What is the hardest part about selling life insurance?

Asked by: Prof. Ada O'Connell  |  Last update: July 10, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (24 votes)

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.

Why is life insurance so hard to sell?

Selling insurance is difficult for a number of reasons. Most of the time when people buy something it is tangible and they can see it in front of them where with insurance it is not. The buyer is purchasing something that covers risk which many do not believe they need to pay for until something goes wrong.

Is selling life insurance stressful?

However, it can also be stressful, as sales targets and client expectations can sometimes be demanding. The job requires patience, persistence, and empathy, as you navigate through various policies and ensure clients understand their options.

What is the hardest part of being an insurance agent?

What is the hardest part of being an insurance agent? The hardest part of being an insurance agent often revolves around the constant need for lead generation and sales. Many agents struggle with the cold calling aspect, where rejection is frequent, and maintaining a steady stream of new clients can be challenging.

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).

Sell More Life Insurance with These 3 Simple Questions

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How many people fail at selling life insurance?

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

What are the cons of being an insurance agent?

Cons of a career selling insurance
  • 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.

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 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.

Which insurance license is hardest to get?

Each insurance licensing exam presents its own challenge. Between Life and Health, students say that the Health insurance exam is the more difficult. Health insurance policies are simply more complicated than life insurance policies. The Property insurance exam is easier than the Casualty insurance exam.

How fast can you make 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.

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."

How to sell life insurance easily?

Follow These Tips and Find Out How to Sell Life Insurance Successfully
  1. Know Your Product. As a life insurance agent, knowing your product inside out is critical. ...
  2. Personalize Your Pitch. ...
  3. Leverage Verified Leads. ...
  4. Build Trust with Prospects. ...
  5. Use Digital Marketing Strategies. ...
  6. Overcoming Objections. ...
  7. The Art of Closing.

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.

Is becoming a life insurance agent worth it?

The Bottom Line

Those who have a knack for selling life insurance, and the perseverance to grind through the tough early years, can make a lot of money and retire with a high degree of financial worth. However, life insurance agents, to be successful, must accept short-term pain in exchange for long-term gain.

Do insurance agents get a base salary?

Insurance agents usually make money through commissions, with the commission amount often depending on the type and number of insurance policies they have sold and whether these policies are new or renewals.

What is the average age of insurance agents?

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

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.

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 lucrative type of 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.

Why do most life insurance agents fail?

The most commonly cited reason insurance agents fail is that they fail to listen to their customers and take the time to find the best product to suit their needs. Agents who bring the right solutions to customers build trust, and that helps them build a book of loyal customers.

What not to do as an insurance agent?

Don't: Sell on Social Media. Insurance and financial services agents are limited to what and how they can advertise their products and services. For example, cold calling and going door-to-door are no-nos, as are soliciting at colleges, clinics, and certain places.

Why is selling insurance so hard?

There is a very high turnover rate in insurance sales & you have to constantly keep up with rules changing, plan changes, etc. Being a broker means you can offer people the plan that works best for their needs, not just shove the one company you're contracted with in their face knowing better is actually out there.

What skills does an insurance agent need?

Important Qualities
  • Analytical skills. Insurance sales agents must evaluate the needs of each client to determine the appropriate insurance policy.
  • Communication skills. Insurance sales agents must listen to clients and be able to clearly explain suitable policies.
  • Initiative. ...
  • Interpersonal skills. ...
  • Self-confidence.

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.