What are the cons of being a life insurance agent?
Asked by: Jeramie Metz IV | Last update: August 23, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (57 votes)
- Unpredictable income. Working in a commission-based role has its drawbacks. ...
- High-pressure work environment. Selling insurance can be stressful. ...
- Finding new leads can be challenging. ...
- Limited paid time off. ...
- Experiencing a lot of rejection.
Is it worth being a life insurance agent?
Becoming a life insurance agent can be a promising career for some people, as it can provide a steady income and the opportunity to help others. However, it may not be a good fit for everyone, as it requires strong sales and communication skills, as well as the ability to build and maintain relationships with clients.
What are the disadvantages of being an insurance agent?
Insurance agents often face pressure to achieve their goals while simultaneously providing exceptional customer service, meeting sales quotas, and staying abreast of industry regulations. This, combined with the responsibility of safeguarding clients' financial well-being, can make for a stressful work environment.
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).
What are the cons of selling life insurance?
- No future payout: If you have beneficiaries who were going to benefit from your life insurance policy, you may come to regret selling your life insurance policy. ...
- More taxes to pay: If you end up making more money than you paid in premiums, you'll pay taxes on your profits.
PROS & CONS OF BEING AN INSURANCE AGENT
What is the hardest part of 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 do life insurance agents make per policy?
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."
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.
How many life insurance agents fail?
More than 90% of new agents quit the business within the first year. The rate increases to greater than 95% when extended to five years.
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.
How hard is it to sell life insurance?
A career as a life insurance sales professional can be challenging. The competition is fierce, and you may experience a lot of rejection before a successful sale. Conducting business in the comforts of your home isn't any different. You should be willing to put in the effort for your venture to grow.
What is the hardest part of being an insurance agent?
Agents and brokers who listen carefully to what their clients and prospects say will be able to earn their trust, which is the hardest part of their job.
What are 5 disadvantages of insurance?
- Too expensive for old people. Most people purchase a life insurance policy when they are young. ...
- Returns are not more. Many life insurance policies offer the benefits of protection and saving. ...
- Issues with claim settlement. ...
- Too many options.
Can you make a living as a life insurance agent?
The most common way life insurance agents make money is through commissions. Generally, agents receive front-loaded commissions of 40% to up to 115% of the policy's first-year premiums, although the figure for renewals falls steeply to about 1% or 2%.
How many hours does the average life insurance agent work?
New agents do not have set hours, you plan your own schedule and you will be working 40+ a week. Depends on how well you manage your time.
Do you have to be good at math to be a life insurance agent?
The ability to make error-free calculations and analyze numerical data about insurance trends can help agents perform their work more effectively. Understanding the basic concepts of statistics, calculus and algebra can empower you to quickly and accurately identify errors and make predictions.
Why did I quit being a life insurance agent?
I ran out of money to invest in leads. 26.2% voted a lack of money for leads as their primary reason why they quit. Less important reasons agents quit selling insurance include running out of prospects, personal issues like health problems, and discovering the business wasn't a right fit.
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.
Do life insurance agents really make a lot of money?
A life insurance agent's income potential is uncapped. Some of the highest earners make well over six figures each year, while others choose to work as part-time insurance agents to earn some extra cash.
How many insurance agents quit?
You Don't Get Fired As A Life Insurance Agent... You Quit. We often hear about the statistic that 93% of agents leave this business within the first three years, but one thing that struck me during the live session is that agents don't actually fail out of this business.
What is the disadvantages 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.
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.
What kind of insurance agent gets paid the most?
- Reinsurance Accountant. ...
- Health Insurance Specialist. ...
- Insurance Broker. ...
- Liability Claims Representative. ...
- Insurance Adjuster. ...
- Insurance Manager. ...
- Final Expense Agent. Salary range: $62,500-$98,500 per year. ...
- Life Insurance Actuary. Salary range: $79,500-$98,500 per year.
How do life insurance agents get clients?
- Blog posts.
- Webinars.
- Professional partnerships.
- Client referrals.
- Google My Business.
- Paid ads.
Are life insurance agents in demand?
Job Outlook
Employment of insurance sales agents is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. About 47,100 openings for insurance sales agents are projected each year, on average, over the decade.