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 (DBS), a subsidiary of NFP. 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
Job Summary: The Chief Underwriter is a key position within our life insurance brokerage firm, responsible for leading the underwriting process and ensuring the quality and profitability of our life insurance portfolio. This role demands a thorough understanding of underwriting principles, risk assessment, and the life insurance market. The Chief Underwriter will play a pivotal role in shaping our underwriting strategies and practices, without the responsibility of supervising other employees.
The Chief Underwriter will be accountable for handling JUMBO cases and interacting directly with key advisors and relationships. This position will include travel to industry events to develop strong relationships with other underwriters and strategic partners at insurance carriers. This role reports to the Executive Vice President of Operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Review highest value and most complex cases to determine risk and make underwriting decisions consistent with company guidelines and policies.
- Analyze financial statements, medical reports, and other pertinent data to make informed underwriting decisions.
- Negotiate with carriers to get the best possible rating.
- Discuss other than applied for decisions with advisors and insurance applicants.
- Collaborate with brokers, agents, and other stakeholders to provide underwriting expertise and advice including participation in advisor meetings and calls.
- Stay current with insurance industry trends, regulations, and best practices to ensure compliance and competitive advantage.
- Provide training and guidance to other DBS underwriters and case managers as needed.
- Participate in the development of new life insurance programs at our carriers by providing underwriting insights and expertise.
- Maintain expert knowledge of all aspects of underwriting at DBS as well as at our insurance carriers and vendors.
- Attend industry and UW events and meetings. Actively pursue industry designations such as the ALU and continue to stay on top of current medical advances and trends in the industry.
- Prepare and present underwriting reports and analysis to senior management.
- Work with marketing team to develop and publish underwriting articles and case studies.
- Proactively manage all JUMBO cases to include:
- Review of all cases weekly
- Bi-weekly meetings with the Executive Leadership Team on case status
- Ongoing engagement with Case Manager, Case Design Analyst, etc. to ensure timely processing and an optimal underwriting decision.
- Offer tips to the advisor for delivery of offer
- Join calls or meetings with advisors and potential insured to facilitate case placement.
- Work with the Executive Leadership Team and fellow leaders to streamline processes and enhance general business practices.
- Monitor and manage quick quotes, informal, and formal processes for the UW department.
- Review closed cases and investigate reasons for closure.
- Implement processes to reduce closed cases and increase placement.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in finance, business, insurance, or a related field.
- Minimum of 10 years of underwriting experience in the life insurance industry.
- Professional designation such as Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) preferrred.
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with all areas of DBS and our carrier and vendor partners.
- Proven ability to make sound underwriting decisions.
- In-depth knowledge of life insurance products, underwriting principles, and risk assessment techniques.
Additional Information
This position is remote and offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The Chief Underwriter will report to the EVP, Operations and will not have direct supervisory responsibilities.
If you are a seasoned underwriter with a passion for excellence and a deep understanding of life insurance, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
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 $112,000 to $140,000. 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.
