Life Insurance Underwriter (Central Time Remote)

Who We Are

NFP, an Aon Company, is a multi-year Best Places to Work award winner in Business Insurance who has also earned the 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) award from Insurance Business magazine and the WORK180 employer endorsement. We are an organization of consultative advisors and problem solvers. We help companies and individuals around the globe address their most significant risk, workforce, wealth management and retirement challenges through custom solutions and a people-first approach. To learn more, please visit: https://www.NFP.com.

This position will support Diversified Brokerage Services, a subsidiary of NFP. Diversified Brokerage Services (DBS) is one of the largest brokerage general agencies in the United States specializing in life insurance, and we’re proud of our roots, starting as a family run business in 1968 and growing to where we are today. With over 50 years in the insurance industry, we’ve honed in on our strengths and perfected our processes, resulting in the best possible experience for the advisors we serve. We invite you to learn more about us and discover the “DBS Difference” for yourself! To learn more, please visit: https://dbs-lifemark.com.

Summary of Role: The Life Insurance Underwriter will support the Underwriting Department by leveraging extensive industry experience to deliver customized solutions to clients. They will collaborate with various teams to address underwriting challenges, develop action plans, and present case files effectively to carriers. The role involves consulting with advisors, negotiating with carriers, and participating in educational initiatives. This position requires strong communication, organizational, and analytical skills, with prior life insurance underwriting experience. This is a full-time role working Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Central Time on a remote schedule, requiring a confidential and uninterrupted workspace.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the overall success and profitability of the agency.
• Work with the Underwriting team, Case Design Analysts, Case Managers, Relationship Managers, and advisors where there are known underwriting challenges on DBS business. Develop an action plan to secure needed results via quick quoting, informal or formal case processing as appropriate.
• Independently review and fully develop files within case split. Package and present files using discretion and judgment to our carriers in ways that stand out from our competition. This involves possible client interviews, broker interviews, detailed case analysis, creation of compelling cover letters and/or quick quotes, and working with our carrier partners to place DBS business effectively and efficiently. Stay apprised of each carrier's specific underwriting strengths and niches to target the right carriers for our business.
• Consult with advisors about transactions where the underwriting offer differs from what was expected. Effectively negotiate with our carriers, possibly select another/more appropriate carrier, offer tips to the broker for delivery of the offer. Provide information to Case Design Analyst to produce quotes.
• Provide accurate responses to agent inquiries on potential business, utilizing all available tools including but not limited to quick quoting, XRAE, carrier guidelines, and underwriting manuals.
• Participate in Underwriting Department education of our internal and external customers – seminars, articles, webcasts, lunch & learns, etc.
• Contribute to the Underwriting Department’s cycle time analysis and actively work toward minimizing overall cycle time.
• Create and maintain strong relationships with all DBS carrier underwriters. Participate and attend industry, underwriting related, associations and meetings.

Customer Service Excellence

• Provide timely and accurate responses to inquiries. 
• Considers how actions or plans will affect clients and others; responds quickly to resolve problems or issues.
• Consistently strive to improve all forms of written and verbal communication.

Team Collaboration

• Collaborate with team members to meet goals and deadlines. Encourage knowledge sharing and contribute positively to team dynamics.
• Lead by example and consistently model inclusive behaviors such as mutual respect, empathy, and open dialogue.

 Analytical Skills

• Gather and analyze data to help manage DBS’s business for optimal efficiency and profitability.
• Assimilate goals and objectives from various sources, serving diverse needs, and formulate an approach to best meet these needs while addressing the overall strategic direction of DBS.
• Plan and prioritize projects and make recommendations.

Business Knowledge

• Maintain a strong understanding of DBS, our clients, the products, services, and approaches.
• Achieve a high degree of familiarity with the various roles and responsibilities within the organization and how they relate to/depend upon the various initiatives and day-to-day execution of DBS’s business.
• Develop and nurture strong relationships with clients both internal and external, vendors, and industry organizations.

Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. HS Diploma or equivalent is required
• Minimum 5 years of life insurance experience.
• Having or pursuing insurance industry designations such as FALU and FLMI.

Skills and Abilities

• Skilled in using underwriting tools and software.
• Proficient  in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to think critically and make informed decisions.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail in reviewing and processing underwriting cases.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills. 
• Effective communication skills, both written and oral.

 What We Offer

We're proud to offer a competitive salary, PTO & paid holidays, 401(k) with match, exclusive discount programs, health & wellness programs, and more. Our PeopleFirst culture focuses on building and nurturing lifelong relationships with our employees because, at the end of the day, we exist to be there for others.

The base salary range for this position is $68,000 to $80,000. The base salary offered will be determined by factors including, but not limited to, experience, credentials, education, certifications, skill level required for the position, the scope of the position, and geographic location. Actual base salary offered will be determined on a case-by-case basis. In addition to the base salary, this position may be eligible for performance-based incentives.

NFP and You... Better together!

NFP is an inclusive Equal Employment Opportunity employer.