Personal Lines Wholesale Underwriter specializes in evaluating and underwriting individual insurance policies such as homeowners, auto, and other personal lines for agents and brokers. Operating within the wholesale market, this underwriter acts as an intermediary, working closely with retail agents to assess risks and provide competitive policies through a range of insurance carriers. Below is a sample job description for this role:

Key Responsibilities

1. Risk Assessment and Underwriting

   • Evaluate personal lines applications, assessing risk factors such as property value, location, personal claims history, and applicant details.
   • Determine the terms, conditions, and pricing of policies based on risk analysis and carrier guidelines.
   • Work with complex or unique personal lines risks that may require custom underwriting approaches.

2. Quoting and Binding Policies

   • Provide retail agents with quotes and options for personal insurance policies.
   • Bind coverage on approved applications within delegated authority levels, ensuring all binding terms align with carrier guidelines.
   • Issue policy documents, endorsements, and renewals accurately and in a timely manner.

3. Carrier and Agent Relationship Management

   • Serve as a point of contact for retail agents, offering support on coverage options, underwriting guidelines, and program features.
   • Build strong relationships with carrier partners, staying informed of carrier appetite, policy changes, and updates in underwriting guidelines.
   • Negotiate with carriers on behalf of agents to secure competitive rates or terms when needed.

4. Application Review and Documentation

   • Ensure all required documentation, including inspection reports, appraisals, and other underwriting information, is collected and reviewed.
   • Maintain accurate records of quotes, policy documents, endorsements, and claims reports for each account.
   • Ensure applications comply with company and carrier standards, as well as regulatory requirements.

5. Policy Renewal and Retention

   • Monitor renewal schedules, proactively review upcoming renewals, and assess options for coverage updates or changes.
   • Work to retain policies by offering competitive solutions and working closely with agents to address client needs.

6. Market Analysis and Product Knowledge

   • Stay updated on trends within personal lines markets, including changes in policy types, coverage limits, or risk factors.
   • Analyze competitor offerings and adjust underwriting strategies to maintain competitive positioning.

Key Skills and Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Insurance, Business, Finance, or related field preferred.
• Experience: Previous experience in personal lines underwriting, ideally within the wholesale insurance sector.
• Industry Knowledge: Understanding of personal lines products such as homeowners, auto, personal umbrella, and specialty policies.
• Technical Skills: Proficient in underwriting systems and software, along with strong Excel and general MS Office skills.
• Analytical Skills: Strong risk assessment abilities with attention to detail to analyze applications and determine coverage suitability.
• Communication and Negotiation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to liaise with agents, brokers, and carriers.
• Organizational Skills: Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

This role is suitable for those looking to advance within the insurance industry, combining technical underwriting expertise with relationship-building skills in a wholesale environment. The ability to balance underwriting discipline with the flexibility to meet market demands is key to success in this position