Underwriting Consultant - Disability Insurance

About the position

We are looking for an experienced Disability Income Underwriting Consultant to join our team, tasked with underwriting disability insurance in a fast-paced diverse work environment that is inclusive and values different experiences, backgrounds, and knowledge. Join a mission‑driven, fully remote team offering competitive pay and benefits from day one, with the flexibility to work from anywhere in the U.S. It is an exciting time to be an underwriter at MassMutual! MassMutual is going through a digital transformation while continuing to be a leading customer- centric company. We support MassMutual career agents, individual brokers and the consumers they serve. The team culture is collaborative, cross-functional, and uses old and new technologies combined with a work/life balance. We are looking for the right candidate to join our team. The chosen candidate will be tasked with developing the skills needed to underwrite disability insurance in a fast-paced diverse work environment that is inclusive and values different experiences, backgrounds and knowledge.

Responsibilities

  • Own the end-to-end underwriting process for Disability Insurance applications, analyzing each case holistically to drive confident, well-informed decisions.
  • Assess and balance medical history, occupational risk, financial background, and overall case dynamics to determine approval, modification, or declination.
  • Deliver the best offers first , focusing on solutions that accelerate placement and support successful sales—not just decisions.
  • Serve as a trusted underwriting partner to third-party firms, their staff, and advisors by providing timely, high-quality, and solutions-oriented service.
  • Clearly and confidently communicate underwriting outcomes to customers and advisors, helping move business forward with transparency and trust.
  • Apply deep knowledge of underwriting guidelines, policies, and practices while exercising sound judgment beyond the checklist.
  • Champion process improvements and modernization efforts, influencing positive change while maintaining strong morbidity and risk expectations.
  • Adapt communication style to meet the needs of diverse audiences, building strong relationships with advisors and third-party partners.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders to gather critical insights and select profitable, well-structured risks.
  • Provide consultative support to third-party firms, helping them navigate complex risk scenarios and underwriting considerations.
  • Leverage emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills to strengthen partnerships and elevate underwriting credibility in a competitive market.
  • Work independently with confidence, navigating ambiguity and managing assigned cases with minimal oversight.
  • Earn trust and build lasting rapport with colleagues, business partners, and third-party customers.
  • Coach and mentor less experienced underwriters, contributing to team growth, knowledge sharing, and underwriting excellence.

Requirements

  • High school diploma or GED
  • \$10K approval authority in disability insurance underwriting
  • 7+ years of disability insurance underwriting

Nice-to-haves

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • 8+ years of Disability Income underwriting experience
  • Authority to approve \$15K+ IDI, \$20K+ Business Overhead Expense, and \$500K Buy‑Sell cases without second signature
  • Demonstrated success underwriting in a fast‑paced, high‑volume environment
  • Experience underwriting through third‑party distribution, banks, or wirehouse channels
  • Completion of relevant industry designations/exams (e.g., ALU 101/201/202, LOMA, ALMI, FMLI, ALU, FALU, DIA, DIF)
  • Expert knowledge of risk selection, including medical, non‑medical, and financial factors
  • Strong command of underwriting principles, best practices, and risk management controls
  • Deep understanding of underwriting systems, product rules, guidelines, and medical factors impacting morbidity; ability to effectively position decisions with brokers and sales partners
  • Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision while collaborating effectively in a team environment
  • Strong critical thinking and data‑driven problem‑solving skills
  • Positive, inclusive, agile, and collaborative mindset
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Benefits

  • Regular meetings with the DI Underwriting Team
  • Focused one-on-one meetings with your manager
  • Networking opportunities including access to Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, African American, women, LGBTQ, veteran and disability-focused Business Resource Groups
  • Access to learning content on Degreed and other informational platforms
  • Your ethics and integrity will be valued by a company with a strong and stable ethical business with industry leading pay and benefits
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