Life Insurance Agent Resume Guide
Life insurance agents typically work for an insurance company and sell life insurance policies to customers. They meet with potential customers, assess their needs, and then recommend a life insurance policy that meets those needs. Life insurance agents also provide customer service by answering questions about the policy, helping to file claims, and making changes to the policy as needed.
You’re a fantastic life insurance agent, but potential employers have no idea who you are. To make them take notice of your skills and experience, you must put together an attention-grabbing resume.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Life Insurance Agent Resume Sample
Ernest Rath
Life Insurance Agent
[email protected]
928-216-2307
linkedin.com/in/ernest-rath
Summary
Detail-oriented life insurance agent with 3+ years of experience working in the industry. Focused on providing clients with personalized service to find the best coverage for their needs. At ABC, increased sales by 23% through effective client relationship management and targeted cross-selling.
Experience
Life Insurance Agent, Company ABC
Baton Rouge, Jan 2018 – Present
- Structured and sold life insurance policies to 100+ individuals, couples and families, providing them with comprehensive coverage and peace of mind.
- Formulated personalized insurance plans based on each client’s needs and budget, while thoroughly explaining the features and benefits of each policy.
- Quoted competitive rates for term life, whole life, universal life and other types of coverage; closed 90% of sales with an average premium of $5,000 per policy.
- Tracked new business prospects using a CRM system and converted 35% of leads into paying customers; followed up with existing clients to cross-sell additional products.
- Achieved 115% of monthly sales targets set by management in 9 out of 12 months; received the Top Producer award in 2018 for outstanding performance.
Life Insurance Agent, Company XYZ
Chicago, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Revised life insurance policies for 200+ clients, ensuring that their coverage accurately reflected their current needs and situations.
- Accurately explained the features and benefits of various life insurance products to 100+ prospects, helping them to make well-informed decisions about which policy would best suit their needs.
- Assessed the financial risks and needs of 50+ clients in order to provide them with customized life insurance solutions that met their individual budgets and objectives.
- Presented complex life insurance concepts in a clear and concise manner to both individuals and groups, leading to an increase in sales by 10%.
- Demonstrated excellent time management skills by successfully completing all tasks within specified deadlines, often ahead of schedule.
Skills
- Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Time Management
- Term Life Insurance
- Coaching
- Team Leadership
- Customer Satisfaction
- Teamwork
- Fixed Annuities
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow
LUTCF
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
A resume summary/objective is like an elevator pitch – it should give the employer a quick snapshot of who you are and why they should hire you.
For example, as a life insurance agent, you could mention how many years of experience you have in the industry, the sales awards you’ve won, and your success in building strong relationships with clients.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Accomplished life insurance agent with a proven track record of success in sales and customer service. 10+ years of experience developing relationships with clients and providing them with tailored coverage that meets their needs. In 2019, increased new policy sales by 25% through effective networking and relationship-building.
Committed life insurance agent with 4+ years of experience working with clients to find the best life insurance policies that fit their needs. Proven ability to increase sales by up to 20% through efficient use of time and resources. At ABC, generated new leads through targeted market research which resulted in $3 million in total new premiums.
Diligent and knowledgeable life insurance agent with 8+ years of experience in the industry. Proven ability to increase company revenue by up to 20% through effective sales strategies and exceptional customer service. Recognized as Top Sales Agent for 3 consecutive years at DEF Insurance. Hoping to bring my knowledge and drive for success to ABC Insurance as the next Life Insurance Agent.
Passionate about helping people protect their families, I am a top-performing life insurance agent. In my 4 years with XYZ Insurance Company, I have consistently exceeded sales targets while maintaining high customer satisfaction ratings. My in-depth knowledge of various life insurance products and excellent communication skills have allowed me to build strong relationships with clients and provide them with the best possible coverage.
Professional life insurance agent with over 10 years of experience in the industry. Specializing in whole life, universal life, and indexed universal life policies. Eager to join ABC Insurance to grow the company’s customer base and increase market share. In previous roles, increased sales by an average of 20% each year through a combination of excellent customer service and effective marketing strategies.
