The Financial Services Career Readiness Checklist

1. Can you legally do this work?

• I am legally authorized to work in the United States. Licensing requires it. No work authorization means no license, full stop.
• I can pass a background check. Most states run one before issuing a license. Know what is on your record before you pay any fees.
• I meet my state's age and residency requirements. Usually 18 or older. Your state's licensing guide spells out the rest.

2. Can you handle how the money works?

• I understand the pay is commission-based. No base salary, no hourly wage. You earn when policies are placed and stay placed.
• I know who pays for licensing. You do. Pre-licensing course, exam fees, and the license application come out of your pocket. Budget a few hundred dollars.
• I understand chargebacks. If a client cancels early, commission can be clawed back. Ask how the organization handles them before you sign anything.
• I have asked for the compensation schedule in writing. Verbal promises about pay mean nothing. Get the commission grid, the bonus rules, and the fee list on paper.

3. Do you have the time and temperament?

• I can commit at least 10 hours a week. Part-time is fine. Zero hours is not. This is a real business even at part-time.
• I am comfortable with self-directed work. Nobody assigns your day. If you need a manager setting your schedule, this will be hard.
• I can handle rejection without quitting. Most conversations will not become clients. That is the job, not a sign you are failing.

4. Choosing where to land

• I know the difference between an IMO and an agency. IMOs provide carrier contracts and support; agencies are the teams inside them. Know which one you are joining and what each one owes you.
• I have asked about training and mentorship. The real question: who trains me in my first 30 days, and is that person paid to do it? Support without a name is not support.
• I have asked about fees, refunds, and release terms. Some organizations charge startup or platform fees. Ask what is refundable, and ask how you leave if it does not work out, before you need the answer.

5. Red flags: if you see these, walk away

• I know the red flags. Upfront fees with no refund policy. Income screenshots used as the pitch. Pressure to recruit others before you are licensed yourself. Anyone who discourages you from reading the contract.

How to score it

• 12 to 14 checks: strong fit. Take the career-fit assessment.
• 9 to 11: workable, but fix the gaps first.
• Under 9: this career can wait. Revisit it when life allows.

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