Why did I quit being a life insurance agent?
Asked by: Mr. Rory Walter III | Last update: July 22, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (33 votes)
Why do most life insurance agents quit?
Failure to work hard is one of the top reasons people in this industry want to call it quits. While it's true that this job isn't easy, it's also true that it can be very rewarding when you allow it to be. As an insurance agent, you have daily opportunities to change your clients' lives for the better.
What percentage of insurance agents quit?
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 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.
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.
Why Do So Many Insurance Agents Quit?
Is there a shortage of life insurance agents?
But as the need for life agents intensifies, the industry last year—particularly in the early months of the pandemic—saw its number of agent recruits fall 6%, according to LIMRA.
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.
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."
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.
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 did I quit being an insurance broker?
There's two big reasons why insurance agents quit: they don't feel valued, and they aren't given the technology they need to do their jobs well. In addition, managing commissions while hitting performance goals is a stressful part of the job for many insurance agents.
What insurance company pays their agents the most?
- Allstate. 3.5. $42K - $67K. ...
- Platinum Supplemental Insurance. 3.2. $55K - $99K. ...
- Farmers Insurance Group. 3.2. $67K - $114K. ...
- New York Life. $97K - $176K. /yr. ...
- SelectQuote. 3.1. $55K - $93K. /yr. ...
- Bankers Life. $63K - $113K. /yr. $84K. ...
- USAA. $51K - $78K. /yr. $63K. ...
- American Income Life. 3.1. $68K - $122K. /yr.
How many people fail at selling life insurance?
A more accurate statement is that 93% of agents choose to leave within three years.
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.
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.
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%.
Which insurance license makes the most money?
- Insurance Agent.
- Insurance Underwriter.
- Actuary.
- Personal Finance Advisors.
- Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, and Investigators.
Which insurance company pays the highest commissions?
Some of the companies that offer high commission rates to their agents are HDFC Life, Max Life, ICICI Prudential, and Kotak Mahindra. These companies also have attractive incentive schemes and bonus programs for their top-performing agents.
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.
What is the most profitable 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.
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.
What is the best time of day to sell life insurance?
According to a study by CallHippo, the best time to cold call is between 4:00-5:00 pm, followed by the second best time to cold call between 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. Wednesday tends to be the best day to cold call your prospects.
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.
Is there a high demand for life insurance agents?
Job Outlook
Employment of insurance sales agents is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.