Life Underwriter

MassMutual; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

MassMutual, a leader in life insurance, seeks a senior Life Underwriter to evaluate complex risks, determine accept/modify/decline decisions, and partner with advisors to deliver best-offer outcomes. The role supports field partners and shapes underwriting strategy through digital tools and data-driven decisions.

You will influence processes, mentor talent, and ensure mortality expectations are met while maintaining exceptional customer experience.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• 5+ years life insurance underwriting experience.
• $5+ million life insurance underwriting authority.
• 10+ years underwriting experience.
• $10+ million dollar life insurance underwriting authority.
• Expert knowledge of risk selection (medical, non-medical, financial).
• Mastery of underwriting concepts, guidelines, and procedures.
• Experience with term and permanent life insurance.
• Agency, brokerage distribution, banks or wire house underwriting experience.
• Reinsurance experience.
• Industry designations: FMLI, FALU, CLU, ChFC, etc.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and handle all underwriting aspects of formal & informal life insurance applications.
• Determine whether to accept, modify, or decline a risk based on medical, occupational, and financial factors.
• Deliver the best offer first to drive the sale and not just a decision.
• Provide efficient, quality service to third party firms, staff, and advisors.
• Explain underwriting decisions to customers and facilitate placement of business.
• Understand underwriting policies, guidelines, and procedures.
• Influence changes to improve processes while maintaining mortality expectations.
• Tailor communication to agency and broker audiences; foster advisor relationships.
• Provide consultations with third party firms to resolve rate-related questions.

Skills

underwriting expertise

risk assessment

communication skills

team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

The Opportunity

At MassMutual, we're transforming the future of life insurance underwriting through innovation, technology, and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for our customers and advisors. As a Life Underwriter , you will play a critical role in evaluating complex life insurance risks, making sound mortality and financial assessments, and partnering with distribution and account management teams to deliver first-offer, best-offer outcomes. This is an opportunity to leverage your expertise while influencing underwriting strategy, supporting field partners, and helping families secure their financial futures.

Joining our team means becoming part of a collaborative, high-performing organization that values continuous learning, professional growth, and operational excellence. You'll work alongside experienced underwriting professionals, contribute to key strategic initiatives, mentor emerging talent, and help shape the evolution of underwriting through digital transformation and advanced decision-making tools. If you are a customer-focused underwriting leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about balancing risk management with an outstanding customer experience, we invite you to bring your talents to MassMutual and help us continue our mission of helping people protect the ones they love.

The Team

The team here at MassMutual is composed of experienced underwriters supporting our MassMutual Financial Advisors (MMFA) and MassMutual Strategic Distributor (MMSD) channels. These organizations provide a variety of customer, advisor, and risk management services. The team culture is collaborative, cross-functional, and uses old and new technologies.

The Impact

• Evaluate and handle all underwriting aspects of formal & informal life insurance applications
• Determine whether to accept, modify, or decline a risk through evaluation of an individual's medical history or physical condition, occupational hazard, and financial background.
• Deliver the best offer first to drive the sale and not just a decision.
• Provide efficient, quality service to third party firms, their staff and their advisors.
• Communicate effectively with customers to explain underwriting decisions and facilitate placement of business.
• Understand underwriting policies, guidelines, practices, and procedures.
• Influence and champion changes to improve processes while maintaining mortality expectations.
• Tailor communication style to fit a variety of target audiences, i.e. agency and new business personnel. Foster relationships with advisors and brokerage partners.
• Provide consultations with third party firms to resolve rate-related questions and discrepancies or risk-related concerns.

The Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• 5+ years life insurance underwriting experience.
• $5+ million life insurance underwriting authority.

The Ideal Qualifications

• 10+ years underwriting experience.
• $10+ million dollar life insurance underwriting authority.
• Expert knowledge of all aspects of risk selection (medical, non-medical, financial).
• Mastery of key underwriting concepts, best practices, and procedures including identifying exposures to loss, material hazards, and implementation of necessary risk management controls.
• Strong knowledge of UW administrative systems, product rules, Underwriting Guidelines and medical factors impacting mortality and the keen ability to position with agents, brokers, and sales partners.
• Experience underwriting both term and permanent life insurance.
• Agency, brokerage distribution, banks or wire house underwriting experience.
• Reinsurance experience.
• Industry designations: FMLI, FALU, CLU, ChFC, etc.
• Demonstrated track record of working with minimal supervision, being a self-starter, and working with others in a team environment.
• Ability to think critically, problem solve using data to drive toward resolution.
• Positive, inclusive, agile, and collaborative mindset.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

What You Can Expect at MassMutual

MassMutual offers the opportunity to do meaningful work within a purpose-driven organization that values long-term impact over short-term outcomes. In this role, you can expect:

• Clear areas of ownership and accountability, with work that connects directly to company and customer outcomes
• A collaborative environment where perspectives are welcomed
• Access to learning, development, and internal networks that support continuous growth and skill-building over time
• Employee-led communities and forums that foster connection, learning, and inclusion across the organization
• A culture grounded in integrity, responsibility, and stewardship—supported by a company with a strong legacy and a future-focused mindset

Salary Range

$115,900-$152,100

At MassMutual, we focus on ensuring fair equitable pay, by providing competitive salaries, along with incentive and bonus opportunities for all employees. Your total compensation package includes either a bonus target or in a sales-focused role a Variable Incentive Compensation component.

Why Join Us

We’ve been around since 1851. During our history, we’ve learned a few things about making sure our customers are our top priority. In order to meet and exceed their expectations, we must have the best people providing the best thinking, products and services. To accomplish this, we celebrate an inclusive, vibrant and diverse culture that encourages growth, openness and opportunities for everyone. A career with MassMutual means you will be part of a strong, stable and ethical business with industry leading pay and benefits. And your voice will always be heard.

We help people secure their future and protect the ones they love. As a company owned by our policyowners, we are defined by mutuality and our vision to put customers first. It’s more than our company structure – it’s our way of life. We are a company of people protecting people. Our company exists because people are willing to share risk and resources, and rely on each other when it counts. At MassMutual, we Live Mutual.

MassMutual is an equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome all persons to apply.

If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.

At MassMutual, we focus on ensuring fair, equitable pay by providing competitive salaries, along with incentive and bonus opportunities for all employees. Your total compensation package includes either a bonus target or in a sales-focused role a Variable Incentive Compensation component. For more information about our extensive benefits offerings please check out our Total Rewards at a Glance.

#LI-SB1

#LI-Remote