Unlike an exclusive agent, who sells only one insurance company's products, an independent life insurance agent represents more than one insurance company.

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Independent agents can offer a wider choice of products because they're not tied to just one company, but exclusive agents, also known as career or captive agents, have the dedicated support of large, experienced organizations behind them.

Some independent agents work for a large independent insurance agency, or they have a solo practice with a small support staff.

Independent agents who specialize in helping applicants with medical conditions or risky hobbies are known as impaired risk specialists. These agents know which life insurance companies offer the most competitively priced products for applicants in these circumstances.

The underwriting process varies among life insurance companies. One company might offer better life insurance quotes for applicants with diabetes than other insurers, for instance. Some companies are more lenient for risky habits, such as cigar smoking, than others, and some insurers are more comfortable than others with covering people who have risky hobbies, such as scuba diving.

A good impaired risk specialist may inquire on your behalf about your particular situation before formally submitting an application for life insurance.

Whether you look for an exclusive agent or an independent agent, first get referrals from friends, colleagues and other advisers, such as your accountant. Seek for an agent with experience serving clients with needs similar to yours, and find one with whom you feel comfortable and can trust.

1. Could someone secretly take out a life insurance policy on me?
2. How does funeral insurance work?
3. What is an annuity, and who should buy one?
4. What is an independent life insurance agent?
5. Can I name someone other than a relative as the beneficiary of my life insurance policy?
6. Do I need life insurance if I am single?
7. How do I change the beneficiary on my life insurance policy?
8. How should I prepare for my life insurance exam?
9. How would a life insurance company find out that I'm a smoker?
10. Is it possible to donate a life insurance policy to charity?
11. What are the pros and cons of obtaining life insurance through an employer versus buying an individual life insurance policy on my own?
12. Are withdrawals from a variable life policy tax-free?
13. Does smoking cigars affect my life insurance rates?
14. How can I purchase group life insurance?
15. How do I convert part of my term life insurance to permanent life insurance?
16. Should I purchase a life insurance policy for a child?
17. What are the costs of exchanging my permanent life insurance policy?
18. What is the difference between a joint life annuity and a single life annuity?
19. My life insurance company has become insolvent. What should I do?