Specialist, Life Underwriting (Life New Business)

Nationwide•Ohio-Work from Home-2, OH

3d•Remote

About The Position

Our underwriters work hard to provide the exceptional customer experience for which Nationwide is known. Actively engaging with our firms and financial professionals to get to know their clients and their needs builds our understanding of the market, what is needed to win business and put our best offer out first. If you thrive working autonomously, making decisions on a variety of impactful issues and continuing to learn and adapt to grow, we want to know more about you! As a Senior Life Underwriting Specialist, you'll analyze, select and classify applications for life insurance of a more complex nature according to established underwriting policies, practices and standards. You'll coordinate life insurance selection standards according to underwriting practices and procedures to achieve satisfactory mortality and morbidity experience and acceptable administrative results. We'll count on you to use independent judgment based on your underwriting authority and company underwriting standards. You will also likely serve as a referral point for less experienced underwriters and will often have cross distributional experience. You may also represent your distribution on underwriting related projects.

Requirements

Five years of life underwriting experience
Proven foundation for basic financial underwriting.
Ability to evaluate the life financial supplement, understand more sophisticated beneficiary situations, e.g., buy/sell agreements, beneficiaries other than immediate family, foreign risks.
In-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology and non-medical risks.
For investment life, proven knowledge of independent distribution systems.
Very comfortable negotiating offers and calling out on offers that are other than applied for to explain reasons to the advisor or sales leader.
Basic knowledge of products and reinsurance - is comfortable and has relationships with our facultative reinsurance partners.
Advanced ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing, with all contacts, including policyholders, applicants, field sales personnel, managers and associates in other operational departments.
Exhibits creativity by bringing innovative ideas to problem solving and continually offering new ways to achieve desired objectives and results through effective decision making.
Collaborates to resolve complex problems.
Ability to analyze performance and financial operating reports to assess cause and effect relationships, and make recommendations providing assistance, knowledge, leadership and improving and influencing overall team efficiency.
Constructively resolve customer issues, and within the team and cross-functional areas.
Ability to set work priorities that conform to time service and quality standards.
Demonstrates resilience.
Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.
Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Nice To Haves

Undergraduate studies in medical related discipline, marketing, insurance, risk management, economics, finance or business management preferred.
LOMA Level 1 Certificate (LOMA 280, LOMA 290) preferred.
Participation in, or attainment of, professional/technical studies or designation such as ALMI (ALU Level 1 Cert, ALU 201, 202, LOMA 320, 335).

Responsibilities

Receives, evaluates and underwrites, on a medical or non-medical basis more complex applications for life insurance up to their maximum handling limit as approved by the Chief Underwriter.
Protects the confidentiality of documentation and information acquired throughout the underwriting process.
Works independently, but engages referral points, mentors and staff underwriting and medical staff for complex issues and cases.
Maintains in-depth knowledge of manuals, underwriting materials, rules, regulations, procedures medical factors and practices impacting mortality and morbidity underwriting.
Maintains proven understanding of all underwriting administrative systems to conduct business and provides outstanding service to all internal and external customers and field partners.
Evaluates and accesses applications requiring additional evidence of insurability.
Determines the need for and authorizes the ordering of, underwriting requirements to include, but not limited to, medical examinations, blood profiles, home office specimens, attending physician reports, inspection reports, client direct interviews, and other essential information.
Develops a strong understanding of the accelerated underwriting process and can apply risk-based decision-making skills to determine the appropriate requirements needed to provide protective value as well as determining appropriate risk class. This may include but not limited to, making fluid-less underwriting decisions as well as the utilization of alternative sources of medical information while maintaining appropriate tolerance for accepting risk.
Consults with other underwriters and accepts referred cases when designated.
Suggests innovative solutions, motivates team performance and facilitates open communication to achieve results.
Evaluates, appraises and quantifies data derived from personal or business financial information and establishes insurable interest in keeping with the principle of indemnification.
Assists with training other team members in this area
Reaches terms on and coordinates both automatic and facultative reinsurance within the contractual terms and conditions of Nationwide's various reinsurance treaties and product and market practices.
Meets and presents with field partners as needed. Acquires input and feedback during these visits to build a better understanding of partner needs and expectations.
Determines eligibility for temporary insurance and authorizes disbursement of policy refunds if the Temporary Insurance Agreement (TIA)is not eligible. Also authorizes reimbursement for medical records or other fees associated with requirements needed to confirm evidence of insurability.
Interprets electrocardiogram tracings received as evidence for life insurance applications.
Consults with Medical Director on cases where physician input is required.
Consults with Chief Underwriter, Staff Underwriting, Underwriting Consultants, Senior Underwriters and the Medical Director as the need arises.
Supports and assists in meeting goals and objectives for varying territories, special agent programs and contests.
Resolves challenges with effective solutions while maintaining focus on improving time service, quality of application submissions and underwriting quality
Handling up to $5,000,000 for life, up to $750,000 sign off for morbidity underwriting, and ability to sign off on exceptions for Intelligent Underwriting.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.