Insurance Sales Agent

Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Insurance Agent; Insurance Broker; Insurance Sales Agent; Sales Agent; Sales Associate; Sales Representative; Underwriting Sales Representative

Tasks

• Customize insurance programs to suit individual customers, often covering a variety of risks.
• Sell various types of insurance policies to businesses and individuals on behalf of insurance companies, including automobile, fire, life, property, medical and dental insurance, or specialized policies, such as marine, farm/crop, and medical malpractice.
• Explain features, advantages, and disadvantages of various policies to promote sale of insurance plans.
• Perform administrative tasks, such as maintaining records and handling policy renewals.
• Seek out new clients and develop clientele by networking to find new customers and generate lists of prospective clients.
• Call on policyholders to deliver and explain policy, to analyze insurance program and suggest additions or changes, or to change beneficiaries.
• Confer with clients to obtain and provide information when claims are made on a policy.
• Interview prospective clients to obtain data about their financial resources and needs, the physical condition of the person or property to be insured, and to discuss any existing coverage.
• Contact underwriter and submit forms to obtain binder coverage.
• Select company that offers type of coverage requested by client to underwrite policy.
• Ensure that policy requirements are fulfilled, including any necessary medical examinations and the completion of appropriate forms.
• Develop marketing strategies to compete with other individuals or companies who sell insurance.
• Calculate premiums and establish payment method.
• Attend meetings, seminars, and programs to learn about new products and services, learn new skills, and receive technical assistance in developing new accounts.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Sales and Marketing
• English Language
• Mathematics
• Law and Government
• Transportation
• Administration and Management
• Education and Training
• Communications and Media

Skills

• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Mathematics
• Active Learning

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Speech Clarity
• Written Expression
• Speech Recognition
• Near Vision
• Problem Sensitivity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Number Facility