This commission is payable on the new sale you generate. First year commissions are the highest commissions which you can earn.
This commission is paid on the renewal premium paid by your client on the plan which you had already sold in previous years. Renewal commissions are lower than first year commissions for Life insurance plans. However, for General insurance plans the renewal commission rate maybe same as the first year commissions. Thus, on one policy you can earn first year commission for the first time followed by renewal commission for each subsequent year.
Insurers and distributors have rewards and recognition programs which pay additional commissions. So, if you sell higher number of plans, you not only earn the stipulated commissions, you also earn additional ones from the reward programs.