Pro Tips + Basics

Life Insurance Agents & Brokers – We Are Not All The Same!

Surfing for Life Insurance? Lost in a Veritable Sea of Options? You Are Not Alone!

Have you ever tried shopping for life insurance online?  What an overwhelming mess!

You see clickbait and misleading advertising everywhere, like…

“Get instant approval without taking a medical exam”.  “Get a policy without speaking to an agent”.   “Apply in minutes, same day coverage”.  “Get covered up to $1M.  No medical exam necessary”.

And then there are all the exaggerated (equally misleading!) TV Commercials, Radio Ads, Print & Direct-Mail campaigns as well. For example…

“Save up to 70% with SelectQuote or Jonathan from Colonial Penn on TV saying everyone’s premium is “$9.95/month”

After you give up your personal information, you get bombarded.  Calls from 5 different phone numbers and so many emails they clog up your inbox.  Most of the time you end up with aggressive agents, virtually ‘breaking down your door’ (blowing up your phone), to get you to sign up —right away— with whichever company they represent for whatever policy they’re pushing: regardless of whether or not it meets your needs.

Sadly, you are just another ‘notch’ in their sales quota ‘belt’… Another ‘bell ring’ and a number crossed off their call-list.

The result?  You end up with the wrong policy, from the wrong company —a policy that does not align with your specific goals or meet your unique needs— because nobody actually ***LISTENED*** to you (frankly, they are too busy reading off the script in front of them).  

And —possibly worst of all— 99.9% of the time, you will never again speak with that same agent, because:  they are finished with you, as soon as they have made the sale. You are just a number.


You Are Not a Number. We Are Not a Call Center.

Our articles are written, compiled, and fact-checked by REAL “human” —experienced and licensed— Life Insurance Professionals (not by freelance ghostwriters or AI Robots or ChatGPT). Our intent is simply to help you make an informed decision.

Your experiences may differ from ours. We fully welcome —and appreciate— that!

Between mergers and acquisitions, company rebrandings, insurtech startups and exits, the Life Insurance industry is changing at a rapid pace.

As such, your comments matter. Now, more than ever.

By leaving a review, you are helping to build a valuable —unbiased and honest!— educational resource, that may help someone else avoid making the same mistakes OR potentially alert us to outdated/corrected practices.

Some suggested topics —for your comments and reviews— could include, but are not limited to:

  • What Policy did you buy, from which Company? 
  • How was the Agent / Broker who sold you the Policy? 
  • Would you recommend them to a friend or colleague?
  • Were you encouraged to compare rates, prior to completing an application? 
  • Was the application process / underwriting experience well organized and easy to follow? 
We openly invite you to Share your Life Insurance Shopping journey!

Bad Practices have given the entire Life Insurance industry a pretty Bad Rep :'(

That’s why we are on a renewed mission to produce an open unbiased resource— dedicated ONLY to helping you make an informed decision. Because you deserve to be able to shop for Life Insurance, in order to protect your loved ones; without getting harrassed or overwhelmed— and without getting a migraine!


What Are the Differences in Price On Different Life Insurance Agency Websites?

It surprises most shoppers to learn: the answer is NONE!!!

***SAME QUOTE ON EVERY SITE***

Seriously, the quotes will be exactly the same —at Select Quote, Matrix Direct, AIG Direct, etc— if the same 3 variables are used.

The 3 Quote Variables that Determine the Exact Cost of Your Life Insurance Are:
  • How much life insurance (the coverage or “face” amount)
  • When does the policy expire (the term)
  • Which health class you are approved at (preferred, standard, etc.)

So… How Do You Decide Who You Want To Work With?

Find someone you can trust!  You want an experienced independent broker who listens to you, answers your questions, and explains —clearly and patiently!— what your options are (without bias toward one company or another) and how the application process works.

Because —Even Though the Prices Are all the Same— the Buying Experience and the Attention to Detail, Can Differ Greatly!

