Why Become a Licensed Life Insurance Agent?
When we asked Joel Tchafack, a pharmacist and licensed life insurance agent, why he chose this work, he named five reasons. They may not all fit you, and that's okay. Here they are, with an honest look at what each one asks of you, followed by straight answers to the questions people usually ask.
1. Be your own boss
As a licensed agent, you'd be an independent contractor, not an employee. You run your own business: you decide how to build it, who you want to serve, and how you want to grow, within your state's licensing rules, the insurance companies' requirements, and compliance standards.
Being your own boss also means owning your results. No one hands you a schedule or a paycheck, so self-discipline matters.
2. Manage your own time
You generally decide when and how much you work. Many people start part-time around a current job, school, or family. Client conversations can happen in the evening or on weekends, and some can happen online.
Flexibility isn't the same as easy. Building a business takes consistent time and effort, and how much time you need varies from person to person.
3. Build an additional source of income
Many people explore this work as an opportunity to build an additional source of income alongside what they already do. Agents are paid by commission on insurance products placed for clients, not by salary. Pay can vary a lot from month to month, and many new agents earn little or nothing at first. Results vary and depend on individual effort, and no level of income is promised.
4. Spend more time with family
Because you help set your own schedule, this work can give you more say over when you're available for the people who matter most, whether that's school events, dinners at home, or caring for a parent. Early on, learning and building can take extra hours, so we help new agents set a pace that fits their family instead of competing with it.
5. Work toward financial independence while educating others about money
Our motto is "we educate before we sell," and that starts with our own agents. You'll learn how life insurance, living benefits, final expense coverage, and retirement income options such as annuities work, and how to explain the trade-offs in plain language.
That knowledge can help your own household make better-informed money decisions as you work toward your own financial goals. And you get to share it with families who have never had anyone sit down and explain these things to them. Our mission is leaving no family behind, and every family you help understand their options is part of that.
Answers to the questions people usually ask
We'd rather you hear the honest answers from us than wonder about them. If something here doesn't answer your question, ask us directly.
"Isn't this just sales?"
Selling is part of it, and we won't pretend otherwise: agents are paid when a client chooses a policy. But how you sell matters. Our approach starts with education. You'll learn to review a family's needs, explain options in plain language, including costs and limits, and recommend only what fits their needs and budget. If a family decides not to buy, that's their choice, and we respect it.
"Will I have to pressure my friends and family?"
No. You're never required to sell to friends or family, and pressure has no place in how we work. If you choose to talk with people you know, you use the same no-pressure, education-first approach you'd use with anyone, and "no" is always a fine answer. We also help you learn other ways to meet families, such as educational presentations and referrals from clients you've served well.
"Commission-only sounds risky. There's no steady paycheck."
That's a fair concern, and it's true: there's no salary, and income can go up and down. That's exactly why many people start part-time while keeping their current job, so they aren't depending on commissions while they learn. We'll explain how compensation works in a career conversation, openly and without projections. Results vary and depend on individual effort.
"I don't have time. I already have a job."
Most people who start with us already have a job, a family, or both. You can start part-time, study for your license in the evenings or on weekends, and train through a mix of self-paced learning, team sessions, and field time. It does take consistent effort, so in your career conversation we'll help you look at your real schedule and decide whether a realistic plan fits.
"Is this a pyramid scheme or MLM?"
It's a fair question to ask about any opportunity, and the answer is no. Agents are paid on insurance products placed for clients, not for recruiting. No income is earned for recruiting. Selling life insurance requires a state license, the work is regulated by each state's Department of Insurance, and the policies are issued by insurance companies that must appoint you before you can offer their products. Some agents later choose to train and lead newer agents; that's optional, and we'll explain exactly how it works, including how compensation works, during a career conversation.
"I don't know anything about finance."
Most people start right there. You don't need a finance degree or background. Your pre-licensing course covers the foundations, and our training starts with the basics and builds from there. We follow a simple rule: learn it before you share it. You don't present anything to a family until you can explain it clearly.
"I'm not a salesperson. I'm shy."
Many good agents are quiet people. This work is more about listening carefully and explaining clearly than about being the loudest person in the room. You'll practice through role-play and sit in on real conversations alongside an experienced agent before you lead your own. You'll still need to reach out to people and start conversations, and confidence tends to grow with practice and support.
"Licensing is hard."
It takes real study, and the exam isn't a formality. But the path is clear: a pre-licensing course, the state exam, a background check, and your license application. Many people study online at their own pace, and most states allow retakes if you don't pass the first time. We'll help you set a study plan that fits your life. See [how licensing works](/careers/licensing).
"Don't most agents quit?"
Many people who try this work don't stay with it. Common reasons include expecting fast results, not having support, or not being able to fit it into their lives. We can't promise anyone will succeed. What we can do is give you honest expectations up front, [training](/careers/training), one-on-one [mentorship](/careers/mentorship), and the option to start part-time and build steady habits at a pace you can keep.
Before you decide
- You'd be an independent contractor, not an employee of WEDOIT LLC or WFG. You run your own business.
- You need a state license before you can sell or discuss specific insurance products with the public.
- Pay is commission-based, not a salary, and comes only from insurance products placed for clients. No income is earned for recruiting.
- Results vary and depend on individual effort. No level of income is promised.
- It takes persistence. Not every conversation leads to a policy, and that's okay.
Next step
Read [how to become a licensed agent](/careers/steps), then book a career conversation. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and there's no obligation. Bring every question you have.
*Insurance agents are typically paid by commission, not salary. Results vary widely, and no level of income is promised.*
*WEDOIT LLC, Carlsbad, New Mexico · 575-266-3119 · info@wedoitinsurance.com · Led by Dr. Joel M Tchafack, PharmD, a pharmacist and licensed life insurance agent in NM, CO, MD, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA and WY (NPN 19623090). "PharmD" refers to a pharmacy doctorate, not a medical, legal, tax, or financial-planning credential.*