Why is life insurance hard to sell?
Asked by: Brannon Halvorson | Last update: December 25, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (60 votes)
What is the hardest part about selling life insurance?
Selling life insurance is challenging because it involves discussing sensitive topics like death and financial planning, which many potential customers are uncomfortable or reluctant to think about.
How hard is it to sell life insurance?
Selling insurance isn't easy. It takes 3 to 10 years to build this business, and that depends on the time you have and your network you're surrounded by that are good potential clients.
Why do most life insurance agents fail?
New life agents fail because of how life insurance commissions are paid. Life agents can receive up to 110% of a policies first year commission. This can lead to a high income but once you run out of your natural market it is hard to maintain that level of activity.
How much can you sell a $100,000 life insurance policy for?
A typical life settlement is worth around 20% of your policy value, but can range from 10-25%. So for a 100,000 dollar policy, you would be looking at anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 dollars.
If I Wanted to Become a Millionaire In 2025, I'd Do This
Can you become a millionaire selling life insurance?
If you have a great work ethic and are willing to place yourself out there to establish relationships with clients, you will get more opportunities to earn a higher income. Selling insurance may even make you a millionaire.
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 success rate of selling life insurance?
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.
Which life insurance company denies the most claims?
- Allstate. We know you have seen the ads. ...
- Unum. Unum is a leading disability insurance provider in the United States has a reputation for denied and delayed insurance claims – even when claims include their own employees. ...
- State Farm. ...
- AIG. ...
- Anthem. ...
- Farmers Insurance Group. ...
- UnitedHealth. ...
- USAA.
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 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?
In the first year, a life insurance agent can earn anywhere from 30% to 90% of this premium, along with 5% to 10% of premiums paid in later years.
How to sell life insurance easily?
- Know Your Product. As a life insurance agent, knowing your product inside out is critical. ...
- Personalize Your Pitch. ...
- Leverage Verified Leads. ...
- Build Trust with Prospects. ...
- Use Digital Marketing Strategies. ...
- Overcoming Objections. ...
- The Art of Closing.
Who is the greatest life insurance salesman?
Ben Feldman (September 7, 1912 – November 7, 1993) was an American businessman and one of the most prolific salespeople in history. As early as 1979, Feldman had sold more life insurance than anyone in history.
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."
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 the risk of selling life insurance?
Creditors might be able to claim the money you receive from selling your life insurance. Benefits could be threatened: Are you receiving government benefits such as SNAP benefits or Medicaid? You'll want to make sure that you won't lose those benefits if you receive money from a life insurance settlement sale.
Is it worth it to be a life insurance agent?
Another factor that makes life insurance a good career path is the opportunity to earn a high salary with strong growth potential. Life insurance agents and brokers, in particular, generate commission-based incomes that are among the highest in the entire insurance industry.
Is it stressful to be 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.
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.
Who is the richest insurance agents?
- Berkshire Hathaway's, Warren Buffet. ...
- Patrick Ryan of the Ryan Specialty Group. ...
- Erie Indemnity Chairman, Thomas Hagen. ...
- W.R. Berkley's William R. ...
- Mark and Robyn Jones of Goosehead Insurance. ...
- Brown & Brown's, J. ...
- Mercury General's, George Joseph. ...
- Henry Engelhardt of the Admiral Group.
How much a month is a $500,000 whole life insurance policy?
How much does whole life insurance cost? A $500,000 whole life insurance policy costs an average of $451 per month for a 30-year-old non-smoker in good health. If you get whole life insurance, the premiums you'll pay may vary based on factors like your age, health, gender, and the type of policy you get.
Do you pay taxes on life insurance?
Generally, life insurance proceeds you receive as a beneficiary due to the death of the insured person, aren't includable in gross income and you don't have to report them. However, any interest you receive is taxable and you should report it as interest received.
Why do millionaires get whole life insurance?
Whole life insurance can provide tax-free dividends
For someone looking to build up wealth to cash in on during retirement, Secco says that dividends can accumulate over time and be used as a tax-free pool of money. However, Secco says that using life insurance as a savings vehicle is a long-term strategy.