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.
Agents can take a wide variety of CE courses. Regulatory and firm element courses may include suitability and ethics, money laundering prevention, securities, topics in economics, and FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) rules and regulations. Other courses may include distribution planning, annuities, and accelerated benefits. Agents can also study health savings accounts, Medicaid and Medicare, and health and benefits insurance. Each state has its own CE requirements. License renewal usually must occur biannually. Some states require as few as eighteen hours. Other states require as many as thirty. Each state's department of insurance has authority over renewal requirements. Some states require specific coursework. For instance, nineteen states require consumer protection and ethics courses.
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.
There is not a lot of information out there about choosing a CE provider. As a result, agents must do their own due diligence. Referrals from colleagues or from a firm can weed out undesirables. Any CE provider should have a strong background and a strong reputation. Providers should offer online, textbook, and live classroom courses. Courses should be state-approved and also approved nationwide. While some firms will reimburse their employees for CE, others will not.
Firms should take some crucial steps before enlisting a CE provider for their agents. They should make sure that the provider offers a variety of courses. These courses should cover all of a firm's offered services. Courses could include CLU, ChFC, CPA, CIMA, and CFP credits. Large firms should hire a compliance specialist. Smaller firms can use a government-employed local compliance officer. A specialist should have Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses.
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.
Agents can take a wide variety of CE courses. Regulatory and firm element courses may include suitability and ethics, money laundering prevention, securities, topics in economics, and FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) rules and regulations. Other courses may include distribution planning, annuities, and accelerated benefits. Agents can also study health savings accounts, Medicaid and Medicare, and health and benefits insurance. Each state has its own CE requirements. License renewal usually must occur biannually. Some states require as few as eighteen hours. Other states require as many as thirty. Each state's department of insurance has authority over renewal requirements. Some states require specific coursework. For instance, nineteen states require consumer protection and ethics courses.
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.
There is not a lot of information out there about choosing a CE provider. As a result, agents must do their own due diligence. Referrals from colleagues or from a firm can weed out undesirables. Any CE provider should have a strong background and a strong reputation. Providers should offer online, textbook, and live classroom courses. Courses should be state-approved and also approved nationwide. While some firms will reimburse their employees for CE, others will not.
Firms should take some crucial steps before enlisting a CE provider for their agents. They should make sure that the provider offers a variety of courses. These courses should cover all of a firm's offered services. Courses could include CLU, ChFC, CPA, CIMA, and CFP credits. Large firms should hire a compliance specialist. Smaller firms can use a government-employed local compliance officer. A specialist should have Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses.
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.
