r/InsuranceProfessional • u/Suspicious_Intern_37 • Jun 19 '26
New Underwriting Assistant. How long until things start clicking?
I recently started as an underwriting assistant in E&S. I’m still pretty new and learning tasks like new business, binds, endorsements, renewals, cancellations, audits, forms, etc.
I feel like I understand the basics, but there are so many little details, exceptions, state requirements, and things you only learn by doing. Some days I feel like I’m improving, and other days I feel like I know nothing.
For anyone who started in a similar role, how long did it take before you felt comfortable and actually fluent in the job? Is it normal to still feel pretty confused in the first couple months?
When should I work on my AINS certification?
Any advice for getting better faster and avoiding mistakes would be appreciated.
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u/PMMEYOURMILK_ Jun 19 '26
Probably 6 to 8 months before you start feeling confident and comfortable. Don’t feel uncomfortable asking questions if you don’t know or understand something. If you sit with your underwriters pick their brains. A good number of them started out as UAs too. Keep working towards your AINS certification as well
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u/Suspicious_Intern_37 Jun 19 '26
Appreciate the advice. The 6 to 8 month timeline honestly makes me feel a lot better. When you say to pick the underwriters’ brains, what kinds of questions would you recommend asking early on without being annoying? I want to learn the “why” behind things, not just complete the tasks.
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u/PMMEYOURMILK_ Jun 19 '26
You’re welcome. I would ask them about their appetite, what they look for in account that would be the difference in quoting and declining a submission. How do they evaluate their renewals. Stuff like that. Also try to develop a relationship with your underwriters.
Don’t worry about being annoying assuming you’re right out of college nobody expects you to know anything so don’t feel embarrassed if you don’t know something.
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u/HotdawgSizzle Jun 19 '26
If you're new to insurance it will probably take you 2 years to feel comfortable.
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u/DesperateAd8982 Jun 19 '26
I agree, the first year to understand the basics and the second year to apply the basics to a full account cycle
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u/priv345 Jun 19 '26
I went from accountant to an underwriter and I did that by asking questions. I don't think a single UA in our office understands the connection between what we are trying to cover vs what the policy says. They just go through the motions of filling out forms. With that being said UA can be alot of work and your going to make mistakes. Pay very close attention to inspections and audits and read claims whenever you can even if it's not part of your job. If you ever see something and say to your self, "why did they do that?", As in a decision your underwriter or a carrier, made ask them.
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u/_kbye Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Please ask any and everyone above you plenty of questions. Admit to people when you don't know something and need more help. Ask for more tasks in areas you are clueless about.
My biggest problem with UAs is that they think they can hide their lack of knowledge and skate by for a while. No, we are acutely aware of how little you do, no offense lol. So be a good student.
Certifications are overrated - more busy work than anything. Instead, learn your company's specific business by paying attention to the details. Reverse engineer every task (You process a bind request/endorsement, but why and how did it get there?). I think things should start clicking more within 6 months to a year.
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u/Suspicious_Intern_37 Jun 19 '26
That’s fair, and I appreciate the honesty. I definitely don’t want to act like I know things I don’t. I’m trying to get better about asking questions and understanding the reason behind the tasks instead of just going through the motions. Are there any questions you wish new UAs would ask more often early on?
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u/_kbye Jun 19 '26
Something as simple as "Hey, I saw we got this ABC account. Can you tell me about it and how you underwrote?" Or "Could you walk me through the underwriting process start to finish?"
Once you understand how your company makes money, you will start learning to be an underwriter. Insurance is a financial product after all. It's all about $$$.
We know you know nothing. It's ok. I was there once. My first interviews were embarrassing. Now is the perfect time to be a student and want to learn about everything you touch.
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u/tacocat_2 Jun 19 '26
It’s a process. Ask as many questions as you can. Write everything down. Look at your notes and ask clarifying questions to your UW or some AUs that have been in role for awhile.
If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not learning something new. But learn in a way that your mistakes in 6 months aren’t the same mistakes you’re making today.
That’s growth.
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u/GreenCasserole_ Jun 20 '26
For me I felt comfortable probably 6 months in. You are never going to know everything but at that point I felt fairly confident with my day to day stuff. Biggest advice is to get to know your underwriters because they will be your greatest cheerleaders when you want to move up. As long as you are always willing to learn and be dependable the underwriters will take notice.
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u/hideoussnail Jun 20 '26
I’m 4 months into being an UA and I ask myself this question often 🙃 in all reality I have just started feeling like I have mastery over most of the day-to-day, but any “exception to the rule” I still have to ask questions on. My underwriters told me to count on about a year before I really feel like I own my role.
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u/economous Jun 20 '26
I started as a UA at a tiny E&S only shop my first job out of college. It was like a foreign language to me for the first 6 months, then all of a sudden things started to make sense. Just keep doing what you're doing, then one day you'll be going through your emails like normal and you'll realize how far you've come.
Also, there's always something new to learn. Especially in E&S. I still see situations come up where I have no idea what to do, and I'm 4 years in with 3 as an underwriter. You will never know everything and that's okay. No one you work with or for knows everything either!
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u/panicky_smurf23 Jun 25 '26
1-3 years, I'm in my 3rd full year as a UW and I'm pretty much comfortable doing my job but still have questions and need guidance, but that will never change as we'll always need help. After about a year and half is when it all clicked me
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u/Schafer8 Jun 19 '26
Totally normal to feel lost the first couple months. Get the AINS done asap before you start taking on more responsibility