If you are an educator or work with a career center, our goal is to inform you about the vast array of career opportunities available in our $30 billion industry.
Surplus lines is the insurance industry segment that provides protection for high-risk &/or unique businesses and individuals.
For example, a Major League Baseball player trying to obtain insurance for his arm would require specialized expertise that only the surplus lines industry can handle, or a transportation company hauling hazardous fuels would need extra coverage that the regular insurance industry just can’t provide.
Positions Available
Talented young people from all business majors can find positions in the surplus lines industry. The industry is broken down into two segments: Brokerage Firms and Underwriting Companies. Brokerage firms find the best price and coverage for their clients by requesting quotes from many different underwriting companies. Underwriting companies analyze the submitted information from brokers and come up with appropriate pricing and coverage.
What skills are needed to succeed in this industry?
· Wholesale Broker positions
o Requires skills in marketing, sales and account service – providing a chance for travel and direct contact with customers.
· Underwriting jobs
o Requires creative thought processes, research, analysis and an ability to analyze a problem and develop solutions. Underwriters are the people who help to solve the insurance problem and who provide brokers with the insurance “product” to market to individuals and businesses.
Are positions available for students who are not insurance majors?
· Finance, Accounting, Management, Marketing & IT positions are available in both
the brokerage and company sectors.
o Firms in the surplus lines industry have accounting, human resource, management and marketing departments just like any other business.
o Finance majors are needed because our industry thrives off profits from investment income. Our industry has swayed toward paperless work environments; therefore, IT demand is significant as well.
The National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO) is seeking to educate both you and young people on the benefits this industry offers as a career choice.
Benefits Include:
o An entrepreneurial and creative workplace environment and culture
o Ability to put passion to work in a highly dynamic, competitive industry
o Chance for performance-based advancement based on ability – not years of experience
o Competitive compensation and benefits packages
Where the Jobs Are
Businesses within our industry are located in both major cities and residential areas all over the
Downloadable Video with Success Stories
Click here for a downloadable video with information on young people who have found successful careers in our industry.
Job Opportunities
For more information on specific job opportunities offered by NAPSLO member firms, please direct your students to our Job Locator page or bookmark jobs.napslo.org.
Note: Find a company with job openings by typing company name, city or state of interested employment and retrieve a list of companies, HR contacts and individual company Web sites.