How successful can you be selling life insurance?
Asked by: Dr. Leonor Johns | Last update: October 12, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (72 votes)
How profitable is 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."
Can you be successful as a life insurance agent?
Becoming a successful insurance agent is not easy, but it's achievable with the right strategies. To succeed as an insurance agent, you need to define your ideal client, provide value, develop a sales process, be persistent and consistent, and focus on exceptional service.
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 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.
The Easiest Way To Sell Life Insurance
Is it hard selling life insurance?
Life insurance is a very difficult product to sell. Simply getting your prospect to acknowledge and discuss the fact they are going to die is a hard first step. When and if you clear that hurdle, your next task is creating urgency so they buy right away.
How much commission do you get for selling life insurance?
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.
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.
Can you become a millionaire being a life insurance agent?
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.
What is 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.
What is the average age of a life insurance agent?
Insurance agents make on average $51,936 per year. The average age of an Employed insurance agent is 45.9 years old.
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.
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 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 are the cons of being an insurance agent?
Cons of working in insurance sales
For some people, the thought of earning commissions is appealing. For others, it can cause stress and worry about their future financial situation. New insurance agents often work long hours to build and strengthen relationships and get their names out in the industry.
Who is the richest insurance agents?
- Berkshire Hathaway's, Warren Buffet. ...
- Patrick Ryan of the Ryan Specialty Group. ...
- Erie Indemnity Chairman, Thomas Hagen. ...
- W.R. Berkley's William R. ...
- Mark and Robyn Jones of Goosehead Insurance. ...
- Brown & Brown's, J. ...
- Mercury General's, George Joseph. ...
- Henry Engelhardt of the Admiral Group.
Do insurance agents get paid monthly?
Commissions Per Member, Per Month
When selling ACA insurance, agents earn commissions per household member, per month (PMPM). If you enroll multiple household members in a marketplace plan, you can collect commissions on each household member, every month! Commissions can also be paid per contract, per month (PCPM).
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.
What is the risk of selling life insurance?
Creditors might be able to claim the money you receive from selling your life insurance. Benefits could be threatened: Are you receiving government benefits such as SNAP benefits or Medicaid? You'll want to make sure that you won't lose those benefits if you receive money from a life insurance settlement sale.
What is the biggest insurance company to fail?
Executive Life Insurance Company is regarded to be the biggest bankruptcy of an insurance company in the United States in the course of recent years. Based in California, the life company had to file for bankruptcy in 1991 following disastrous investments in junk bonds.
What type of life insurance pays highest commission?
Whole life coverage is more expensive, leading to more commission income for the agent. Consult with a financial advisor to determine whether buying term or whole life insurance is ideal for your situation, or if you should turn to other options like investing in securities or an annuity.
How do life insurance agents get clients?
- Blog posts.
- Webinars.
- Professional partnerships.
- Client referrals.
- Google My Business.
- Paid ads.
How do state farm agents get paid?
With multiple income streams, State Farm gives each agent the flexibility to determine their own income goals. Our independently contracted agents don't receive base compensation* but can earn commission, potential travel and other compensation by helping customers.