What is the turnover rate for insurance sales agents?

Asked by: Benny Buckridge  |  Last update: August 22, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (43 votes)

The burnout rate for life insurance sales agents is high. 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.

What is the failure rate for insurance agents?

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

What is the average turnover rate in the insurance industry?

Overall turnover rate in the finance and insurance industry was 25% in 2020, according to Zippia. And 43% of insurance talent employees surveyed by Deloitte say it's getting harder to find skilled candidates in a number of functional areas including claims.

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 is a good turnover rate for sales?

To begin, what is the right level of rep turnover? The average annual cross-industry sales rep turnover for B2B sales is 13.9% (this includes voluntary and involuntary). Given the high cost of turnover, best practice organizations aim to manage turnover closer to 8%.

Patrick Bet-David Gives Great Advice To New Insurance Agents!

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Which job has the highest turnover rate?

12 examples of high turnover jobs
  • Waiter. ...
  • Retail sales associate. ...
  • Technical support specialist. ...
  • Customer service representative. ...
  • HR specialist. ...
  • Accountant. ...
  • Nurse. ...
  • Software developer.

How long do people stay in sales for?

Hubspot found that sales reps stay with a company only 18 months on average before leaving for new opportunities. That means after 4 to 5 months of recruiting a new sales rep, followed by 15 months of onboarding and training, the average business will get only 3 months of top performance from them.

How long do most insurance agents last?

The burnout rate for life insurance sales agents is high. 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.

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 is 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.

What is the turnover of an insurance agent?

According to some estimates, approximately 30% of new insurance agents quit within three months. By the three-year mark, 87% of agents have either moved on to another company or left the industry altogether. Retaining skilled, experienced agents is a challenge all its own.

What is a realistic turnover rate?

According to Gallup, 10% turnover is healthy, but every industry and every organization is different.

Is there a shortage of insurance agents?

The shortage of experienced insurance professionals creates operational gaps that inhibit growth and increase policyholder risk. And while technology and automation can mitigate capacity constraints, true competitive advantage comes from deep insurance knowledge.

Why is selling insurance so hard?

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.

Will insurance agents become obsolete?

Independent insurance agencies are not going away. The human touch will remain crucial, especially when dealing with complex insurance products that require nuanced understanding and personal advice.

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 insurance sales makes the most money?

While there are many kinds of insurance (ranging from auto insurance to health insurance), the most lucrative career in the insurance field is for those selling life insurance.

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.

How much commission do insurance agents make per month?

In general, insurance agents are typically paid on a commission basis, which means that they earn a percentage of the premium paid by the policyholder. The average commission rate for insurance agents ranges from 10% to 20%, with some agents earn as much as 30% or more.

What is passive income for insurance agents?

Residual income is also called passive or recurring income. These are commissions tied to premium payments. The insurance company receives a commission by the time of the sale, then the agent receives an additional payment every time the policy holder renews the policy.

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.

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 rule of 7 in sales?

The Rule of 7 asserts that a potential customer should encounter a brand's marketing messages at least seven times before making a purchase decision. When it comes to engagement for your marketing campaign, this principle emphasizes the importance of repeated exposure for enhancing recognition and improving retention.

Why do sales reps quit?

According to the Sales Happiness Index, “43% of salespeople who want to leave their current job cited a lack of benefits and 31% cited a lack of bonuses. Additionally, 6 in 10 salespeople would be motivated to leave their company for better benefits, while 51% would be motivated to leave for higher pay.”

What are the worst months for sales?

January and February are typically considered the slowest months for retail as consumers recover from holiday spending and focus on post-holiday savings. According to statistics, e-commerce sales experienced a significant decline during the summer months, with a drop of up to 30% compared to the high sales of December.