Life Underwriting Specialist

Northwestern Mutual•Franklin, WI

About The Position

This role focuses on underwriting Life, Disability, and/or Long-term Care insurance policies in an inclusive and fast-paced environment. The specialist will build relationships with Financial Advisors and internal partners, ensuring all quality, service, and production goals are met. The position involves analyzing and appraising insurance applications, approving, classifying, or declining them with guidance. It requires developing a basic understanding of financial, medical, and lay underwriting assessments, as well as reinsurance programs. The specialist will maintain industry-leading mortality and morbidity expectations by providing the best possible offer and managing cases actively. Communication and negotiation with Field Partners to explain decisions and assist with policy placement are key. The role also involves utilizing various methods to obtain necessary information, adhering to procedures and regulatory processes, and collaborating with peer reviewers, medical and technical staff, and Underwriting Support.

Requirements

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.

Responsibilities

Builds relationships with Financial Advisors and internal partners.
Underwrites Life, Disability, and/or Long-term Care insurance policies.
Ensures all quality, service, and production goals are met.
Maintains 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.
Handles prescreen inquiries with guidance.
Analyzes and appraises a broad range of insurance applications; approves, classifies, or declines applications with guidance.
Demonstrates a basic understanding of application review and adherence to underwriting standards, NM 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, with guidance.
Responsible for adherence to procedures and regulatory processes.
Understands and meets all quality, service, and production goals.
Solves 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.