Additionally, it is very important to remember, Life Insurance Companies are NOT all the same!  Some are more lenient on certain health issues, some focus on a simplified application with no medical exam, some are financially stronger than others, and the pricing of their products varies a lot!  That’s why we encourage you to get quotes from two or three different companies, compare rates, and never hesitate to ask questions.


Top 10 Writers Of Life/Annuity Insurance By Direct Premiums Written, 2022
(000’s)

RankGroup/CompanyDirect Premiums Written (1)Market Share (2)
1MetLife Inc.$111,058,571 12.10%
2Equitable Holdings75,176,3038.2
3New York Life Insurance Group47,449,6305.2
4Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.46,097,8325
5Prudential Financial Inc.44,537,5464.9
6Athene Holding Ltd.36,421,8144
7Nationwide36,173,4494
8Western & Southern Financial35,551,1623.9
9Corebridge Financial26,718,9982.9
10Lincoln Financial26,086,2842.9
(1) Includes life insurance, annuity considerations, deposit-type contract funds and other considerations, and accident and health insurance. Before reinsurance transactions.
(2) Based on U.S. total, includes territories.
Source: NAIC data, sourced from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Insurance Information Institute.

If You Do Choose to Buy Your Life Insurance here, it is Our Promise —Our Guarantee!— that We Will:

  • Listen— Really listen!!!  Afterall, if your life insurance does not fulfill your specific goals and meet your unique needs, it is of no value whatsoever.
  • Answer all your questions, clearly and patiently.
  • Offer guidance to help save you time and money.
  • Find the best life insurance policy for you, from the right company, at the best possible price.
  • Keep you informed, throughout the entire buying process, and to *NOT DISAPPEAR AFTERWARD*— as in:  we don’t just ‘wash our hands of you’! We’re here to answer any questions and to ensure your policy continues to meet your needs, because —we all know— life changes!!!

Who Will I Speak to, If I Call with Questions?

Christopher (Chris) Lalor is the owner and founder of Life Insurance Shopping Reviews. He has helped thousands of people navigate the undeniably overwhelming Life Insurance ‘shopping experience’, by actively LISTENING and inherently CARING.  Chris explains the (admittedly complex and overwhelming) subject matter, in a “frank” —but patient and easy-to-understand— manner.  His goal is quite simply to help you secure the best Life Insurance policy for your needs, from the best Company that provides it, at the best possible rates.  With over 30 years of experience, Chris knows which Life Insurance Companies to recommend for specific situations— especially if you have health conditions, take medications, or ‘enjoy’ certain hobbies or habits.  In a nutshell, Chris provides the attention to detail and customer care you deserve.


Life Insurance National Producer Identifier (NPI) & State License Numbers

Christopher (Chris) Lalor handles the majority of the Life Insurance Quote Requests —and on call consultations— personally. He has been a licensed Life Insurance Agent since 1992. 

His National Producer Identifier (or NPI) is 2046491 and his individual state license numbers are as follows:

AL – 83343

AR – 2046491

AZ – 2046491

CA – 0C79278

CO – 97479

CT – 2046491

FL – D015037

GA – 585498

IA – 2046491

IL – 2046491

IN – 307418N

KY – DOI-306809

KS – 2046491

LA – 268010

MD – 130534

ME – PRN64892

MI – 2046491

MN – 20203568

MO – 272521

MS – 9932

NE – 2046491

NC – 2046491

NJ – 9352380

NM – 2046491

NV – 63303

NY – LA-928452

OH – 543635

PA – 352929

SC – 256431 

TN – 837272

TX – 1081736

UT – 406802

VA – 825090

WA – 160310

WV – 2046491


U.S. Individual Life Insurance Sales Trends

Industry Estimates 1975-2021 [LIMRA 2022]

Life Individual Market Share by Distribution Channel, 2012 and 2021



The Bottom Line

Shopping for Life Insurance shouldn’t be so overwhelming!!! We just want to help you make an informed decision, by providing:

✔ Unbiased Reviews

✔ Straight Answers

✔ Free Quotes

✔ No Pressure, Ever

Don’t See the Question or Answer You Were Looking For?


Call Anytime for Assistance!
888-681-4952


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