Proficient Life Insurance Agent with more than 6 years of experience in the industry. Recognized as a top performer with a consistent record of meeting and exceeding sales targets. Proven ability to develop relationships with clients and build trust. Committed to providing excellent customer service and ensuring client satisfaction.
Enthusiastic life insurance agent with a proven ability to increase sales by providing excellent customer service. 6+ years of experience in the industry, including a focus on cold-calling and networking to build relationships with prospective clients. In 2020, increased sales productivity by 12% through effective time management and prioritization strategies.
Reliable life insurance agent with 5+ years of experience working in the industry. Experienced in developing relationships with clients and providing them with personalized coverage plans that fit their needs. Committed to helping others protect their loved ones by providing them with peace of mind.
Hard-working and reliable life insurance agent with a demonstrated history of working in the insurance industry. Skilled in customer service, sales, teamwork, and time management. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Looking to leverage my skills and experience to contribute to the growth of ABC Insurance company.
2. Experience / Employment
For the experience section, you will want to list your employment history in reverse chronological order. This means that your most recent job should be listed first.
When describing what you did at each job, it is best to use bullet points. This allows the reader to quickly scan the information and understand what you are trying to convey. When writing the bullet points, be sure to include details about what you did and any results that were achieved.
For example, instead of saying “Sold life insurance policies,” you could say, “Successfully sold 20+ life insurance policies per month, consistently meeting or exceeding sales quotas.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Sold
- Quoted
- Advised
- Counseled
- Explained
- Demonstrated
- Presented
- Negotiated
- Customized
- Fulfilled
- Processed
- Coordinated
- Investigated
- Resolved
- Tracked
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Developed
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Prepared
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Represented one of the largest life insurance companies in America and sold over $2 million in policies last year.
- Mentored three new agents on how to sell life insurance, resulting in an increase in sales by 15%.
- Reliably achieved or exceeded quarterly sales targets set by management, contributing to the company’s overall growth.
- Fulfilled all policyholder requests promptly and accurately, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction.
- Participated in various community outreach programs to promote awareness of the importance of life insurance coverage.
- Optimized the insurance needs of over 500 clients, saving them an average of 20% on their annual premiums.
- Actively sought out new business opportunities and generated $250,000 in new life insurance sales last year.
- Expedited the claims process for 10+ grieving families, providing them with much-needed closure and financial stability during a difficult time.
- Improved customer satisfaction ratings by 25%, as measured by independent surveys conducted by the company.
- Negotiated life insurance policies with clients, providing them with coverage that met their needs while also staying within their budget; achieved a 97% satisfaction rating from customers.
- Coordinated with underwriters and agents to develop custom life insurance plans for high-risk clients; facilitated the approval of 10 such policies in the last year.
- Developed an extensive knowledge of different life insurance products and how they functioned; able to explain complex concepts to customers in a simple and concise manner.
- Facilitated the claim process for over 100 policyholders, ensuring that they received the death benefits they were entitled to in a timely and efficient manner.
- Substantially increased sales by developing strong relationships with potential customers and consistently delivering excellent customer service.
- Confidently explained the ins and outs of life insurance policies to potential customers, addressing all questions and concerns with knowledge and care.
- Spearheaded a new cross-selling initiative that resulted in 10% more life insurance policy sales last quarter.
- Streamlined the process for submitting claims, cutting down the average processing time by 2 days.
- Introduced a new online quoting system that has since helped increase web traffic to the company website by 20%.
- Achieved top sales agent status for 3 consecutive years, consistently outperforming colleagues in monthly premium targets by an average of 15%.
- Resolved 100+ customer complaints regarding denied claims, late payments and billing errors; increased customer satisfaction scores by 12%.
- Investigated and processed 100+ life insurance claims per month, ensuring that all documentation was complete and accurate before forwarding to the underwriting department.
- Reduced claim processing time by 10% by streamlining the data entry process and implementing a new system for tracking claim status updates.
