Life Underwriting Large Case Specialist

Pekin Insurance Careers•Pekin, IL

2d•$94,000 - $129,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Looking for more than just a job? You’ve found it. At Pekin Insurance, you’re not a number—you’re part of something bigger. For over 100 years, we’ve built a community where people are valued, supported, and empowered to grow. Here, you’ll find a workplace where collaboration is real, ideas are welcome, and the work you do truly matters. We’re proud to help people through life’s toughest moments—and it’s our people who make that possible. From day one, you’ll be encouraged to bring your whole self to work, take on meaningful challenges, and grow in ways that matter to you. This is your opportunity to belong, thrive, and make a difference—right here at Pekin Insurance. Position Overview Life Underwriting Large Case Specialist will focus on providing expert underwriting services for life insurance policies, with particular emphasis on cases over $5M and the business owner market. The ideal candidate will work closely with agents, brokers, advanced life specialists, actuaries, and sales teams to drive the business, develop new products, and ensure optimal pricing and risk assessment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivilent industry experience
5+ years of financial underwriting experience
Typically requires 6+ years related experience
In-depth ability to: Analyze and prepare documents, reports, and correspondence
Listen, define, write, explain, and interpret ideas and policies
Exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions.
Maintain a positive image and build strong relationships
Manage an independent agency force
Recognize, analyze, and solve a variety of problems
Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
In-depth skills in: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems
Collecting and analyzing complex data
In-depth knowledge of: Insurance industry and terminology within specialized product lines
Business terms and acronyms
Industry standards, marketplace environment, pricing, rates, and product offerings
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Prior life insurance experience

Responsibilities

Underwriting & Risk Assessment: Reviews medical records, exam and laboratory findings, financial and criminal records, and other relevant data to make informed business and pricing decisions
Assesses coverage and tax implications and other specialized information when making underwriting decisions
Serves as the key contact for underwriting decisions related to business owner life insurance policies
Makes judgments regarding reinstatement requests and other policy-related decisions
Assists in the Contestable claim review process
Serves as a senior expert in all Life Underwriting policies and practices for the department
Discusses unusual or difficult underwriting cases with peers and management, ensuring consistent and accurate decision-making
Reviews cases underwritten by other underwriters and assess the adherence to Reinsurance manuals and treaties for quality and accuracy in underwriting decisioning
Serves as a key resource in Underwriting auditing and quality assessments and reports audit results to management for review and action
Discusses usual or difficult underwriting cases with peers and management, ensuring consistent and accurate decision-making
Be a lead expert in underwriting for the organization.
Stay current with new laws, medical conditions, treatments affecting underwriting, and technology enhancements in underwriting through meeting and ongoing education
Reinsurance Relations: Be a key driver of underwriting audit quality and participate in reinsurance and other audits of underwriting
Performs periodic internal audits of new and in-force business.
Provide feedback to underwriters and management to improve underwriting quality and accuracy
Supports all facultative reinsurance business, assisting with complex cases and decisions
Broker and Agent Support, Business Development: Assists agents, brokers, and sales staff to create compelling business cases and plans for their business continuity insurance needs
Be a key point of contact for our agents and brokers for underwriting guidance, specifically on large cases and business insurance cases
Collaborates with agents to drive business and provide guidance in growing their portfolios
Works with advanced life specialists to identify sales opportunities and increase policy sales, and partner to develop a business owner strategy
Supports efforts to grow the business owner market, offering life insurance solutions tailored to their needs
Product Development Support: Works closely with actuaries and the underwriting team to develop and refine new products to support the business owner market
Participates in the presentation of new products, procedures, and policy changes to agents at field meetings
Participates in special projects related to new products, insurance regulations, and underwriting studies as assigned by Life Leadership
Training & Mentorship: Participates in training other team members in all aspects of underwriting
Mentors junior life underwriters, helping them grow and improve their skills
Performs other duties as assigned