Life insurance agents do more than sell policies in today's world. Of course, they sell the product that gives the industry its name. However, they also tend to acquire a wide variety of additional skills. These include estate planning, pension plan set-up, and retirement planning. Every state requires life insurance continuing education credits when agents renew their licenses. CE credits are important keys to maintaining and building professional development.
There has been resurgence in this field since the 2008's economic slowdown. Before 2008, many companies were not actively recruiting new agents. They depended instead upon the internet, banks, financial advisers, and stockbrokers for sales. These painted whole life policies as inferior products. Clients were advised to purchase a cheap term policy and invest their savings in the stock market. The tables turned, however, when the stock market plunged. The inferior whole life policies retained value while other investments tanked.
Many companies are now actively recruiting agents. They recruit former real estate agents, mortgage brokers, bankers, and lawyers. Life insurance agents have a difficult path. Seventy percent of agents earn less than $35,000 in their second year. Only twenty percent stay on the job for four or more years. After the fifth year, however, agents who persevere can make $100,000 or more.
There are many different types of continuing education courses. Firm element and regulatory courses include ethics and suitability, prevention of money laundering, securities products, economic topics, and FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) rules and regulations. Agents can also take courses in accelerated benefits, annuities, and distribution planning. They can take courses in health and benefits insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, and health savings accounts.
Agents must do their own due diligence when choosing a CE provider. Referrals from a firm or a colleague can provide some direction. Agents should do research to make sure that the provider has a solid reputation and a lot of experience. Providers should offer textbook, live, and online courses.
Courses should be state-accredited and nationally approved. Some firms will reimburse their agents for CE. Others will expect the agents to pay on their own.
Firms looking to push many agents through CE should take some extra steps. The most important is to make sure that the provider offers a wide variety of courses, and that the courses cover all of the services that the firm offers. This means checking for CPA, CIMA, ChFC, CFP, and CLU offerings. Small firms should seek out a local government compliance officer. Large firms should hire a compliance specialist with Series 7, 24, and 63 licensure.
All agents in all states must complete life insurance continuing education requirements. Agents should research their state's requirements and their CE provider before signing on for classes. Agents and their companies must make compliance for CE a high priority.
There has been resurgence in this field since the 2008's economic slowdown. Before 2008, many companies were not actively recruiting new agents. They depended instead upon the internet, banks, financial advisers, and stockbrokers for sales. These painted whole life policies as inferior products. Clients were advised to purchase a cheap term policy and invest their savings in the stock market. The tables turned, however, when the stock market plunged. The inferior whole life policies retained value while other investments tanked.
Many companies are now actively recruiting agents. They recruit former real estate agents, mortgage brokers, bankers, and lawyers. Life insurance agents have a difficult path. Seventy percent of agents earn less than $35,000 in their second year. Only twenty percent stay on the job for four or more years. After the fifth year, however, agents who persevere can make $100,000 or more.
There are many different types of continuing education courses. Firm element and regulatory courses include ethics and suitability, prevention of money laundering, securities products, economic topics, and FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) rules and regulations. Agents can also take courses in accelerated benefits, annuities, and distribution planning. They can take courses in health and benefits insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, and health savings accounts.
Agents must do their own due diligence when choosing a CE provider. Referrals from a firm or a colleague can provide some direction. Agents should do research to make sure that the provider has a solid reputation and a lot of experience. Providers should offer textbook, live, and online courses.
Courses should be state-accredited and nationally approved. Some firms will reimburse their agents for CE. Others will expect the agents to pay on their own.
Firms looking to push many agents through CE should take some extra steps. The most important is to make sure that the provider offers a wide variety of courses, and that the courses cover all of the services that the firm offers. This means checking for CPA, CIMA, ChFC, CFP, and CLU offerings. Small firms should seek out a local government compliance officer. Large firms should hire a compliance specialist with Series 7, 24, and 63 licensure.
All agents in all states must complete life insurance continuing education requirements. Agents should research their state's requirements and their CE provider before signing on for classes. Agents and their companies must make compliance for CE a high priority.
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