How do you sell a life insurance policy?

Asked by: Ms. Rebeka Mitchell  |  Last update: June 2, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (26 votes)

You can sell your life insurance policy via a life settlement provider or a life settlement broker. Brokers make it easier by comparing offers from various providers to find you the best one. Before providers give you an offer, they'll likely ask you questions regarding your policy and medical records.

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

Just like any other insurance policy, a life settlement payout for a $100,000 whole life policy would depend on your age, health condition, and policy premiums. A typical life settlement is worth around 20% of your policy value, but can range from 10-25%.

Is it a good idea to sell my life insurance policy?

If your life insurance policy no longer serves its original purpose, selling it might be a practical way to free up funds. While many policies can be sold, permanent life insurance, such as whole or universal life, is usually more sought after in the secondary market.

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.

Can I sell my $50,000 life insurance policy?

Did you know you can sell all or a portion of a life insurance policy, even term insurance? Selling an unwanted life insurance policy is no different than selling your car, home, or any other valuable asset that will create immediate cash.

How to Sell Life Insurance: Mastering Tone Ep187

21 related questions found

Why is life insurance so hard to sell?

Why Is Life Insurance So Hard To Sell? It's hard to sell because it deals with the topic of death. That's something many people find difficult to consider or discuss. Furthermore, it's hard to keep trying to sell because agents find that they can't make enough money to support themselves.

What is the cash value of a $10,000 life insurance policy?

Say, for example, that you purchase an insurance policy with a face value of $10,000. Once the policy matures, the cash value of the policy should equal $10,000.

Who qualifies to sell their life insurance policy?

Own a policy with a $100,000 or more in death benefit – anything less than that typically does not qualify, unless there are considerable health impairments. Life insurance policies generally qualify if you are over age 70.

Do people who sell life insurance make good money?

As of Jan 19, 2025, the average annual pay for a Life Insurance Sales Agent in California is $113,805 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $54.71 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,188/week or $9,483/month.

Is an old life insurance policy worth anything?

A policy that lapsed before the policyholder died has no value. But if the policy was still in force when the insured died, that policy's death benefit may still be available to the beneficiary. Note that the death benefit amount could be different from the policy's original face value. Several factors can cause this.

Is it hard to get into selling life insurance?

You can make a good living selling life insurance, especially if you continue to earn commissions on policies you have already sold. However, it is not an easy career, as it requires constantly working to find leads, build relationships, and make sales.

What are the tax consequences of cashing in a life insurance policy?

Cashing out your policy

You're able to withdraw up to the amount of the total premiums you've paid into the policy without paying taxes. But if you withdraw on any gains, such as dividends, you can expect them to be taxed as ordinary income.

Can I cash out my life insurance policy?

You can cash out a life insurance policy. How much money you get for it will depend on the amount of cash value held in it. If you have, say $10,000 of accumulated cash value, you would be entitled to withdraw up to all of that amount (less any surrender fees). At that point, however, your policy would be terminated.

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.

How much commission do you get for selling life insurance?

Typically, a life insurance agent receives anywhere from 30% to 90% of the amount paid for a policy (also known as the premium) by the client in the first year. In later years, the agent may receive anywhere from 3% to 10% of each year's premium, also known as "renewals" or "trailing commissions."

How do I know the cash value of my life insurance?

Fortunately, it's easy to calculate your cash surrender value. First, add up the total payments you've made toward your life insurance policy. Then, subtract the surrender fees your insurance company will charge. You'll be left with the actual payout you may receive if you terminate or surrender your life insurance.

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.

How long does it take to start making money selling life insurance?

Most businesses don't make any profit in their first year of operating. It could take anywhere from 18 to 24 months for your insurance sales to actually provide profit. Don't feel discouraged. Every small business owner has to clear this hurdle.

Can selling life insurance be a side hustle?

Earn Supplemental Income

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.

How much do I get if I sell my life insurance policy?

A policyholder could receive anywhere between 10% to 35% of the amount that would be paid when they die. On average, policyholders receive an upfront cash settlement that equals 20% of their life insurance policy death benefit.

What is the cash value of a $100,000 life insurance policy?

Example: $100,000 Life Insurance Policy

The amount of money you're offered will vary based on your age and health. If you are older, then you may be able to get a significant chunk of money. A company may offer you a payout in the range of $10,000 to $30,000, but this can vary from policy to policy.

Can a term life insurance policy be converted to whole life?

With most insurers, you can typically convert without taking another medical exam or answering health questions, as long as you do so within a certain time frame or by a certain age, such as 75. The deadline for converting and the type of permanent policies available depend on the life insurance company.

How much tax will I pay if I cash out my life insurance?

Proceeds up to your tax basis (total premiums paid) are generally not taxable, while any amount received above the tax basis may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, depending on the circumstances.

Can a nursing home take your life insurance?

Nursing homes can't take a senior's life insurance benefits away from designated family beneficiaries to cover outstanding costs. However, nursing homes can accept payments from the resulting funds of a sold or surrendered policy.

What is the cash value of a $25,000 whole life insurance policy?

Examples of Cash Value Life Insurance

An example is a cash value life insurance policy with a $25,000 death benefit. Assuming you don't take out a loan or withdraw, the cash value accumulates to $5,000. After the policyholder's death, the insurance company would pay out the full death benefit, which would be $25,000.