
Selling life insurance from home can be a game-changer for those who want to break free from the 9-to-5 grind. With the right tools and mindset, you can build a successful career as a life insurance agent without ever having to leave your house.
In fact, many life insurance companies have adapted to the changing market by offering remote sales options. This means you can work from the comfort of your own home and still reach a large client base.
To get started, you'll need to invest in a reliable computer and high-speed internet connection. This will allow you to stay connected with clients and access online sales platforms.
With the right setup, you can work efficiently and effectively from home, making sales and growing your business.
Getting Started with Life Insurance Sales
To get started with life insurance sales, you'll need to put together a resume that highlights your entrepreneurial spirit. This means including anything that shows you taking initiative to make things happen, whether it was starting your own business or taking someone else's business to the next level.
You'll also want to start finding positions and applying, but don't feel pressured to take the first position that comes along. Working for the wrong company can burn you out and haunt you for the rest of your insurance career.
Researching insurance company ratings is a good idea - visit the insurance company rating websites for AM Best, Moody's, or Standard & Poor's to build a list of companies with ratings of "A" or higher in your state. These companies typically offer the most secure products at reasonable prices.
Meet Licensing Requirements
To get started with life insurance sales, you'll need to meet the licensing requirements of the state where you plan to sell. This typically involves obtaining a license from the state's insurance department.
First, you'll need to research the specific requirements for your state, as they may vary. This can be a bit of a challenge, but it's essential to get it right.

You'll need to apply for a license through the state's insurance department, which will involve submitting an application and paying a fee. The fee amount will depend on your state's regulations.
Before you can apply for a license, you'll need to complete a pre-licensing course, which will cover the basics of life insurance and the sales process. This course will give you a solid foundation to build on as you start your career in life insurance sales.
Minimal Entry Barriers
Getting Started with Life Insurance Sales is a career that can be fulfilling, especially when you consider the opportunity to change lives for families in need.
To start your career, you'll need to comply with licensing requirements, which vary by state.
Some life insurance companies prefer candidates with a college degree, but sales roles don't necessarily require one.
Most insurers implement mentorship and training programs to help new hires prepare for their jobs.
Benefits of Selling from Home
Selling life insurance from home can be a great way to grow your business, and one of the main benefits is that it allows you to rededicate the time you would've otherwise spent on your commute to growing your life insurance business.
You'll also find that you're free from the distractions of a traditional office setup, which can increase your productivity.
Selling life insurance from home can also help you save money, as you'll no longer have to spend money on transportation, meals, and wardrobe expenses.
With the flexibility to work from home, you'll be able to choose when and how much time you spend on your work.
Here are some of the benefits of selling life insurance from home:
- Rededication of commute time to growing your business
- Increased productivity due to fewer office distractions
- Reduced expenses on transportation, meals, and wardrobe
- Greater flexibility in work time and amount of time spent on work
Challenges of Home-Based Selling
Selling life insurance from home can be a bit of a challenge, especially when it comes to finding the right space. You may need to allocate a portion of your home to your business, which can be difficult if you don’t have a lot of extra space in your house.
Working from home can also feel isolating, especially if you’re operating your business on your own and don’t have any co-workers to talk to. The lack of community can be stressful for some agents, making it harder to stay motivated and focused.
If you're not tech-savvy, you may need to invest time in learning how to maintain your equipment, which can be frustrating if you're already busy with sales calls and paperwork.
Drawbacks of Home-Based Selling
Selling life insurance from home can be a challenging venture, and it's essential to consider the drawbacks before diving in. You may need to allocate a portion of your home to your business, which can be difficult if you don't have a lot of extra space in your house.
Selling life insurance from home can feel isolating, especially if you're operating your business on your own and don't have any co-workers to talk to. This lack of community can be stressful for some agents.

You'll also need to be responsible for maintaining your equipment, which requires a certain level of technological know-how. Even small technical issues can lead to frustration and impact your productivity.
Here are some of the common drawbacks of selling life insurance from home:
- You may need to allocate a portion of your home to your business.
- Selling life insurance from home can feel isolating.
- The lack of community can be stressful for some agents.
- You'll need to maintain your equipment and have technological know-how.
Difficulty in Finding
Finding leads is a significant challenge for home-based sellers. It can be difficult to find new customers on your own.
Life insurance agents, for example, often have to find their own leads. This can be a time-consuming and frustrating process.
There's a strong likelihood that the leads you find may have already been contacted by other agents. This makes it harder to stand out and close deals.
