What percent of insurance agents fail?

Asked by: Dr. Adrienne Tremblay DDS  |  Last update: August 23, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (53 votes)

The Key To New Agent Insurance Sales Success! Dear Friends, Around 80% of new insurance agents hired by independent marketing organizations fail and quit within their first 12 months of getting their license. And then within 5 years, 80% of the remaining new insurance agents will struggle and quit!

What is the success rate for insurance agents?

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.

How many insurance agents fail?

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

What is the turnover rate for insurance agents?

Nearly 90% of agents across various lines of insurance, including life, quit within three years, according to life insurance agency management system provider AgencyBloc.

Why do so many 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).

Biggest Reason Why Insurance Agents Fail [5 Steps To Avoid]

19 related questions found

Is life insurance the hardest thing to sell?

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 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.

Do insurance agents make 6 figures?

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.

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 company has the highest turnover rate?

A new Payscale report published on Thursday ranked Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company as having the highest turnover rate out of all of the Fortune 500 companies. Average employee tenure was a little over nine months.

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 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.

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.

Is insurance agent a stressful job?

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.

Do insurance agents get paid a lot?

Insurance agents earn a mean annual salary of $79,650 or an hourly rate of $37, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While starting wages can be significantly lower than this number, industry veterans with an established client network can easily earn a six-figure salary.

Can you make a living as an insurance agent?

A career selling insurance can be a good way to make money. It provides many opportunities to earn a high income with strong potential for growth. Because your income will mostly come from commissions, there can be no limit to how much you earn.

Can insurance agents make 100k?

An agent selling one or two policies per week at this commission level could make $50,000 to $100,000 in their first year as an agent.

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.

What age group pays the most for insurance?

On average, teens pay over three times more than the average driver, making them the most expensive age group to insure. So, if you're a parent with a teen driver, you understand the struggle of finding affordable insurance for your young driver.

What kind of insurance agent gets paid the most?

High Paying Insurance Jobs
  • 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 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 best job to have in insurance?

Some of the best jobs in the insurance industry include:
  • Loan processor. ...
  • Insurance adjuster. ...
  • Insurance agent. ...
  • I nsurance broker. ...
  • Loss control consultant. ...
  • Underwriter. ...
  • Actuary. ...
  • Risk manager.

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 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 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.