Life Underwriting Specialist

Northwestern Mutual; Franklin (WI); On-site; USD 67,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work schedules

Concierge service

Comprehensive benefits

Employee resource groups

Job summary

Northwestern Mutual offers a senior underwriting-oriented role focused on life insurance decisions in a collaborative environment. You will build strong relationships with Financial Advisors and internal partners while applying underwriting standards and risk assessment to life, disability and long-term care applications.

Expect a fast-paced setting with continuous learning, guidance on complex cases, and opportunities to influence product processes in partnership with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Analytical skills with ability to make independent decisions and apply sound judgment.
• Excellent written/oral communication with handling confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Field & Client Experience; build credible relationships with field and customers.
• Guide NM Financial Network and Financial Representatives on case underwriting and risk appraisal.
• Prescreen inquiries and provide guidance on underwriting decisions.
• Analyze and appraise a broad range of insurance applications and approve/decline with guidance.
• Communicate and negotiate with field partners to explain decisions and assist in policy placement.

Skills

Underwriting Ecosystem

Mortality Morbidity

Risk Analysis

Technical Acumen

Customer Support

Negotiation

Underwriting Practices

Adaptive Communication

Consulting

Insurance Acumen

Learning Agility

Critical Thinking

Attention to Detail

Information Gathering

Decision Making

Customer Centricity

Data Application

Change Adaptability

Reasoning

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

Software Proficiency

Job description

Life Insurance Signature / Authority Limits

1M Signature / 2M Authority

Summary

Builds relationships with Financial Advisors and internal partners. Develops the skills necessary to successfully underwrite Life, Disability, and/or Long-term Care insurance policies in an inclusive and fast-paced environment ensuring all quality, service and production goals are met.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Field & Client Experience.
• Responsible for credible and effective relations and communications with field and customers.
• Provides guidance and assistance to the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and Financial Representatives regarding case underwriting and risk appraisal.
• Responsible for prescreen inquiries, with guidance.

Underwriting

• Responsible for the analysis and appraisal of a broad range of insurance applications; approves, classifies, or declines applications for various ages and policy amounts with guidance.
• Demonstrates a basic understanding of application review and adherence to underwriting standards, NM (Northwestern Mutual) product types and changes.
• Develops and demonstrates change agility while maintaining mortality and morbidity expectations.
• Demonstrates continuous learning through the early adoption of new ways of underwriting.
• Develops a basic understanding of financial, medical, and lay underwriting assessments and reinsurance programs.
• Underwrites applications, maintaining industry-leading mortality and morbidity giving the best possible offer that can be made.
• Provides active case and requirement management and provides customized service with guidance.
• Communicates & negotiates with Field Partners to explain modified or declined decisions & assist in policy placement.
• Actively utilizes the most effective means to obtain the necessary information, including Internet searches, digital health data, direct contact with the insured, and communication with third party advisors (Accountants, Attorneys, etc.), with guidance.
• Responsible for adherence to procedures and regulatory processes.
• Understands and meets all quality, service, and production goals.
• Solve issues & escalations with guidance.
• Discusses cases with peer reviewers, medical and technical staff, as needed .
• Partners with Underwriting Support for case management.
• May serve as underwriting representative for improvement in product process w/collaboration w/functional partners.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Analytical skills with the ability to make independent decisions and apply sound judgment in the application of rules.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to handle confidential information, exercise tact, diplomacy, and resourcefulness.
• Proficient in computer skills and using various software packages.
• Ability to work accurately while maintaining speed and flexibility in a team and independent production environment.
• Highly organized and the ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines.
• Displays agility to manage multiple tasks and adapt in a changing work environment.

Candidates must successfully complete and pass any required testing.

Compensation Range:

Pay Range - Start:

Pay Range - End:

Geographic Specific Pay Structure:

Structure 110:

$66,960.00 USD - $100,440.00 USD

Structure 115:

$70,000.00 USD - $105,000.00 USD

We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you're living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable.

Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do.

Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

Skills

Underwriting Ecosystem (NM) - Beginner, Mortality, Morbidity, & Risk Analysis (NM) - Beginner, Technical & Digital Acumen (NM) - Intermediate, Customer Support (NM) - Beginner, Negotiation & Managing Objection (NM) - Beginner, Underwriting Practices (NM) - Beginner, Adaptive Communication (NM) - Beginner, Consulting (NM) - Intermediate, Insurance Acumen (NM) - Beginner, Learning Agility & Critical Thinking (NM) - Intermediate, Information Gathering (NM) - Beginner, Decision Making (NM) - Intermediate, Attention to Detail (NM) - Beginner, Information Optimization (NM) - Beginner, Change Adaptability (NM) - Intermediate, Reasoning (NM) - Beginner, Customer Centricity (NM) - Beginner, Data Application (NM) - Beginner

FIND YOUR FUTURE

We're excited about the potential people bring to Northwestern Mutual. You can grow your career here while enjoying first-class perks, benefits, and our commitment to a culture of belonging.

• Flexible work schedules
• Concierge service
• Comprehensive benefits
• Employee resource groups