Starting a new chapter in life insurance? First of all—welcome. This industry can be one of the most purpose-driven, freedom-giving careers out there… but it’s also easy to get caught in the chaos of comparison, confusion, and burnout. I’ve seen it time and time again: the most common mistakes new insurance agents make rarely have to do with lack of effort—it’s usually because no one told them what to expect. So if you’re feeling unsure, second-guessing your next step, or wondering if you’re even cut out for this work, take a breath. These aren’t just problems to avoid—they’re signs you’re in the arena. And there’s a smarter, more authentic way forward.
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Top 5 Mistakes New Insurance Agents Make—and What to Do Instead
If you’re a new life insurance agent—or about to take that leap—you’ve probably already realized something:
This isn’t just about policies and commissions.
It’s about people, purpose, and building something real… something yours.
But let me be honest.
Most new agents don’t fail because they don’t work hard enough.
They fail because they’re working hard on the wrong things.
So today, I want to call out the most common mistakes we see new agents make—and guide you toward the path that actually creates growth, fulfillment, and freedom.
Let’s get into it.
1. Trying to Sound “Professional” Instead of Being Yourself
The Mistake:
You trade your real voice for one you think sounds “credible” or “sales-ready.” You over-script your calls. You freeze on video. You stop sharing online because it’s “not polished enough.”
The Truth: Your connection is your currency.
People buy from people. They don’t want perfect—they want relatable.
At SN Agency, our best agents? They’re built from real stories, real struggles, and real wins. They show up in yoga pants, from a minivan, while juggling dinner and dreams.
How to Avoid It:
Tell the truth. Share the messy middle. Be the person your clients and team can relate to, not the one they feel like they should be impressed by.
“Authenticity will open more doors than any rehearsed pitch ever will.”
2. Waiting to Be Ready
The Mistake:
Wanting all the answers first. Waiting until you “know the script,” feel organized, or fully understand every scenario before you take action.
The Truth: Ready is a decision, not a place you arrive.
Clarity doesn’t come from sitting on modules or obsessing over the training portal. It comes from movement. From doing. From learning while you’re in it.
How to Avoid It:
Take messy steps. Use the support system here at SN. Plug into mentorship, ask questions, and simplify your focus: one conversation, one post, one client at a time.
“Confidence isn’t required to start—but it is built when you do.”
3. Hustling Alone
The Mistake:
Believing success means doing it all yourself. Shutting down when you feel overwhelmed instead of reaching out. Comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel.
The Truth: Isolation kills momentum.
At SN Agency, one of our core beliefs is that we rise better together. This isn’t that old school “every woman for herself” game. This is community over competition.
How to Avoid It:
Lean in. Borrow belief when you’re out of your own. Plug into group trainings. Message your upline. Ask for feedback. Let someone link arms with you before you spiral.
“Your business isn’t meant to be built alone—it’s meant to be built in community.”
4. Trying to “Close” Everyone
The Mistake:
You think your job is to convince anyone and everyone to say yes—to the product or the opportunity. Because if they say no, you failed, right?
Wrong.
The Truth: You’re not here to pressure. You’re here to guide.
You’re not for everyone—and everyone isn’t for you. The sooner you detach from outcomes and focus on service, the faster you grow with peace in your gut.
How to Avoid It:
Shift your mindset. You’re not closing the deal—you’re opening a door. If someone’s not ready, bless and release. There are more aligned people coming.
“The right people don’t need to be chased. They just need to be invited.”
5. Going Quiet When It Gets Hard
The Mistake:
You hit your first “no.” Or your first slow week. The doubts creep in. You start to pull back, stay silent, and convince yourself that maybe this wasn’t for you after all.
The Truth: That moment—the one where you want to quit?
It’s the one that decides everything.
Every leader you admire? They felt it, too. They cried on the bathroom floor. They questioned every text they sent. But they kept going.
How to Avoid It:
Make a decision now that you won’t go silent when it hits the fan. That this time, you walk through the hard part. And when you do, you’ll find what’s waiting on the other side is worth everything.
“The next chapter starts on the other side of not giving up.”
You Don’t Have to Be Perfect.
You Just Have to Be Coachable.
Mistakes don’t mean you’re failing.
They mean you’re in it—learning, stretching, becoming the version of you that can handle the vision you’ve got.
And you don’t have to walk that road alone.
At SN Agency, we’re obsessed with creating a space where new agents don’t just get trained…
They get seen, supported, and set up to win the long game.
So if you’ve made one (or all) of these mistakes?
Breathe.
It just means you’re human.
And if you’re curious how we help our team skip the burnout and build something sustainable?
💛 Take our quick quiz to see if SN Agency is a fit for your next chapter
This might be the first step in your most powerful pivot yet.
We’ll walk with you the whole way.