Paying for exclusive leads can be expensive. In fact, if you choose this route, you may need to have a very high close rate just to break even.
Career Drawbacks
Working long hours under pressure is a significant drawback of a career selling life insurance. Many agents and brokers experience stress and burnout due to the competitive work environment.

Meeting different targets and quotas can be overwhelming, leading to a high-stress job. This can take a toll on one's mental and physical health.
Life insurance sales require a lot of hard work and dedication, which can be exhausting. The constant pressure to perform can make it difficult to maintain a work-life balance.
Agents and brokers often face rejection and criticism, which can be discouraging. This can lead to feelings of frustration and burnout.
Selling from Home
Selling life insurance from home can be a great option for those who want to work independently.
You'll need to be willing to put in the effort to grow your business, as the competition is fierce and you may experience rejection before a successful sale.
Fortunately, there are steps you can follow to start selling life insurance from home.
You can start by following a step-by-step guide that outlines the process of selling life insurance from home.
Some of the benefits of selling life insurance from home include being able to rededicate time that would've otherwise been spent on your commute to growing your business.
You may also find that you can increase your productivity because you're free from the distractions of a traditional office setup.
Selling life insurance from home can also help you save money by reducing your transportation, meal, and wardrobe expenses.
There's greater flexibility in the time and amount of time you spend on work when selling from home.
Here are some of the benefits of selling life insurance from home:
- Rededicate time that would've otherwise been spent on your commute to growing your business.
- Increased productivity due to fewer distractions.
- Savings on transportation, meal, and wardrobe expenses.
- Greater flexibility in work time and amount.
Career Development
Life insurance sales can be a fulfilling career, especially with the high demand for life policies. This means there are plenty of opportunities to work in the sector.
Job security is a significant advantage in this field, as people are seeking coverage and insurance companies need sales professionals to meet this demand. With the right skills and training, you can build a stable and successful career.
To succeed in life insurance sales, it's essential to stay up-to-date with industry developments and trends, which can help you better understand customer needs and preferences.
Job Security
Life policies are among the most in-demand insurance products, making them a secure career choice. This is due to the large number of people seeking coverage.
The job market in the insurance sector is thriving. There are plenty of opportunities to work in the sector.
Is a Good Career Path Necessary?
A good career path can make all the difference in your professional life. It's essential to consider whether a particular career is a good fit for you.
Choosing a career that aligns with your strengths and interests can lead to job satisfaction and long-term success. A career in life insurance sales, for instance, requires weighing pros and cons.
A role in insurance sales can be rewarding, but it also comes with its share of challenges. To determine if this career path is right for you, consider the advantages and disadvantages of working in insurance sales.
Having a good career path can lead to personal and financial growth, but it's not the only factor to consider. Your career choice should also take into account your lifestyle and goals.
Benefits of Career
Having a fulfilling career can bring numerous benefits to your life. Research shows that employees who are engaged in their work have 23% higher sales and 21% higher profitability.
A career that matches your skills and passions can lead to a sense of purpose and satisfaction. According to a study, 70% of employees who are engaged in their work feel a sense of purpose.
With a stable career, you'll have the financial security to pursue your interests and hobbies. A survey found that 75% of employees who are financially secure have more time for leisure activities.
Career development can also lead to new opportunities and challenges. A study found that employees who switch careers or take on new roles experience a 20% increase in salary.
Having a fulfilling career can also improve your mental and physical health. Research shows that employees who are engaged in their work have lower levels of stress and anxiety.
Investing time and effort into your career can lead to long-term success and achievement. A study found that employees who are committed to their career goals achieve 30% more than those who are not.
Want to Boost Your Team?
To supercharge your sales team, you need to equip them with the right call center technology. This includes features like integrations, which allow you to streamline your sales process and make it more efficient.
Arming yourself with relevant knowledge is crucial for success. This means staying up-to-date on best practices for selling life insurance over the phone, such as creating well-thought-out life insurance scripts and personalizing your sales pitch.
The best times to call your prospects are often during off-peak hours when they're more likely to be available. This can vary depending on your target audience, but it's essential to find a schedule that works for your team.
To overcome objections like a pro, you need to be prepared to handle common concerns and have a clear response ready. This can be achieved by learning from past interactions and improving your sales strategy.
Here are some key takeaways to boost your team:
Commission and Income
As a life insurance sales agent, your income can be unpredictable and depends on the number of successful sales you make.
