Insurance Sales Agents Go Back to List 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.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Video creation and editing software

Tasks
	Call on policyholders to deliver and explain policy, to analyze insurance program and suggest additions or changes, or to change beneficiaries.
	Calculate premiums and establish payment method.
	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.
	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.
	Seek out new clients and develop clientele by networking to find new customers and generate lists of prospective clients.
	Explain features, advantages, and disadvantages of various policies to promote sale of insurance plans.
	Contact underwriter and submit forms to obtain binder coverage.
	Ensure that policy requirements are fulfilled, including any necessary medical examinations and the completion of appropriate forms.
	Confer with clients to obtain and provide information when claims are made on a policy.

Skills
	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
	Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Knowledge
	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
	Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
	Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
	Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
	Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
	Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
	Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

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Education & Training   Education:   Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.   Related Experience:   A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

View Related Programs on Connecticut's Education & Training ConneCTion site.

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Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $88,996.00 $42.79  $22.87  $25.66 - $47.94  Bridgeport/Stamford $81,462.00 $39.16  $20.85  $22.79 - $41.01  Danbury $77,638.00 $37.33  $18.78  $19.37 - $49.58  Hartford $95,032.00 $45.69  $23.73  $27.99 - $49.46  New Haven $84,624.00 $40.69  $25.10  $28.45 - $44.80  New London/Norwich $94,370.00 $45.37  $20.96  $23.04 - $54.76  Waterbury $80,418.00 $38.66  $19.91  $22.42 - $39.25  Torrington $82,650.00 $39.74  $21.80  $23.37 - $45.20

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   552   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.

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	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.