receive from selling your life insurance will vary depending on a few factors, including your specific policy and its amount, a general rule of thumb is that most people receive 40-70% of the policy's face value through their viatical settlement.

The Easiest Way To Sell Life Insurance

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Is selling life insurance a good hustle?

In our opinion, it doesn't hurt that insurance is a lucrative business. You can gain commissions on the plans that you sell, so it's entirely up to you how much you want to hustle. You can also make more money with consistent renewals, so it pays in the long run to have loyal clients.

How much can you sell a $100,000 life insurance policy for?

A typical life settlement is worth around 20% of your policy value, but can range from 10-25%. So for a 100,000 dollar policy, you would be looking at anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 dollars.

Can I become a millionaire selling life insurance?

If you have a great work ethic and are willing to place yourself out there to establish relationships with clients, you will get more opportunities to earn a higher income. Selling insurance may even make you a millionaire.

Is it worth getting a life insurance license?

Insurance is a stable industry with lots of income potential, especially if you earn commissions. It's also a good career choice for people who like flexibility and a certain degree of autonomy.

What's the best insurance to sell?

Life insurance is the most profitable—and the hardest—type of insurance to sell. With the highest premiums and the longest-running contract, it brings in cash over a long period of time. In the first year, agents make the largest annual sum on a policy, bringing in anywhere from 40–120% of the policy premium.

Why do most life insurance agents fail?

The most commonly cited reason insurance agents fail is that they fail to listen to their customers and take the time to find the best product to suit their needs. Agents who bring the right solutions to customers build trust, and that helps them build a book of loyal customers.

How fast can you make money selling life insurance?

In the first year, a life insurance agent can earn anywhere from 30% to 90% of this premium, along with 5% to 10% of premiums paid in later years.

What is the downside of selling your life insurance policy?

Not all proceeds received from the sale of your life insurance policy are tax-free. It is important to know that the proceeds you receive from a life settlement may be accessible by your creditors.

Do you need money to sell life insurance?

They say to make money you need to spend money, and the insurance industry is no different. Many independent insurance agents make a significant annual income, but you need to pay some upfront costs before that can happen.

Can you cash out a life insurance policy while alive?

Most people buy life insurance to leave money for family members when they die, but there are also ways to get cash out of a policy while you're alive. Some options include taking a loan, withdrawing cash value, using living benefits, or selling the policy.

How much is my life insurance worth?

The value of your life insurance refers to the death benefit paid to beneficiaries. To find the cash value of your life insurance, calculate your total payments and subtract surrender fees. Remember, the value for a sale will be lower than the death benefit to allow the buyer to profit.

Can you make a living as a life insurance agent?

Several factors cause so many life insurance agents to leave the business. The most common is they simply cannot make a living. The vast majority of life insurance sales jobs are straight commission. That means no base salary—not even minimum wage—and no benefits.

Which insurance license is hardest to get?

Each insurance licensing exam presents its own challenge. Between Life and Health, students say that the Health insurance exam is the more difficult. Health insurance policies are simply more complicated than life insurance policies. The Property insurance exam is easier than the Casualty insurance exam.

Do you need a series 7 to sell insurance?

What securities license is required for a life insurance producer to sell variable life insurance? To sell variable life insurance, a life insurance producer needs a Series 6 or Series 7 securities license, issued by FINRA.

Can selling life insurance be a side hustle?

Looking to make some extra cash on the side? Now's the perfect time to start selling insurance! While we would never recommend going into any profession solely for the money, some people do enjoy earning something a little extra on top of their primary income.

Why is selling insurance so hard?

The hardest part of being an insurance agent often revolves around the constant need for lead generation and sales. Many agents struggle with the cold calling aspect, where rejection is frequent, and maintaining a steady stream of new clients can be challenging.

How many policies does an insurance agent sell per month?

How many policies does an insurance agent sell? According to the financial reports, the Official Number is 2.5 policies per month. However, many people just do it part-time.

What disqualifies life insurance payout?

Life insurance proceeds can be denied. Some denials are legitimate, like in case of policy lapses, material misrepresentations, or exclusions in the form of illegal activities or war. In other cases, bad-faith insurers use elaborate methods to reject claims so they do not have to pay the proceeds.

What is the highest paying insurance to sell?

Life Insurance Policies

Financial Rewards: Selling life insurance can be highly lucrative, often offering substantial commissions. Emotional Fulfillment: Life insurance agents provide crucial support during clients' major life events, building meaningful relationships.