Insurance Journal Forums

Hello,

I am doing some research on some GAs. Please reply to this post if you have any comments, good or bad, on the following:

http://www.piib.com/about-us/overview.html
Good Reputation, but $850 per month, seems better for agencies with larger books of business.


http://www.smartchoiceagents.com/default.aspx
Contract is "restrictive" Feels like being in a captive agency - comment from another agent.


http://new2.marketscout.com/


http://www.siaa.net/


http://www.atminsurance.com/ims/newsite/


http://www.insurancenoodle.com/noodlewe ... state.html


http://www.isuwillingham.com/

I looked extensively into many of these a few years ago. They all have their place and are right for the right agent. My advice is to look very closely at their contracts. Do not sign until you have an Attorney review it. You may think you understand what you are reading, but a good Attorney will tell you what it really means and the consequences. Understand every paragraph. I wanted something that I could get out of when it is time for me to retire and some of them have contracts that make it extremely difficult to get out of. You need to decide what YOUR priorities are: markets, cost, ability to sell, assistance, personal contact, commitment period, etc. Talk with all of them. They all have some sort of requirements. You just need to decide which requirements you can live with. You can only do that once you know what is important to you. As you go through the process of interviewing each, it may become clearer. Take your time, know what you want, have the contracts reviewed so you understand them fully. Each one is good and bad.

I looked at Smartchoice. They said they would hook me up with a bunch of carriers. So they have MET Life call me & Before I realize it I'm in a full blown interview trying to get appointed. Isn't that what a cluster is for?

Any way I ended up dumping Smart Choice before getting started & I got a direct w/ Met on my own.