How to Sell Insurance

Selling insurance has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry, and knowing how to sell insurance can be a lucrative career. You just have to have the right marketing strategies down to grow your business and become an effective sales person. Diversify your approach to ensure you’re training yourself appropriately, covering all marketing bases, reaching all customers, and maximizing your business. Selling insurance has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry, and knowing how to sell insurance can be a lucrative career. You just have to have the right marketing strategies down to grow your business and become an effective sales person. Diversify your approach to ensure you’re training yourself appropriately, covering all marketing bases, reaching all customers, and maximizing your business.

This article discusses the following info :

  • Apply for the state licensing.
  • Get a Series 6 certification.
  • Obtain supplemental insurance certifications.
  • Get paid for short-term jobs.

1
Apply for the state licensing. Make sure that you have the appropriate licenses in order to be able to sell life, health, and/or property and casualty insurance. You can obtain your state licensing through numerous testing companies and centers. Most require 40 hours of study before you can sit and take the test. There are also timing restrictions between opportunities to take the exam if you do not pass it on the first try.
  • Formal education is not a prerequisite for selling insurance.
2
Get a Series 6 certification. The Series 6 is certification that measures whether a person beginning in the financial industry has investment and contract competency. Some forms of insurance, like variable life insurance, require a Series 6 to solicit, purchase, and sell. While the Series 6 is designed more for traditional investments like mutual funds and annuities, it also covers life insurance that acts as an investment
3
Obtain supplemental insurance certifications. Having a few extra certifications displays your personal investment into understanding the intricacies of insurance, as well as your desire to understand every way to help your customers. Think of it as continuing education, and a way to stand out above other agents. Here are a few options:
  • The Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) focuses on various insurance principles (e.g. insurance organization, retirement, estate planning) and ethics related to client's needs.
  • A person with a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) certification has skills in not only insurance, but also various investment vehicles.
  • The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) course covers life insurance law and customers’ insurance needs.
4
Get paid for short-term jobs. If you don't like the idea of a regular job, but you are willing to spend a few hours a day working online or visiting different locations around town, you might be able to make a fair amount of money. Before signing up for any job, make sure you understand exactly how you will be paid.
  • Participate in mock juries or focus groups. Some of these might require you to appear in person, but others can be done online. You'll get paid for listening to a presentation and sharing your thoughts.
  • Online surveys are quick and easy ways to make a few bucks.
  • If you like surfing the web, you might enjoy getting paid to test new websites and share your opinions.
  • Mystery shopping is a great option for you if you love to shop and eat out at restaurants. All you have to do is frequent a business, act like a normal customer, and then share some details about your experience with the company. Depending on the job, you might be paid and/or you might receive free goods or services from the business. You can look for opportunities through individual business or search for listings through organizations such as the Mystery Shopping Providers Association.