The Underrated Career Path: Building Wealth Through Insurance Sales

The Underrated Career Path: Building Wealth Through Insurance Sales

Are you ready to build wealth without spending years earning a degree?

If you’re like most people you probably view insurance sales as unglamorous at best. Cold calling strangers all day isn’t everyone’s idea of a dream job. But here’s the thing…

Entering the insurance industry as a licensed agent is one of the easiest ways to achieve a six-figure income in America.

Best of all you can start doing it right now with little to no experience. The barriers to entry are low and the earning potential is exceptionally high.

Here’s What You’ll Learn…

  • Why Insurance Sales Is Underrated
  • Insurance Sales Agent Income Potential
  • Steps to Become a Licensed Insurance Agent
  • Characteristics of High Earning Agents

Why Insurance Sales Is Underrated

Here’s the secret most people fail to see…

No matter what happens, people will always need insurance. Whether you’re selling personal or commercial policies there will always be new clients who need your help.

Take it from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They’re projecting 47,000 job openings for insurance sales agents over the next ten years. That’s right. 47,000 opportunities waiting for qualified candidates to fill them.

If you’re interested in learning how to become a licensed insurance agent there are currently hundreds of insurance sales jobs in Tucson Arizona available. The growth opportunity for insurance agents all over the country is massive.

But why do most people ignore this career?

It’s simple. Few understand how the residual income model works.

When you think of a traditional job you work x amount of hours and get paid X dollars. But what if you could earn commissions year after year on the same clients? That’s exactly how being a licensed insurance sales agent works.

Imagine signing a client and watching them pay their premiums each year. Every renewal is like getting a raise. This snowballs over time and can lead to massive wealth for those who play their cards right.

Insurance Sales Agent Income Potential

It’s true what they say…

All agents earn money, but some agents earn MORE money.

The median annual wage for insurance sales agents was $60,370 as of 2024. That’s pretty good for a career that doesn’t require a college degree.

But here’s the kicker…

The top 10% of insurance agents make OVER $135,660 PER YEAR.

Some incredibly successful agents even push 6-figures just from their book of business.

Why is there such a wide range? Put simply, effort.

An insurance agent who makes six figures is spending way more time developing high-value policies and building relationships than their average counterpart. The commission structure favors those who hustle.

There is no limit to how much money you can earn as an insurance agent. Your earning potential is capped by how much effort you’re willing to put in.

Becoming a millionaire won’t happen overnight. But if you stick with it the commissions will add up year after year.

How to Become a Licensed Insurance Agent

Becoming a licensed insurance agent is easy.

Let’s walk through how you get started.

Step 1: Be Eligible

This should be straightforward. Insurance agents must typically be at least 18 years of age and pass a background check. Again, no degree is required.

Step 2: Pre-Licensing Education

Each state has their own set of educational requirements. But at minimum you’ll need to take and pass a state licensing exam. The courses cover general insurance knowledge, state laws, and ethical guidelines.

Step 3: Pass Your State’s Exam

Fun Fact: Approximately 58% of candidates pass their state licensing exam on the first try. So with a little preparation most applicants will be licensed after their first attempt.

Step 4: Find an Agency

Once licensed most agents join an agency. This can be thought of as your training grounds where you learn the sales process and build your book.

Step 5: Start Building

The hard part is over. Now it’s time to start putting in the work.

How to Become a Successful Licensed Insurance Agent

As with any profession, just because you can become a licensed insurance agent doesn’t mean you will be successful.

Statistics show a large percentage of agents quit within their first year of entering the industry. This is likely due to two reasons.

  1. Agents who don’t expect how hard they need to work early on get discouraged.
  2. They give up when the money runs dry. (It’s normal to be broke when starting)

However, for those who stick with it past the “getting your feet wet” phase you’ll find some really successful insurance agents.

These are the traits that set high earners apart:

  • Show up every day. Even if you don’t feel like it.
  • They care about their clients. They want what’s best for their clients.
  • They think about the long-game. These agents sacrifice short-term income to build long-term relationships that last decades.
  • Never stop learning. Top insurance agents constantly improve themselves and their sales skillset.

Most agents don’t make millions because they lack discipline, not because they aren’t smart or don’t know how to sell.

The Opportunity Is Still There

Will the insurance industry die? No.

As long as there are people needing insurance there will be agents out there selling it to them. Our population is only growing which means more potential clients for agents.

Not only do we have an increasing population, but we also have an aging one. This means a rise in demand for certain policies like life insurance and long-term care policies.

Businesses don’t stop expanding either. That means even commercial insurance will continue to grow.

In fact, industry research shows that 55% of insurance companies plan on growing their workforce in the next year.

The opportunities don’t stop at just selling insurance policies. Here are some other ideas:

  • Open your own agency.
  • Become a manager.
  • Focus on commercial insurance, life insurance, health insurance sales.
  • Offer financial planning services.

The sky is the limit for agents who are willing to go above and beyond.

Is Insurance Sales Right for You?

Like any career, insurance sales will not be ideal for everybody.

You’ll need to be comfortable with rejection.

Working in sales means you’ll need to learn how to motivate yourself.

Most insurance agents do not make much money when they first start. You’ll want to have another way of making money if you need money right now.

But if you…

  • Love helping others
  • Don’t mind working for yourself
  • Want to make money based on performance (Not hours worked)
  • Enjoy flexibility and independence

Then learning how to become a licensed insurance agent could be your key to financial freedom.

Everyone who succeeds in this business loves what they do. They don’t get discouraged by rejection. Each “no” brings them one step closer to that life changing “yes.”

They understand it’s going to take time to build wealth. But if you have the right mindset, becoming an agent can open doors you didn’t know existed.

Closing Thoughts

More people should understand how great of an opportunity being a licensed insurance agent is.

You can start making a six-figure income with little experience and even go out on your own if you’d like.

This career isn’t going anywhere. Just like people will always need shelter, they will always need insurance.

Don’t let fear paralyze you into inaction. Take that leap of faith and become a licensed insurance agent.

You have nothing to lose and your entire life to gain.