Want to Sell Insurance? Here’s What You Really Need to Know

Let’s just be straight: Selling insurance is not for everyone. Some people will thrive. Others will crash and burn—fast.

This isn’t a hype piece. You’ll get both sides here—the real good and the real bad—so you can figure out for yourself whether insurance sales is your calling… or your cautionary tale.

First, the Obvious: There’s Serious Money in Insurance

Let’s not bury the lead. Insurance is a money game—and the stakes are high. Insurance companies are swimming in cash. Why? Because their products are everywhere and nearly everyone needs them.

Life insurance. Health insurance. Car insurance. Homeowners. Business. Disability. You name it.

If you have:

1. A solid work ethic,

2. A bit of grit, and

3. A system to get in front of the right people…

Then you can make real, life-changing money selling insurance.

This isn’t about convincing people to buy something they don’t need. Most people already know they need protection. You’re just helping them finally do something about it.

Why Most New Agents Fail (And It’s Not Just a Work Ethic Problem)

Now the flip side—this is where it gets real.

Most people fail in this business. And not just a little. Think 90–95% fail-out rates within the first year. Gone.

Why? It’s not always laziness. A lot of folks jump in thinking this is easy money. But they:

• Don’t have systems in place.

• Don’t have real mentorship.

• Fall into the trap of multi-level marketing agencies that care more about recruiting than training.

You might be good with people. You might be hungry. But if you don’t align with the right agency—and skip the MLM nonsense—you’ll likely burn out before you even get started.

Freedom Is the Dream—But Can You Handle the Responsibility?

Let’s talk about one of the biggest draws to selling insurance: autonomy.

This is the kind of career where you:

• Set your own schedule.

• Decide how much you work.

• Write your own paycheck.

No boss breathing down your neck. No micro-management. You’re the business owner. And that kind of freedom is intoxicating—until it isn’t.

Because here’s the flip side…

You’re alone. Not just metaphorically—literally. No coworkers, no office chatter, no casual coffee breaks. Just you, your calendar, and your leads.

And the results? 100% on you. No one’s coming to save you. If you wake up late, don’t follow up, or lose momentum… you eat that. Freedom is beautiful. But it’s also brutal.

Scale or Stay Stuck: The Magic of Selling the Right Insurance Products

Insurance is one of the rare sales industries where scaling is actually possible.

Think about it: If you’re selling something like software or solar, your growth is capped by:

• Complex onboarding,

• Long sales cycles, or

• Regional limitations.

But when you sell insurance—especially products like Final Expense, Medicare, or Mortgage Protection—you can scale fast. Why?

Because the need is high, the products are easy to explain, and with the right lead system, you can talk to dozens (even hundreds) of prospects every week.

You can build a pipeline that feeds you steady commission—and if you’re willing to hustle and systemize, the upside is massive.

The Ugly Truth About Chargebacks (And How to Protect Yourself)

Here’s a reality that knocks a lot of new agents off balance: Chargebacks.

When you make a sale, you usually get paid in advance. It feels great. But that money is technically a loan—backed by the assumption that the policy will stick.

If the client cancels too early or lets the policy lapse? That commission gets “charged back”—which means you owe the company money.

Here’s how to survive it:

• Sell quality policies to qualified people.

• Do a real needs analysis, not just a hype pitch.

• Stay in touch with your clients so they stay on the books.

Chargebacks aren’t the devil. But if you don’t understand them, they’ll wreck your cash flow and your confidence.

This Isn’t Just Sales. It’s a Noble Profession (If You Let It Be)

Let’s zoom out for a second.

Most people spend their lives selling stuff that doesn’t really matter—gadgets, subscriptions, and things people forget a week later.

Selling insurance—especially life insurance—is different.

If your client dies unexpectedly, you might be the only reason their family doesn’t end up bankrupt, homeless, or worse. That’s not fluff. That’s real life.

This is one of the few industries where you get paid well to do something that matters. You’re protecting futures. You’re creating peace of mind. You’re giving people breathing room during their worst days.

If that doesn’t make you proud of your work, this probably isn’t the right business for you.

You’ll Deal with All Kinds of People (And Not All of Them Will Be Pleasant)

Let’s not sugarcoat this part: People will drive you nuts.

They’ll ghost you after saying they’re “definitely ready.”
They’ll argue over $5 a month.
They’ll call you a scam artist before they understand what you even do.

You’ll deal with people who are skeptical, emotional, unpredictable—and sometimes just flat-out rude.

But if you stick with it, you’ll also meet people who are grateful. People who cry when you help them. People who send you thank-you notes when you show up after a loved one passes.

It’s a mixed bag. But if you’re a true people person—and you can ride the emotional rollercoaster—this business will reward you with stories, experiences, and relationships that most careers will never touch.

So Is It Worth It? That Depends on You

Let’s land the plane.

Insurance sales isn’t perfect. No career is. You’ve got the highs:

• Freedom

• Income potential

• Impact

And you’ve got the lows:

• Isolation

• Risk

• Emotional and financial ups and downs

But if you’re the type of person who wants control, who doesn’t want to wait for someone to hand them a raise, and who can embrace the grind? Then yeah—selling insurance can change your life.

Not just financially. But personally.

Interested? We’ll Show You How to Do It Right

If all of this sounds like something you want to pursue—not just dream about—we recruit nationally.

We specialize in Final Expense, offer over-the-phone and in-person options, and even provide free leads in some cases. Everything we do is backed by a Make Money Guarantee—follow the system, and you’ll earn.

Want to learn more? Head over to davidduford.com and click the FAQ link.

And whatever you decide—just make sure you choose a path that matches your mindset, not just your motivation.

Would you like this repurposed for Facebook or Instagram captions too?

Thank You For Reading

Thank you for reading. In addition to growing our team, my company also offers products and services to help independent insurance agents increase their production and profitability.

If You’re Looking to Join an Agency

The DIG Agency specializes in helping agents become top producers selling final expense life insurance 100% from home using our free lead system. We provide high-quality training, expert coaching, and the technology tools you need to succeed — whether you want to work part-time or build a full-time career.

As your skills grow, you’ll have the option to transition into a broker role, where you can buy your own leads, earn higher commissions, and even build your own team — all without any forced recruiting or MLM gimmicks.

If you’re serious about building a real career in final expense sales, visit https://www.davidduford.com to learn more. Watch the Overview Video on the homepage to see exactly how our system works.

If You’re Already an Agent and Want Better Leads and Tools

Whether you’re independent or already working with another agency, we can help you get more high-quality leads and streamline your sales process. Here’s what we offer:

• FE Leads Direct
  Order exclusive final expense leads at wholesale pricing through our done-for-you lead management system. These are the same leads our top producers work every day. Learn more at https://www.GetFELeads.com.

• DIG Dialer
  Designed for insurance agents selling any product, the DIG Dialer helps maximize your calling efforts. It’s the same dialer we use at The DIG Agency and has boosted our presentation rate by up to 300% compared to other dialers. If you want more presentations and more sales, visit https://www.digdialer.com for details.

• Final Expense CRM
  If you’re a final expense agent looking for a field-tested CRM to manage your leads and clients, check out Final Expense CRM. Designed specifically for remote sales, it features Grace AI to help pre-set appointments and automate follow-ups to increase your sales opportunities. Try it for free for 14 days at https://www.finalexpensecrm.com.

Wherever you are in your career — new agent, experienced producer, or independent broker — we’ve got the tools, training, and resources to help you sell more, earn more, and build the business you want.