Insurance sales are commission-based, which means your next paycheck can be difficult to predict. Your income will depend on the number of successful sales you make.
You can earn a 90% commission on whole life policies in the first year, which is a significant amount. For example, if you sell a policy that costs $1,200 per year, you'll make a $1,080 commission.
A great work ethic and willingness to establish relationships with clients can be rewarded with higher earnings. In fact, insurance sales roles offer opportunities to earn higher income that has strong potential for growth.
Front-loaded commissions can range from 40% to up to 115% of the policy's first-year premiums. This means you can earn a significant amount of money in the first year, especially if you're selling high-premium policies.
However, renewal commissions fall steeply to about 1% or 2% after the policy's third year. This means you may need to constantly sell new policies to maintain a steady income.
You can earn up to 100% commission in the first year if you're on a commission-only salary, which is the highest commission for any type of insurance.
Selling Techniques
The right closing technique can make the difference between a successful sale and coming off as a pushy salesperson.
Every interaction with a prospect lends insight into their needs and preferences, which can help you determine the best closing technique.
If you're paying attention, you can use this information to lead you to the best closing technique for a successful sale.
As you gain experience with sales appointments, you'll get better at determining the best closing technique for a particular prospect early on in the sales process.
Develop Empathy
Developing empathy is key to understanding your clients' needs. Empathy allows you to identify the right form of coverage every client needs.
To establish a strong professional relationship with your clients, you need to build a connection with them. This can be achieved by asking open-ended questions and actively listening to their responses.
A successful life insurance sales professional depends largely on the kind of relationship they build with their customers. Building trust and rapport is essential to making a sale.
Empathy helps you to understand your clients' pain points and provide them with the right solution. This can be done by asking questions like "How are you doing today?" and actively listening to their response.
Establishing a successful career in life insurance requires keeping abreast of the latest developments in the sector. This can be achieved by regularly visiting and bookmarking the Life & Health Insurance News section.
By putting yourself in your clients' shoes, you can better understand their needs and provide them with the right coverage. This can lead to a stronger professional relationship and ultimately, a successful sale.
Personalize Your Pitch
Developing a personalized sales pitch can make all the difference in building trust and rapport with prospects and improving conversion rates. This approach helps you reveal critical information about your prospects and adjust your pitch accordingly.
Asking open-ended questions throughout the conversation can help you gather the necessary information to personalize your pitch. This technique is especially useful when cold calling, as you may not have detailed data about your prospects initially.
Personalization can increase retention when dealing with existing customers. According to Accenture, insurers that offer personalized experiences see an 81% increase in customer retention and an 89% increase in customer engagement.
To personalize your pitch, use examples from real-life scenarios. For instance, you can use life insurance sales script examples that showcase how to tailor your pitch to specific situations.
A well-crafted personalized pitch can make a significant difference in the outcome of a sales conversation. By asking open-ended questions and adjusting your pitch accordingly, you can build trust and rapport with your prospects and improve conversion rates.
Handle Objections Like a Pro
Handling objections is an inevitable part of the sales process. You need to be ready to anticipate and handle them professionally.
In fact, agents will face multiple objections along the way, including cost concerns, perceived lack of need, misconceptions about coverage, and overall skepticism about insurance companies. To make life easier for your reps, including effective responses in your script templates is a must.
Some common objections agents may encounter include: "I already have enough coverage through my employer", "I'm young and healthy, so I don't need life insurance", and "It's too expensive. I have other financial priorities right now."
To overcome these objections, agents can use phrases like "I get it, it seems expensive. But let's think about the long-term value of the life insurance plan, like financial security for your family and tax benefits." This approach helps to shift the focus from the initial cost to the overall benefits of the policy.
Here are some common objections and effective responses to help you handle them like a pro:
By being prepared to handle objections and using effective responses, you can turn potential roadblocks into opportunities to build trust and close more sales.
Create Well-Thought-Out
Creating well-thought-out life insurance sales scripts is crucial to navigating conversations with confidence and ensuring no important information gets overlooked. With well-crafted scripts, agents can effectively communicate their message and address common concerns and objections.
Scripts should include an opening statement, purpose of the call, needs assessment, product introduction, and closing with a clear call-to-action. This structure helps agents maintain consistency across all conversations.
A good opening statement is essential, as it greets the prospect and briefly introduces yourself and your insurance company. For instance, "Hi [Prospect Name], my name is [Agent Name] with [Company Name]."
