Life insurance agents play many roles in today's business environment. They have their traditional role of selling policies that pay a death benefit. They also have many other skills. Those skills include pension plan set-up, estate planning, and retirement planning. All states require life insurance continuing education credits for bi-annual license renewal. CE is key to maintaining and building agent skills.
Since the recession of 2008, the industry has blossomed. Prior to the recession, many companies eliminated agent positions. Instead, they let banks, stockbrokers, financial advisers, and internet sites produce their sales volume. Financial planners lambasted whole life policies. They advised their clients to buy inexpensive term policies. They told clients to invest the money they saved in stocks or mutual funds. Then, the stock market collapsed. When securities values tanked, whole life policies still retained full value.
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.
Continuing education courses cover a wide variety of topics. Firm element and regulatory classes include FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) rules and regulations. They also include ethics, suitability, and money laundering prevention, securities, and the economy. Additional courses may include accelerated benefits, distribution planning, and annuities. Additional courses may include health and benefits insurance, health savings accounts, and Medicare and Medicaid.
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.
Choosing an education provider can be daunting. Agents have to do their own due diligence. A referral from a firm or colleague is helpful. Agents should make sure that the CE provider has experience and a good reputation. They should look for online, live, and textbook courses. The coursework should be approved nationwide and accredited by the state. Some firms reimburse employees for CE, and others require the agent to pay out-of-pocket.
If a firm is looking for CE providers, they should take a few steps. One is to hire a compliance specialist who has Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses. A local compliance officer employed by government can help small firms. Larger firms need to hire a specialist. A firm should make sure that the course provider offers classes for all of the firm's services. These could include CFP, CIMA, CPA, ChFC, and CLU credits.
All states set and maintaining life insurance continuing education requirements. These requirements are different from state to state. Therefore, it is important to do due diligence before committing to a CE provider. In a growing industry, licensure compliance and continuing education are major priorities.
Since the recession of 2008, the industry has blossomed. Prior to the recession, many companies eliminated agent positions. Instead, they let banks, stockbrokers, financial advisers, and internet sites produce their sales volume. Financial planners lambasted whole life policies. They advised their clients to buy inexpensive term policies. They told clients to invest the money they saved in stocks or mutual funds. Then, the stock market collapsed. When securities values tanked, whole life policies still retained full value.
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.
Continuing education courses cover a wide variety of topics. Firm element and regulatory classes include FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) rules and regulations. They also include ethics, suitability, and money laundering prevention, securities, and the economy. Additional courses may include accelerated benefits, distribution planning, and annuities. Additional courses may include health and benefits insurance, health savings accounts, and Medicare and Medicaid.
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.
Choosing an education provider can be daunting. Agents have to do their own due diligence. A referral from a firm or colleague is helpful. Agents should make sure that the CE provider has experience and a good reputation. They should look for online, live, and textbook courses. The coursework should be approved nationwide and accredited by the state. Some firms reimburse employees for CE, and others require the agent to pay out-of-pocket.
If a firm is looking for CE providers, they should take a few steps. One is to hire a compliance specialist who has Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses. A local compliance officer employed by government can help small firms. Larger firms need to hire a specialist. A firm should make sure that the course provider offers classes for all of the firm's services. These could include CFP, CIMA, CPA, ChFC, and CLU credits.
All states set and maintaining life insurance continuing education requirements. These requirements are different from state to state. Therefore, it is important to do due diligence before committing to a CE provider. In a growing industry, licensure compliance and continuing education are major priorities.
1 komentar:
Insurance Continuing Ed is really essential not only for insurance agents or brokers but also for insurance companies. In that way, companies can increase their efficiency and delivery of services by the help of this constant education.
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