Experts at www.Bankrate.com suggest getting a competing quote from a commissionfree insurer such as TIAA-CREF and comparing the prices of the policies in order to identify the commissions. Experts further note that sales commissions on a whole life policy could be as high as 85% of your first-year premium, and 7% per year of your premium for the first ten years of your policy term. Insurance companies are not required to readily and easily disclose fees and charges to potential clients.