Some of the factors an underwriter looks at is a person's age. A sixty year old man will pay higher premiums than a thirty year old man. Another area an underwriter will take a closer look is a person's overall heath. The underwriter will evaluate any chronic conditions that afflicts an applicant. They will also want to know if a person is a smoker. Any alcohol or drug use will be considered as well. An underwriter will also factor in any dangerous hobbies that involve an applicant. A person who is engaged in scuba diving activities will be a higher insurance risk than a person who collects coins as a hobby.
A person like Mr. Arthur who wants to break into the underwriting field typically has a four year degree. Insurance companies like to hire people who have degrees in finance, math, etc. A person beginning in this field are considered trainees, and are supervised by a senior underwriter. The job outlook in this field is excellent. I person entering this field generally experiences job stability that is above average.