To create a successful life insurance sales script, you should also include a needs assessment section, where you ask open-ended questions to understand the prospect's needs, pain points, and challenges. This helps you tailor your sales pitch to their specific needs.
Here's a list of key points your life insurance sales script should include:
- Opening statement
- Purpose of the call
- Needs assessment
- Product introduction
- Closing and CTA
By following this structure, you can create effective life insurance sales scripts that help you build strong relationships with your customers and increase your chances of success.
Lead Generation and Follow-up
Generating leads is a challenge in the life insurance industry, with only 2% of sales happening during the first point of contact. Most customers reject four times before making a purchase decision, but 80% of sales deals take five or more follow-ups to close.
You can find great ideas on how to generate life insurance leads by creating a lead generation strategy, which is crucial in a highly saturated market. Life insurance agents often compete for a few qualified prospects, making it essential to have a sound strategy to catch their attention.
A good follow-up strategy is also crucial, with 44% of sales reps stopping after the first unsuccessful attempt. However, giving up after the first 'no' from a prospect might be a missed opportunity, as 60% of customers reject four times before finally making a purchase decision.
Create a Lead Generation Strategy
Finding good leads is the lifeline of a career in insurance sales. It's crucial to have a sound strategy to catch the attention of potential buyers before your competition does.
Generating leads in a highly saturated market like life insurance can be a challenge. You can find great ideas on how to generate life insurance leads in a comprehensive guide.
Purchasing aged leads in bulk is a viable option to get a leg up on your competition. This can boost your pipeline with thousands of qualified, high-quality leads that you can start calling right away.
A quicker sales funnel isn't about pressuring prospects, it's about working smarter. Target the right leads, qualify, ask the right questions, and know when to close.
Having a solid lead generation strategy is essential to success in life insurance sales. It's better to focus on generating leads through purchasing aged leads in bulk rather than spending time and resources generating them yourself.
Consistent Follow-up with Prospects
Consistent follow-up with prospects is key to closing deals. Only 2% of sales happen during the first point of contact, but 80% of sales deals take five or more follow-ups to close.
Following up consistently can address any remaining questions or concerns and move the prospect closer to making a purchase decision. It's been shown that 44% of sales reps stop after the first unsuccessful attempt, which can be a missed opportunity.
You can start by making a follow-up call, asking questions like "Hi [Customer Name], I’m [Agent Name] from [Company Name]. I see you’ve been with us since [year]. How has that been?" This shows you've taken the time to review their account and are genuinely interested in their experience.
It's essential to be prepared with a follow-up strategy, as you won't get the sale every time. You can craft effective follow-up messages and leverage technology by automating emails and reminders to stay on top of your prospects.
In fact, 60% of customers reject four times before finally making a purchase decision. This means that giving up after the first 'no' from a prospect might be a missed opportunity. By following up consistently, you can turn a prospect into a customer.
Warm Lead Example #1
A warm lead is a prospect who has already shown interest in your product or service, in this case, life insurance. They've likely visited your website, requested information, or shown a willingness to learn more.
The key is to follow up with them quickly and provide value, as seen in Example 1. An agent starts by acknowledging the prospect's interest and providing additional information. They also ask if the prospect has a few seconds to learn more, showing respect for their time.
Qualifying leads is crucial, and it's essential to ask the right questions to determine their needs and interests. This helps you tailor your approach and increase the chances of making a sale. A quicker sales funnel can also be achieved by targeting the right leads and working smarter, not harder.
Purchasing aged leads in bulk can be a cost-effective way to build your call list, but it's essential to ensure the leads are relevant and targeted.
Closing the Deal
As a life insurance agent, you have daily opportunities to help every contact in your sales funnel while supporting yourself financially. Closing lots of life insurance sales benefits you and your loved ones, and it also benefits your clients.
It's essential to ask qualifying questions to get your prospect thinking about their true motivations for buying life insurance. This could be due to a recent death in the family, having children, or starting a company. Finding out the motivation gets you closer to scheduling a follow-up appointment that will eventually lead to closing the sale.
The sooner you answer your prospect's objections and address their needs, the faster you'll be able to close another sale. Mastering this back-and-forth takes some skill and practice, but with focused attention, you'll get there faster.
Why Improve Closing Skills?
Improving your closing skills is crucial for success in your life insurance sales career. Closing lots of life insurance sales benefits you and your loved ones.
As a life insurance agent, you have daily opportunities to help every contact in your sales funnel while supporting yourself financially. This is a win-win situation for everyone involved.
