Remote life insurance sales is one of the most accessible, scalable ways to earn commission-based income from home in 2025. If you’re self-motivated, comfortable on the phone/Zoom, and willing to get licensed, you can ramp quickly with companies that provide training, leads, and mentorship. Below is a concise, practical guide—what the work is, how you’re paid, who’s hiring, how to get licensed, pitfalls to avoid, and the exact steps to land your first contract.
Why this path is hot in 2025
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Growing demand: The U.S. insurance market is massive, and agent roles keep expanding—especially in term life, final expense, mortgage protection, and indexed universal life (IUL).
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Remote-first infrastructure: Quoting, e-apps, e-sign, and video conferencing make 100% virtual selling standard.
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Low barrier to entry: Most firms don’t require prior experience; they’ll help you train, test, and onboard.
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Uncapped earnings: Commission + renewals mean your income scales with volume and persistency.
What remote life insurance agents actually do
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Meet prospects virtually (phone/Zoom) to assess needs (income replacement, mortgage protection, burial expenses, legacy goals).
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Present options: term, whole life, final expense, sometimes IUL/annuity cross-sell.
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Run quotes and submit e-apps via carrier portals; schedule medical exams if needed.
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Manage pipeline: follow-ups, policy delivery, client onboarding, and annual policy reviews.
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Compliance: disclosures, recording (in some states), and accurate notes in your CRM.
Pay, commissions, and realistic earnings
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Commission-only (most common): New business commission on the annualized premium (AP), plus renewals on certain products.
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Typical first-year ranges:
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New agents: $3,000–$8,000/month once you’re booking 10–20 sits/week with average closing rates.
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Experienced agents or agency builders: $8,000–$20,000+/month with team overrides and renewals.
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Payout cadence: Some IMOs/agents offer daily or weekly advances on issued business; carriers pay as-earned or advanced (commonly 6–9 months advance, net of chargebacks).
Pro tip: Focus on product/lead combos with short underwriting cycles (final expense, simplified issue term) to smooth cash flow while you learn fully underwritten products.
Captive vs. independent vs. contractor models
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Captive (e.g., some national brands): One primary carrier; structured training, brand recognition, often lower comp but more support.
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Independent (via an IMO/agency): Multiple carriers; higher comp potential, product flexibility; you own your book (check contract language).
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Marketplace/contract platforms (e.g., call-center/1099): You log in, take inbound calls or warm transfers; comp varies but ramp is fast.
Companies frequently hiring remote agents (examples)
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Liveops – Flexible schedules, 1099 contractor model, remote call routing.
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Symmetry Financial Group / Equis – Lead systems (mortgage protection/final expense), daily pay options with certain carriers.
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American Income Life – Union market, training and team support, heavy lead-driven model.
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Primerica – Large network, virtual platform; comp structure differs (ask for details).
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Bankers Life – Hybrid; training, bonuses for ramping agents.
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State Farm (select agencies) – Some remote opportunities for experienced, licensed bilingual agents.
Find them on ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, FlexJobs, SimplyHired using filters “remote,” “life insurance,” “no experience,” and your licensed state(s).
Licensing: fast path to your Life & Health license
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Pick your “home state.” If you move often, choose the state where you’ll primarily reside.
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Enroll in pre-licensing (Kaplan, ExamFX, A.D. Banker; ~$100–$300). Budget 40–60 hours.
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Pass the state exam ($50–$100) and fingerprints/background check (state-specific).
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Apply for your license via your state DOI or NIPR ($50–$200).
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Add non-resident states later if your agency sells multi-state (NIPR makes it easy).
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Appoint with carriers through your agency/IMO once you sign your contracts.
Many teams will reimburse or discount pre-licensing; ask before you pay out of pocket.
Lead types (and what to watch)
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Warm internet leads: standard in final expense and mortgage protection; ask age/freshness and exclusive vs. shared.
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Inbound calls / transfers: highest intent; typically lower volume, higher cost.
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Direct mail & social media leads: consistent volume; verify response date windows.
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Self-generated referrals: best close/persistency; build after your first 50–100 sits.
Red flags: “Free leads” that are old/recycled, mandatory large “starter kit” fees, no written comp schedule, or pressure to recruit before you’re selling.
Your tech stack (starter kit)
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CRM + dialer: VanillaSoft, PhoneBurner, GoHighLevel (power dial + pipeline).
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Video & e-sign: Zoom/Meet, carrier e-apps, DocuSign (where allowed).
