How fast can you make money selling life insurance?

Asked by: Jo Hackett Jr.  |  Last update: March 4, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (39 votes)

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.

How much do life insurance salesmen make per sale?

Commission structures vary by policy and company. But typically, life insurance agents receive as commission 60% to 80% of the premiums you pay in the first year. They collect smaller commissions in subsequent years. Added up, 5% to 10% of all the premiums you pay over the life of the policy could go to commissions.

Why do most life insurance agents quit?

Research shows (opens in a new window) that 80% of finance and insurance agents feel they aren't valued at work; they feel they are “only evaluated on what went wrong or could have been done better.” This is a major issue for finding and retaining top talent, which is more important than ever (opens in a new window).

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 is the most profitable 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.

If I Wanted to Become a Millionaire In 2025, I'd Do This

31 related questions found

How many insurance agents fail in the first year?

In fact, many agents new to insurance are fearful, knowing they face a high risk of failure. How many agents quit selling insurance? There isn't an exact number. But we figure somewhere between 90% and 95% of agents quit in their first 12 months of receiving their license.

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 difficult is it to sell life insurance?

Selling insurance can be stressful. It requires long work hours. You can also experience constant pressure to meet different quotas and targets. The highly competitive nature of the profession can create a work environment that often leads to stress and burnout.

What is the commission 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 many people fail at selling life insurance?

A more accurate statement is that 93% of agents choose to leave within three years.

Why are insurance agents so rich?

One of the primary reasons insurance agents can accumulate wealth is their commission-based income structure. Unlike salaried employees, agents earn a percentage of the premiums they sell to clients. As they build a client base and generate more sales, their income potential increases.

Which life insurance agents make the most money?

Top paying companies in Insurance for Life Insurance Agent are National Agents Alliance, New York Life, and National Income Life.

Is selling insurance a good career path?

Key takeaways: Insurance sales is a rewarding career that offers flexibility, high earning potential and a chance to provide clients with financial protection against various risks. Insurance sales can be challenging due to factors like as commission-based and long working hours.

Which insurance company pays the highest commissions?

Some of the companies that offer high commission rates to their agents are HDFC Life, Max Life, ICICI Prudential, and Kotak Mahindra. These companies also have attractive incentive schemes and bonus programs for their top-performing agents.

How do aflac agents get paid?

Because an insurance agent's salary is on a commission basis, it really is up to each agent to determine what his or her annual income target is.

Can you become a millionaire selling life insurance?

Some agents, advisors, and multi-line agents made a million dollars in the first year they worked with us selling life insurance! While most of the others it took 2, 3, or more years to make a million dollars per year selling life insurance.

Do life insurance agents get paid hourly?

Since the agent has no allegiance to the carrier(s) they represent, they are not paid an hourly wage to market and sell the insurance products they carry contracts for. However, when the agent does make a sale, the commissions can be much more lucrative than salary alone.

Is life insurance sales stressful?

Insurance sales jobs are highly stressful with little pay guarantee and is an industry with a high quit rate. To be successful in the industry, new agents should understand the skills and attributes that are common among top producers.

How hard is it to start selling life insurance?

There are many challenges facing new life insurance agents. The pay is usually straight commission. Finding qualified customers yourself is notoriously difficult, and the few leads that your company may give you have usually been contacted by dozens of agents already.

What are the cons of being an insurance agent?

*Cons:
  • There are licensing requirements that must be met before becoming an agent–so it's important to take these into consideration when deciding if this career path is the right fit for you.
  • Additionally, the life insurance industry can be demanding of your time.

How fast can I make money selling 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.

Do insurance agents get commission every month?

ACA commissions are paid on a monthly basis and carriers typically pay out early in the month, though it can vary. Commissions earned in the last month are distributed as long as the member has paid their premium and the payment has been posted to their account.

Why is it so hard to be an insurance agent?

Being an insurance agent can be quite stressful due to the high-pressure environment of sales jobs and the need to meet quotas. The uncertainty of income and the hard work required to build and maintain client relationships add to the stress levels.

What is the average age for insurance agent?

Insurance agents make on average $51,936 per year. The average age of an Employed insurance agent is 45.9 years old.