LaShannon Smith
Waxahachie,Tx
Summary
Results-driven Underwriter with a proven track record of maintaining a 98% accuracy rate in policy approvals and implementing streamlined processes that reduced processing time by 15%. Demonstrates strong analytical reasoning and attention to detail, leveraging advanced financial modeling and forecasting skills to enhance decision-making and drive business growth. Adept at building relationships with agents and brokers, ensuring compliance, and delivering insightful reports to management.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Underwriter
State Farm Insurance
Richardson, Texas
01.2025 - Current
- Assess and approve applications for various types of insurance, including health, life and property, maintaining a 98% accuracy rate in policy approvals.
- Develop and implement underwriting procedures that streamlined processes and improved efficiency, leading to a 15% reduction in processing time.
- Evaluate insurance policies and claims for compliance using Insurity’s tools, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and reducing audit.
- Prepare detailed reports and documentation for management review and decision-making.
- Collaborate with agents and brokers to provide quotes and negotiate terms, building strong relationships and driving business growth.
- Conduct audits on policies with unusual claims activity to reduce risk exposure.
- Analyzed financial data including credit, income, assets, liabilities, and debt-to-income ratios of applicants.
Presale Analyst
Cigna Healthcare
Dallas, US
04.2023 - 04.2024
- Analyzed large datasets using statistical methods and software programs.
- Prepared forecasts of future performance based on historical trends.
- Conducted detailed analysis on key trends and findings to summarize findings for leadership.
- Reviewed RFP’s, Scrub census.
- Assist underwriting area to ensure account management expectations are met.
Illustration Analyst
New York Life Insurance Company
Dallas, US
05.2020 - 03.2023
- Reviewed financial statements and analyzed budget trends to identify areas of improvement.
- Developed financial models and forecasting tools to assess potential investments and acquisitions.
- Conducted financial analysis, including variance analysis, trend analysis, and risk assessment.
- Prepared monthly reports detailing overall financial performance against budgets and forecasts.
- Monitored cash flow, prepared capital expenditure requests, and tracked project costs.
- Analyzed existing processes and identified opportunities for cost savings or increased efficiency.
- Generated ad hoc reports upon request from executive leadership team members.
- Reconciled accounts payable and receivable ledgers on a monthly basis to ensure accuracy of records.
- Produce manual in force illustrations for all Traditional and Universal Life products
- Manually calculate premiums, dividends, loans and cash values for Traditional and Universal Life products
- Understand and provide comprehensive explanations of the illustrations
- Understand and apply various formulae and calculations correctly
- Understand and apply various internal and external Life Insurance rules and regulations correctly
- Subject Matter Expert for procedure improvements, product and system enhancements
- Build and maintain strong relationships with advisors and internal business partners
Life Solution Representative
New York Life Insurance Company
Dallas, US
07.2018 - 05.2020
- Evaluated transactions and reporting for adherence to applicable regulatory guidelines and data integrity.
- Assessed financial data and determined suitable actions for investments.
- Gained strong leadership skills by managing projects from start to finish.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Enhanced communication abilities by frequently engaging with others.
- Evaluated financial statements in order to determine whether a particular security is suitable for a client’s portfolio.
- Consolidated business data into actionable metrics to simplify and highlight areas of concern and opportunity.
Conversion Analyst
New York Life Insurance Company
Dallas, US
01.2017 - 07.2018
- Completed initial data mapping activities based on existing best practices and drove custom mapping process with primary customer project partners.
- Analyzed existing systems and databases and recommended enhancements to solve business needs.
- Developed diagrams to describe and lay out logical operational steps.
- Communicated and explained business requirements to team members to understand and implement functional demands.
- Offered input for complex documents to support client-ready final versions.
- Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
- Completed paperwork, recognizing discrepancies and promptly addressing for resolution.
- Conducted research into customer preferences to inform product design decisions.
- Analyzed results from experiments conducted using multivariate testing software.
Education
Master Of Business Administration - Business Administration And Management
Lamar University
TX05.2025
Bachelor of Business Administration -
Wiley College
TX01.2022
Skills
- Forecasting
- Financial services
- Analytical reasoning
- Financial Services
- Accounts Payable
- Data Entry and 10-Key
- Budget Planning and Analysis
- Attention to Detail
- Payment Calculation
- Financial Statement Preparation
- Microsoft Office
- Word Processing
- SAP
- Variance Reviewing
Timeline
Underwriter
State Farm Insurance
01.2025 - Current
Presale Analyst
Cigna Healthcare
04.2023 - 04.2024
Illustration Analyst
New York Life Insurance Company
05.2020 - 03.2023
Life Solution Representative
New York Life Insurance Company
07.2018 - 05.2020
Conversion Analyst
New York Life Insurance Company
01.2017 - 07.2018
Master Of Business Administration - Business Administration And Management
Lamar University
Bachelor of Business Administration -
Wiley College