Professional Designations

What is a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF)?

By 
Brian Thorp
Brian Thorp is the founder and CEO of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. Prior to founding Wealthtender, Brian spent nearly 22 years in multiple leadership roles at Invesco. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress.

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Administered by the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), the LUTCF designation focuses on life insurance, other insurance products, risk management and investment products. Let’s take a closer look at what this designation is, what it takes to earn it and how you may benefit from working with an LUTCF. 

What is a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF)?

A Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) is expert in understanding the life insurance options available to people from all walks of life. Often, they are newer life insurance agents who wish to jumpstart their careers or take their expertise to the next level. 

LUTCFs are well-versed in a variety of life insurance products as well as how to educate others on them. LUTCF holders help clients including those who are single, in a dual parent or single parent household or same sex marriage choose the right life insurance plans. They also assist with disability income, property and casualty insurance and long-term care. 

Find a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow on Wealthtender

📍 Click on a pin in the map view below for a preview of Life Underwriter Training Council Fellows who can help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. Or choose the grid view to search our directory of LUTCFs with additional filtering options.

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Should You Hire a LUTCF?

An LUTCF may be a great option if you’re an individual or business owner who would like to ensure you choose the ideal life insurance plan for your unique situation. You may also find value in a LUTCF if you’d like assistance with other types of insurance including health insurance, property and casualty insurance, disability insurance and long-term care insurance.

This type of professional is particularly beneficial if you’re overwhelmed with the countless insurance options on the market. They will ask you about your short and long-term goals and budget. While you can’t expect a LUTCF to select insurance products for you, you can count on them to inform you of your options so you can make informed decisions.

What Does it Take to Earn and Maintain the LUTCF?

Those who hope to earn a LUTCF designation must fulfill certain requirements set forth by NAIFA. Here’s a brief overview of what that they are.

LUTCF Coursework Requirements

To become a LUTCF, candidates must read educational manuals and attend a series of three, nine week in-person or virtual training courses, which are essentially pre-recorded lectures. The courses are as follows:

  • Course 1: Introduction to Practice Management and Life Insurance
  • Course 2:  Insurance and Investment Products
  • Course 3: Risk Management Applications 

The first course covers topics such as business planning, the basics of life insurance products, prospecting and selling skills. With the second course, candidates can expect to dive deeper into life insurance, annuities, mutual funds and insurance for health, disability and long-term care. 

In the third course, candidates will learn risk management applications like retirement, estate planning and unique situations. Through this coursework, they’ll receive the knowledge and skills necessary to pass the certification exams. 

LUTCF Exams

Once they complete the coursework, LUTCF candidates will be eligible to sit for the proctored exams. There are three exams that each consist of 100 questions. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass and become a LUTCF.

LUTCF Continuing Education Requirements

LUTCFs must fulfill continuing education requirements to maintain their designation. To do so, they are required to pay a fee and complete three hours of ethics courses every two years. 

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FAQs

How can I confirm the financial professional I’m working with holds the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow designation?

Send an email to LUTCF@naifa.org.

What if I have a complaint about the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow I’m working with?

Send an email to LUTCF@naifa.org.

Where can I learn more about other professional designations held by financial advisors and coaches?

Refer to this list of popular financial certifications prepared by Wealthtender to help you learn more about each designation. You’ll find a brief description of each certification, plus links to in-depth articles if you want to learn more about a particular designation.


About the Author
A headshot of Brian Thorp, the founder and CEO of Wealthtender

About the Author

Brian Thorp

Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress. Learn More about Brian

To make Wealthtender free for readers, we earn money from advertisers, including financial professionals and firms that pay to be featured. This creates a conflict of interest when we favor their promotion over others. Read our editorial policy and terms of service to learn more. Wealthtender is not a client of these financial services providers.
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