IIAB Eagle Agency? Anyone?

[indienoise]

Anyone have experience with this program? I would hope it would be agent-friendly being it's run by pretty much the biggest independent association out there. Anybody used it? Does it come with a non-compete or a buyout? Been thinking of joining IIAB just for the Big I markets and eagle agency, but curious how both of those have panned out for anyone.

 

[bww143]

I was curious what you found out, and what direction you ended up going? I was curious about the program also.

Thank you,

 

[jkearns]

Here is the commisision structure for IIAB Eagle Agency

Companies Available: Travelers, MetLife Auto and Home , Progressive & The Hartford

Click here to learn more!

 

[indienoise]

bww,
I just applied to IIABA about a week ago. It took quite a while for them to answer definitively whether Eagle was available here in SC.
I'll be applying only for Travelers - Hartford and Metlife aren't that great in my area, and I already have Progressive.

The only reason I'm going this route is because Insurance Pro Agencies didn't really like my location, plus the principal of the agency I was with before wouldn't provide my production history. I'm willing to bet they'll reconsider next year, but for the time being I need another solution. If you're looking at a cluster, though, that's the first I'd recommend. They have an extremely simple contract, with a very fair and well-defined exit strategy, they offer good financial benefit to agents. I'd contact Terry at IPA first before any others.

 

[jkearns]

I looked insurance agency pros a while back, but since I'm captive in California and already appointed with Foremost as a Farmers Agent, they were not interested in having me join there group for my non-resident states. It's a shame. Looked like a great opportunity.

 

[bps]

bww,
I just applied to IIABA about a week ago. It took quite a while for them to answer definitively whether Eagle was available here in SC.
I'll be applying only for Travelers - Hartford and Metlife aren't that great in my area, and I already have Progressive.

The only reason I'm going this route is because Insurance Pro Agencies didn't really like my location, plus the principal of the agency I was with before wouldn't provide my production history. I'm willing to bet they'll reconsider next year, but for the time being I need another solution. If you're looking at a cluster, though, that's the first I'd recommend. They have an extremely simple contract, with a very fair and well-defined exit strategy, they offer good financial benefit to agents. I'd contact Terry at IPA first before any others.

You may want to check with Agentco. You can access Travelers and get 85%. The idea is to build your book large enough to go direct. There is a buy out to do that, but the book is yours. Jason Brown is your contact at 888-243-6826. Good luck which ever way you go.

 

[Verbgravy]

bww, I just applied to IIABA about a week ago. It took quite a while for them to answer definitively whether Eagle was available here in SC. I'll be applying only for Travelers - Hartford and Metlife aren't that great in my area, and I already have Progressive. The only reason I'm going this route is because Insurance Pro Agencies didn't really like my location, plus the principal of the agency I was with before wouldn't provide my production history. I'm willing to bet they'll reconsider next year, but for the time being I need another solution. If you're looking at a cluster, though, that's the first I'd recommend. They have an extremely simple contract, with a very fair and well-defined exit strategy, they offer good financial benefit to agents. I'd contact Terry at IPA first before any others.

Wow. That compensation split is brutal. I can probably set you up with something better, PM if you want to talk about it. Either way, best of luck!

 

[indienoise]

You may want to check with Agentco. You can access Travelers and get 85%. The idea is to build your book large enough to go direct. There is a buy out to do that, but the book is yours. Jason Brown is your contact at 888-243-6826. Good luck which ever way you go.

I spoke to Jason at the beginning of the year, before making my move.
He only seemed to want to consider the lower-tier deal they have going, where I'd more or less just be an exclusive Agentco producer.

 

[cgreene]

Look at premiere similar to SIAA without as many restrictions. Insurance pro agencies could not get me enough preferred carriers.

 

[indienoise]

Look at premiere similar to SIAA without as many restrictions. Insurance pro agencies could not get me enough preferred carriers.

I talked to Shawn before I contacted Agentco, actually. We didn't get so far as to discuss contract specifics, but they seem to be almost a franchise type of model, unless they have a non-exclusive program, as well.
I didn't need an exclusive solution, just something that would get me a couple of preferred carriers.
I'm probably focused a little differently than you are, it seems. A LARGE part of the local market is non-standard, it's just the way this area is. I can get all I need and more on my own as far as that's concerned. But I'm also starting to really focus on marketing preferred. At least around here, there are exactly two major carriers you need to compete: Travelers and Allied. Then there's Donegal and Auto Owners, which I don't know of any clusters that have them. So I didn't need the most carriers, just one or two that I can compete with. At this point, I'm pretty much just after the captive business. I know as a small start-up I'm not going to be able to compete with more established indy shops, so may as well go for the low-hanging fruit, right?