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Quoting tools: iPipeline/COMPASS, CSG, or carrier-specific tools.
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Calendar & reminders: Google Calendar + Calendly.
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Compliance: Call recording (if legal in your state), proper disclosures, secure note-keeping.
Daily workflow template (copy this)
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08:30–09:00: Pipeline review; prep quotes for booked sits.
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09:00–11:30: Dial session #1 (new/warm leads).
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11:30–12:00: Follow-ups + paperwork checks.
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12:00–13:00: Lunch / quick product study.
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13:00–16:00: Booked sits (Zoom/phone).
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16:00–17:00: Underwriting/e-apps; submit and track requirements.
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17:00–17:30: Next-day schedule; send confirmations and thank-you texts.
Simple needs analysis you can use on calls
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“If income stopped tomorrow, who would be financially impacted, and for how long?”
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“How much would your family need per month, and for how many years?”
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“Do you want coverage to expire (cheaper term) or last for life (whole/final expense)?”
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“Is leaving a small legacy or covering funeral costs important to you?”
Quick product positioning (plain-English)
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Term life: Highest coverage per dollar; great for income protection/mortgage. (Add a return-of-premium option if budget allows.)
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Whole life / final expense: Smaller face amounts; lifetime coverage; level premiums; quick issue.
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IUL (advanced): Flexible premiums + cash value tied to an index; for legacy/retirement gaps (requires training & suitability).
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Annuities (cross-sell): Income or principal protection; requires product training and suitability review.
Interview prep & resume bullets
Resume bullet ideas (adapt):
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“Handled 60–80 outbound dials/day; booked 12–15 appointments/week; 30% close rate on simplified issue products.”
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“Maintained 85%+ policy persistency over 13 months through proactive client reviews.”
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“Generated 25% of monthly AP via referrals and policy reviews.”
Questions they’ll ask:
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“Tell me about your sales experience and how you handle rejection.”
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“Walk me through your call flow—from intro to closing.”
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“How do you stay compliant when presenting options over the phone?”
Compliance basics (don’t skip)
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Know your state replacement rules, Do Not Call regulations, and recording laws (one-party vs two-party consent).
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Use approved scripts/disclosures; never promise guaranteed returns or misstate underwriting.
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Keep secure records of recommendations and client acknowledgements.
Visa & work authorization notes (for non-U.S. citizens)
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Most remote agent roles are 1099 and commission-based, and rarely sponsor visas.
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You typically need existing U.S. work authorization and a state license.
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If you’re abroad, seek global carriers hiring in your country or U.S.-based back-office roles that don’t require U.S. licensing.
Where to find legit remote roles
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ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn Jobs, FlexJobs, SimplyHired – filter “Remote,” “Life Insurance Agent,” “No Experience,” and your state.
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Company sites & IMOs: Search “remote life insurance agent daily pay,” “final expense telesales,” or “mortgage protection leads.”
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Communities: r/Insurance (Reddit), Facebook groups for final expense/mortgage protection, LinkedIn groups for remote insurance sales.
FAQs
Do I need experience?
No. Many firms train from scratch if you pass your licensing exam and can follow a system.
How fast can I earn?
If you’re licensed and have leads, you can write business your first week. Payments depend on carrier issue times and advance schedules.
What about chargebacks?
They happen if policies lapse early. Reduce risk with strong placement, clear needs analysis, and persistency follow-ups (e.g., 30/90/180-day check-ins).
Is this a fit if I hate sales?
You’ll be presenting, handling objections, and closing. If you’re coachable and consistent, you can learn the sales side.
Clear Next Steps
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Pick your path (today): Captive vs independent vs contractor marketplace—decide which support/comp plan you want.
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Get licensed (this week): Enroll in pre-licensing (Kaplan/ExamFX), schedule your state exam, and budget 40–60 study hours.
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Shortlist 5 employers/IMOs: Search ZipRecruiter/LinkedIn/FlexJobs for “remote life insurance agent” + your state; favor firms with lead support + written comp.
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Prep your toolkit: Set up a basic CRM/dialer trial, Zoom, calendar links, and a quiet workspace with call recording (if legal).
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Interview & contract: Ask about lead types, comp ladder, advances, carrier mix, and chargeback policy—get it in writing.
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Train then dial: Memorize a simple script, role-play 3 times, then run two 2-hour dial blocks/day to book 10–15 sits/week.
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Stabilize income: Prioritize fast-issue products first, add referrals/reviews, and track persistency and placement from day one.