- Meticulously reviewed 50+ life insurance policies per week for accuracy and compliance with state regulations; caught errors in 7% of policies reviewed, saving the company $5,000 in potential fines.
- Reorganized the claims department to improve workflow and communication between teams; resulted in a 15% increase in productivity within the first month.
- Resourcefully sold life insurance policies to individuals and families, taking into account their unique circumstances and needs.
- Prepared customized quotes for each client based on their budget, age, health conditions and coverage requirements.
- Advised clients on the best types of policies for them and helped them make informed decisions about their coverage options.
- Trained new life insurance agents in sales techniques, policy preparation and quote customization.
- Achieved quarterly sales targets set by management; increased overall team sales by 10% in the last quarter.
- Processed an average of 100 life insurance applications per month, ensuring that all forms were complete and accurate.
- Successfully counseled over 80% of applicants on the importance of life insurance coverage and helped them choose the right policy based on their needs.
- Utilized effective sales techniques to upsell 75% of customers on additional riders and features for their life insurance policies.
- Demonstrated excellent time management skills by completing processing an application from start to finish in an average of 30 minutes per case.
- Consistently achieved “top producer” status within the company, writing 10-15% more life insurance policies than the next closest agent.
3. Skills
Job skills will vary depending on the position you are applying for – each company will have their own specific requirements. For example, one might require sales experience and another customer service experience.
It is important to keep this in mind when crafting your resume because if a company is using an applicant tracking system (ATS), it will scan your resume for certain keywords before passing it on to a human.
In addition to just listing skills in this section, you can also elaborate on them in other parts of your resume, such as the summary or experience section.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Account Management
- Coaching
- Customer Satisfaction
- Disability Insurance
- Finance
- Fixed Annuities
- Health Insurance
- Insurance
- Investments
- Life Insurance
- Retirement Planning
- Small Business
- Social Media Marketing
- Social Networking
- Teaching
- Team Leadership
- Teamwork
- Term Life Insurance
- Time Management
4. Education
Mentioning your education on a resume for a life insurance agent position is not always necessary. If you have several years of experience and are applying for a management-level role, your experience will likely be more important than your education. However, if you are just starting out in the industry or are applying for an entry-level position, mentioning your degree (if relevant) and any relevant coursework can help set you apart from other candidates.
If including your education on your resume, mention any degrees or relevant coursework related to the life insurance industry. For example: “Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Risk Management” or “Courses included Insurance Principles, Life & Health Insurance.”
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications show potential employers that you are knowledgeable and skilled in your chosen field. By having these, it proves that you have put in the extra effort to be the best at what you do.
Including any relevant certifications in this section of your resume will demonstrate to hiring managers that you mean business and are fully capable of performing the duties required by the role.
Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow
LUTCF
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Ernest Rath, this would be Ernest-Rath-resume.pdf or Ernest-Rath-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Cover letters are an optional but recommended part of the job application process. They provide you with an opportunity to elaborate on your skills and experience, and explain why you’re the best candidate for the role.
A cover letter should be made up of 2 to 4 paragraphs, and include information that isn’t already mentioned in your resume. If you’re applying for a job that doesn’t require a cover letter, it’s still worth writing one as it might give you a competitive edge over other candidates.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Daphney,
I am writing to apply for the position of Life Insurance Agent with New York Life. As a licensed insurance agent with 5+ years of experience in the industry, I have the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in this role.
In my current position as a life insurance agent with State Farm, I work with clients to assess their needs and provide them with appropriate coverage. I have a proven track record of success in meeting sales goals, and I am confident that I can do the same for New York Life.
I possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, which are essential for building relationships with clients. My ability to build rapport quickly has resulted in me being one of the top-selling agents at State Farm. In addition, my organizational skills enable me to keep on top of paperwork and policy details so that nothing falls through the cracks.
I would welcome the opportunity to bring my skill set and experience to New York Life as your next Life Insurance Agent. Thank you for your time and consideration; please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like additional information about my qualifications.
Sincerely,
[Your name]