DW Simpson review: services, fees and terms
DW Simpson recruits actuaries, data scientists, modelers and analytics leaders for carriers, reinsurers, MGAs and consulting firms, in the US and abroad.
It works on contingency, engagement, retained and C-suite search. Fees are quoted.
- Best for
- Carriers, MGAs and consulting firms hiring actuaries and analytics staff
- Type
- Contingency, engagement, retained and C-suite search
- Roles
- Actuaries, data scientists, modelers, underwriters and risk managers
- Lines
- P&C, life and health
- Fee
- Quote only. Engagement search starts with a fee
- Agency types
- Carriers, reinsurers, MGAs, insurtechs and consulting firms
Our take
DW Simpson is an actuarial and analytics recruiter, so it fits a carrier, MGA, reinsurer or consulting firm hiring actuaries, data scientists or modelers. An agency hiring producers or CSRs should look elsewhere.
A contingency search costs nothing until you hire. An engagement search starts with a fee.
Pros
- Specialist in actuarial and analytics hiring
- At least three qualified candidates on an engagement search
- US and international searches
- Publishes actuarial salary surveys
- Candidates shared only with their permission
Cons
- Not built for agency sales or service roles
- Fee amounts aren't published
- No published guarantee
- No temp staffing
Roles, lines and region
- Roles
- Actuaries, actuarial analysts, data scientists, predictive and catastrophe modelers, underwriters, product managers, claims analytics and risk managers
- Seniority
- Analyst through chief actuary and C-suite
- Lines
- P&C, life and health, plus pension
- Agency types
- Carriers, reinsurers, MGAs, consulting firms, insurtechs, healthcare and pension consulting firms
- Where
- US and international, with remote jobs on its board
How they work
Contingency
You pay only if you hire a candidate DW Simpson presented.
Engagement
An upfront fee starts the search, and DW Simpson presents at least three qualified candidates.
Retained and C-suite
Dedicated searches for senior actuarial and leadership roles.
Fees and when you pay
| Model | Fee | Paid when |
|---|---|---|
| Contingency | Quote only | When you hire a candidate it presented |
| Engagement | Quote only | Up front, when the search starts |
Fee amounts, the pay they are based on and retained payment dates come in your search agreement.
Guarantee
Ask for the replacement guarantee in writing before you sign. DW Simpson publishes no guarantee. Agree how long the hire is covered and what happens if they leave.
Finding and screening candidates
- Where candidates come from
- Its own relationships with actuaries, including people not looking, and its own database
- Interviews
- A first interview on experience and goals, matched to your intake call
- Your contact
- Candidates deal with one DW Simpson team
Exclusivity and privacy
- Candidate privacy
- Names and resumes go out only with the candidate's permission
DW Simpson alternatives
- The Jacobson GroupQuote onlyActuarial searches plus temps and interim experts
- QuestproQuote onlyPlaces actuaries and other carrier specialists
- The Carlisle GroupQuote onlyRetained search with a one-year replacement guarantee
- King's Insurance StaffingQuote onlyActuaries plus claims and underwriting temps
See every option in insurance recruiting firms.
Frequently asked questions
What roles does DW Simpson fill?
Actuaries, actuarial analysts, data scientists, modelers, underwriters, risk managers and senior leaders.
How much does DW Simpson charge?
Fees are quoted per search. A contingency fee is due when you hire, and an engagement search starts with a fee.
Does DW Simpson recruit outside the US?
Yes. It places candidates in the US and internationally.
Does DW Simpson guarantee its placements?
Its site shows none, so agree one before the search.
How we researched this review. We based this review on the terms and product pages published by DW Simpson, reviewed in October 2026, together with our team's experience working with insurance agents and agency owners since 2008.
Corrections
Vendors change their pricing all the time and they don't email us when they do. So if you see a price on here that's gone up, a plan DW Simpson quit selling or a contract term that reads different now, let us know and send the link to the page where DW Simpson has it. Somebody here pulls up that page and checks it before we change anything on ours.