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Financial Advisor Selling Life Insurance – What You Need to Know



Three people discussing finances at a table, looking concerned. Text reads "FINANCIAL ADVISORS..." in red. Financial Advisors are not life insurance experts. Specific expertise matters, just like you don't look to doctors for how to design your dream home.
Specific expertise matters, just like you don't look to doctors for how to design your dream home.

When purchasing life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care, or annuities, it's essential to understand who you're working with and whether they truly represent your best interests. While many professionals sell life insurance company products, their roles, responsibilities, and expertise vary significantly.


Who Sells Life Insurance?

There are two primary types of professionals who offer life insurance products:

  1. Life Insurance Agents – These professionals are employed by a specific life insurance company and primarily sell only that company’s products. Their job is to promote and distribute their employer’s policies, which may limit your options.


  2. Life Insurance Brokers – Brokers are independent professionals who can represent multiple life insurance companies. They provide more choices but are still subject to licensing and commission structures that may influence their recommendations.


What About Financial Advisors?

Many financial advisors, including fiduciary Investment Advisors, may offer life insurance and annuities, but their primary expertise lies in investments and retirement planning. The financial firms they are affiliated with dictate which life insurance carriers they can work with, limiting their ability to provide a comprehensive and independent review of all available options.


While some advisors occasionally sell life insurance products when clients request them, they do not specialize in life insurance, nor do they actively stay informed on industry changes, policy updates, or product innovations. As a result, their recommendations may not always reflect the best or most current solutions available. Their core business remains investment management—not life insurance planning.


The Key Distinction: Independent Fiduciary vs. Product Seller

A life insurance agent, broker, or financial advisor may claim to work in your best interest, but none can truly say they are both independent life insurance experts and fiduciaries.

A fiduciary is legally bound to act in the best interest of the client, whereas most professionals in the insurance industry are compensated through commissions and product sales. This difference can lead to conflicts of interest, where the recommendation may not always align with what’s best for the client.


Why You Need a Second Opinion from LifeInsuranceReview.com (LIR)

At LifeInsuranceReview.com (LIR), we are uniquely different—we exist solely to serve the consumer. Our mission is to protect your interests, provide clarity, and ensure you have access to the best possible options.


What Makes LIR Different?

100% Consumer-Focused – We are not commission driven, but service driven; we review, compare, and verify policies objectively.

Expert-Driven Reviews – We have a team of independent fiduciaries and life insurance specialists (and licensed life insurance analyst) with deep industry knowledge.

Unbiased Second Opinions – We help consumers explore, compare, and verify all options before committing to a policy.


The Bottom Line: Don’t Buy Without a Second Opinion

Be critical, financial advisor selling life insurance are not simply better. Whether you’re considering life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care, or annuities, it’s crucial to seek an unbiased review before making a decision. Many policies contain hidden fees, unnecessary riders, or restrictive terms that may not align with your goals.


Before you sign anything or when you're in your free-look period, consult LifeInsuranceReview.com (LIR) to ensure you’re making the right choice. Your financial future deserves transparency, expertise, and the best possible policy—without conflicts of interest.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Financial Advisor Selling Life Insurance:

1. Why should I get a second opinion on my life insurance policy?Many policies have hidden fees, restrictive terms, or outdated features that may not align with your goals. A second opinion from LifeInsuranceReview.com (LIR) ensures you explore, compare, and verify all options before committing.


2. How is LIR different from a life insurance agent or broker?Unlike agents and brokers who earn commissions by selling policies, LIR is independent and works solely for the consumer—providing unbiased policy reviews.


3. Do fiduciary financial advisors specialize in life insurance?No. While some may sell life insurance occasionally, their primary focus is investment management, not life insurance planning.


4. What types of policies does LIR review?LIR reviews life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care, and annuities to ensure you get the best coverage for your needs.


5. Does LIR sell life insurance? Yes, but only upon a client’s request for a specific policy. LIR primarily provides expert, independent reviews to help consumers make informed decisions—without conflicts of interest.

We had a survivorship policy for about 6 years and when I got my policy reviewed, I learned that I can apply for a new policy with another company via 1035 exchange with $1.6M higher coverage and longer guarantee age. This was because I was also a pilot with now more than 900hrs, and that I qualified for the best health rating at some insurance companies. Our original agent never bothered to follow-up with us to explore any other options, except to make sure we were paying our annual premiums.

Steve & Pat L., CA

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