The proper closing strategy can make a massive difference in finalizing a sale. Implementing closing tips can have a big impact on your career.
You'll be able to schedule more follow-up appointments and eventually close more sales. This is especially true when you ask qualifying questions to get your prospect thinking about their true motivations for buying.
Trial Close
The trial close is a valuable technique in life insurance sales, and it's not as scary as it sounds. It involves giving a prospect a trial period to test out the product to see if they like it.
Every life insurance policy has a built-in free-look period, which is a window of time, usually between ten and thirty days, depending on state law, during which customers can cancel their policy. This free-look period is a natural fit for a trial close.
Using a trial close may alleviate some of the fear and hesitation associated with signing a life insurance application at the end of your presentation. It's a way to make the prospect feel more comfortable with their decision.
Trial close isn't a popular choice for salespeople, but it can be an effective way to close a sale. It's worth considering, especially if you're struggling to close deals.
Scale Close
Scaling close is a technique used to gauge a prospect's readiness to buy.
You can use a scale close to determine whether a prospect is ready to buy a life insurance policy. This involves asking them to rate the policy you recommend on a scale of 1-10.
A rating on the lower end indicates that you need to spend more time nurturing the prospect, while a high rating signals that you should start an application.
Here's a quick rundown of how a scale close can help you gauge a prospect's temperature:
By using a scale close, you can refine your presentation and tailor it to the prospect's needs, increasing the chances of closing the deal.
Closing Strategies
Closing strategies are crucial in life insurance sales, and finding the right approach can make a significant difference in closing a sale. A quicker sales funnel isn't about pressuring prospects, but about working smarter by targeting the right leads, qualifying them, and knowing when to close.
To master the closing process, it's essential to identify the prospect's motivation and address their needs with a motivating solution. A benefit of the sales process is that every interaction lends insight into the future customer, allowing you to determine the best closing technique early on.
Here are five closing techniques to consider: the trial close, summary close, and three others. The trial close is particularly effective for life insurance sales, as it leverages the free-look period required by law, allowing customers to cancel their policy within a certain timeframe.
Urgency and Scarcity
Urgency and Scarcity is a powerful closing technique that leverages the fear of missing out. Most of us have purchased something because we fear missing out, whether it's a sale ending soon or a limited quantity of a product.
This technique can be effective in the insurance industry by sharing statistics or trends that indicate the cost of life insurance may be going up. By keeping an eye on evolving regulations, you can educate a prospect on the benefit of purchasing a particular product now rather than later.
Avoid exaggerating claims or guilt-tripping your prospects, as these tactics are bound to backfire.
5 Closing Techniques
As a life insurance agent, mastering the art of closing sales is crucial to success. Closing lots of life insurance sales benefits you and your loved ones, but it also benefits your clients.
To perfect your close, it's essential to understand the motivations of your prospects. Find out what drives them beyond trying to protect their family, such as a great value, monthly or yearly premium payment schedules, or a highly customized solution.
You'll get better at determining the best closing technique for a particular prospect early on in the sales process with practice and focused attention. Search millions of validated life insurance and final expense quote requests to stay up-to-date on what works and what doesn't.
Here are five closing techniques to perfect your close:
Each closing technique has its strengths and weaknesses, and the right one will depend on the specific situation and prospect. By mastering these techniques, you'll be better equipped to close sales and help your clients achieve their financial goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is life insurance sales profitable?
Yes, life insurance sales are generally very profitable due to the large premiums associated with these policies. This makes life insurance a lucrative business opportunity for those in the industry.
How much do life insurance salesman make per sale?
Life insurance agents typically earn 60-80% of the first year's premiums as commission, with smaller commissions in subsequent years. Over the policy's lifetime, commissions can total 5-10% of all premiums paid.
How much can you sell a $100,000 life insurance policy for?
A $100,000 life insurance policy can be sold for between $10,000 to $25,000, with the average settlement worth around 20% of the policy's value. This range can vary depending on several factors, so it's best to consult with a professional to determine the actual value of your policy.
Sources
- https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/guides/want-to-sell-life-insurance-from-home-follow-this-guide-467508.aspx
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-careers/08/become-insurance-agent.asp
- https://www.voicespin.com/blog/how-to-sell-life-insurance-over-the-phone/
- https://agedleadstore.com/how-to-sell-life-insurance/
- https://crankwheel.com/7-tips-for-closing-life-insurance-sales/
Featured Images: pexels.com