Insurance underwriters specialize generally in three major kinds of insurances: health, liability, property, and life. They manage policy applications from businesses as well as from individuals. Insurance underwriters require exact information to make the decision as to whether the specific policy is good enough and is acceptable in terms of the risks covered. For instance, to evaluate an application, the underwriter considers the previous loss log, driving record, credit rating, medical reports, age, and some other information about the applicant. This information can prove really helpful while assessing the risks. These insurance underwriters can also compare the applications with other similar policies and discuss with actuarial studies in order to make certain the firm's log of losses.
After the complication of useful information, the insurance underwriter reviews the application to check whether it complies well with the underwriting standards of the company or not. He can make use of certain complicated computer plans that make recommendations and rate different applications. He is also free to issue the specific policy and alter the policy requested or even refuse it. In simpler words, he highlights the terms and conditions of the accepted policy and establishes premiums and rates.
Most insurance firms prefer appointing college graduates. Though high school candidates who start their career in insurance underwriting as underwriting clerks may get promotions up to underwriters, pursuing different courses in business, insurance, statistics, and mathematics can prove beneficial in order to enjoy a good position in insurance underwriting. The beginners in this field usually start with the post of junior underwriters or trainees.
There are numerous insurance firms that are offering excellent insurance underwriting training programs for interested students. These training sessions are considered essential to make a bright career in underwriting. The American Institute of Charted property Casualty underwriters provides a specific certification for underwriters; the certification is CPCU (chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter). CPCU is basically a high earning designation which can be obtained by experienced insurance underwriters. To get this designation, the applicants need to pass exams and conform to a certified code of ethics.
The insurance writers should be capable to make timely decisions and share their opinions with others. They also need to have enough skillfulness at gathering information and analysis and should take pleasure in carrying out their activities with details.
Prior work experience is the thing that one must have if one wants to enjoy good pay in an underwriting job. The individuals who have several years of experience as junior underwriters can have good opportunities to get promotions to senior insurance underwriters.
Advancement prospects in this employment depend upon the particular company. After finishing the training session, the individual can advance to certain higher levels inside the company. An expert underwriter can move to underwriter manager or chief underwriter position of the insurance department. There are also insurance underwriters who get promotions to the position of administration.
In accordance with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the insurance underwriters were enjoying around 101,000 jobs in the year 2004. The vocation of underwriter was estimated to grow slow as compared to the average until the year 2014. Nowadays, more and more insurance firms are implementing certain computer programs that make necessary recommendations on applications automatically, however still some companies require insurance underwriters.
The wages of insurance underwriters may vary greatly on the basis of size, location, and kind of insurance firm. According to a recent survey, the underwriters earned a mean annual wage of around 48,550 dollars during the year 2004. The individuals with the top ten percent of wages get around 86,110 dollars. Most insurance firms provide their employees life and health insurance, paid vacations, and holidays along with pension plans.
As far as working conditions of insurance underwriters are concerned, they work for 40 hours a week. Most of the time underwriters work in the office. However, they may also be required to escort sales persons to meetings with potential customers.