What does a life insurance agent do?

A life insurance agent sells life insurance policies, which pay a benefit to beneficiaries when the policyholder dies, and annuities, which provide retirement income. Agents help clients compare policy types and coverage amounts, gather application information, and service policies after purchase. They must hold a state life insurance license, and commissions are the most common form of compensation in the field.

A life insurance agent sells life insurance and advises clients on coverage amounts and policy types. In the District of Columbia, selling life insurance requires a producer license with the life line of authority, earned by passing the Pearson VUE life exam. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $62,280 for insurance sales agents as of May 2025.

A life insurance agent is a licensed insurance producer who sells, solicits, or negotiates life insurance policies and annuities on behalf of insurers, earning commissions paid by the insurers rather than by clients. In Rhode Island, the Life line of authority requires passing the Pearson VUE Life Producer exam before applying for the $120 resident producer license. A life licensee who wants to sell annuities must also complete a one-time 4-credit annuity training course approved by the Department of Business Regulation.

A life insurance agent is an insurance producer licensed in the life line of authority, which in South Dakota includes endowment and annuity benefits, death or dismemberment by accident, and disability income. The agent sells, solicits, or negotiates insurance on behalf of an insurer that appoints them. To qualify, you must be at least 18, pass the life exam, and apply through NIPR.