What is a licensed insurance agent?

Asked by: Kristina Shanahan  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.8/5 (73 votes)

A licensed insurance agent/producer is someone who sells insurance on behalf of an insurance company. An insurance broker, on the other hand, works on behalf of their clients rather than on behalf of insurance companies (read more about the differences between an insurance agent/producer and broker here).

What does certified insurance agent do?

A licensed insurance agent sells a variety of insurance policies to customers based on the customer's needs. Licensed insurance agents typically specialize in one or two types of insurance, such as car and home insurance or health and life insurance.

What do you call a licensed insurance agent?

“Insurance agent” is the term used most often in the industry, but “insurance producer” is often the official title that states use for licensing.

Do insurance agents make good money?

According to that data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: The median annual wage for insurance agents was $48,150. The highest paid 10% of insurance agents earned more than $116,940 annually. The lowest paid 10% of insurance agents earned less than $26,120 annually.

How do you become an insurance agent?

How to become a licensed insurance agent
  1. Decide what kind of insurance agent you want to be. ...
  2. Decide which insurance products you will sell. ...
  3. Review your state's licensing requirements. ...
  4. Take an insurance license exam. ...
  5. Submit your licensing application and background check.

Life and Health Insurance Agent TIPS FOR BEGINNERS (3 Things You MUST KNOW Before Getting a License)

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How much do insurance agents make per policy?

Annual commissions for auto insurance range from 10 to 12.5 per cent, although a few firms pay up to 13.5 per cent. Property insurance offers commissions of 20 to 23 per cent. So if you use an insurance broker and pay $1,000 annually to insure your home, upward of $200 a year would be going to the broker.

What is the most profitable insurance to sell?

The Most Profitable Insurance to Sell
  • It should not come as a big surprise that auto insurance is the best selling and most profitable insurance product. ...
  • Property or home insurance typically covers anything that can pose a risk to your clients' property like theft, flood, fire, and inclement weather.

Can you get rich selling insurance?

There's no limit to how much you can make selling insurance provided you have the passion and commitment to put in the extra work. However, insurance sale is a lucrative business that can earn you substantial profit margins once everything is up and running.

Why do insurance agents quit?

Most agents quit because they can't get enough sales to support themselves and their families. The only way to change that is to learn how to get more leads, better leads, and follow up on them. People go on fact-finding missions online. They don't care who answers their question, as long as they get answers.

Are insurance agents in demand?

Employment of insurance sales agents is projected to grow 7 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 50,400 openings for insurance sales agents are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Who makes more money insurance agent or broker?

Typically earn more commission from insurance companies than captive agents who enjoy more stability. Pay their own overhead costs for running an independent business.

What are the different types of insurance agents?

There are two types of insurance agents:
  • Captive Agents. Captive agents work for one insurance company either full-time or as independent contractors. ...
  • Independent Agents. ...
  • Retail Brokers. ...
  • Wholesale Brokers. ...
  • Surplus Lines Brokers.

Is being an insurance agent hard?

Actually, hard-working insurance agents regularly earn over $100,000 in their first year. Life insurance agents enjoy a lucrative career, but it does involve a constant hustle, networking, and sales in evenings and on weekends and general hard work. ... You may love to network but find it challenging to close sales.

How do life insurance agents get paid?

Most professionals who sell insurance are paid largely on a commission basis. In fact, most agents aren't even employees of the carrier. More often than not, they're independent contractors who are compensated based on how much they sell, with higher commissions for certain types of products.

What does an insurance agent do on a daily basis?

The daily tasks of an insurance agent

Ensure all paperwork is filled out and properly filed in order to put policies in place. Customize insurance policies to meet your client's needs. Ensure all policy requirements are fulfilled. Inspect properties to evaluate current conditions and decide on potential risk.

Is a insurance agent a good career?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for insurance sales agents is positive, with an estimated growth rate of 5% between 2019 and 2029. This number amounts to 27,500 new jobs, marking a higher growth estimate than average for all occupations.

Why do so many insurance agents fail?

The number one secondary reason agents quit selling insurance was that they ran out of money. The second most common secondary reason agents failed selling insurance was that they ran out of prospects to sell to. The third reason was the agency wasn't a good fit. And the fourth was personal issues.

Are insurance agents happy?

Insurance sales agents are one of the least happy careers in the United States. ... As it turns out, insurance sales agents rate their career happiness 2.3 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 2% of careers.

Can you sell life insurance from home?

In general, you can sell insurance from home as long as you are licensed to do so in your state. The average annual income for a “Licensed Insurance Agent Work From Home” in the US is $64,435. The most common insurance to sell is auto insurance, home insurance, life insurance and health insurance.

Can insurance agents make millions?

Insurance agents can make more than a million dollars per year, but most don't because they focus on marketing to people they know and rely heavily on referrals. Insurance agents that obtain online insurance leads open the door to becoming financially free.

Which insurance company is best to be an agent for?

Here are some of the best insurance carriers that accept independent insurance agents.
  • National General Insurance.
  • Nationwide Insurance.
  • Markel Insurance.
  • Progressive Insurance.
  • Selective Insurance Group.
  • The Hanover Insurance Group.
  • Travelers.
  • West Bend Mutual Insurance Company.

Who is the highest paid insurance agent?

Meet the world's highest earning insurance agent. What's this? Gideon du Plessis failed in the 10th standard and never went to college. He is today the highest earning insurance agent in the world, with annual commissions amounting to Rs 7 crore (Rs 70 million) plus.

Do insurance agents make residual income?

An insurance broker or agent will often earn a lump sum percentage against the first-year premium of a policy that they sell and then a smaller but ongoing annual residual income payment over the policy's life.

Is insurance a good business?

Due to the low barriers of entry, insurance sales is a good career choice for people who are transitioning into a new career following a major life change. ... A college degree is preferred but is not required in many insurance firms. Unlike many other finance-related positions, prior experience is also not required.