Now, for My Next Question... Farmers IA?

[gmveesaert]

I was reading threads over on American Insurance Brokers or something close and saw a lot of threads where people were selling Farmers products as IAs. Is this possible everywhere? Maybe I could switch my contract from a captive agent to an IA??? Like I said, I like some of their products, I just don't care to run my agency the way they want you to.

 

[djs]

I think its only available in some states. I know in California, Farmers is not available to independent agents. Some states in the east I think have this as an option, but I don't think they have captive agents in states where they have independent agents.

Now, Farmers also owns other carriers, such as Bristol West, Foremost, and now 21st Century. Some of these can be written as an IA. You may or may not want to, but as far as I know, they have them available. I know I have them all available to me through various sources.

Dan

 

[gmveesaert]

I think its only available in some states. I know in California, Farmers is not available to independent agents. Some states in the east I think have this as an option, but I don't think they have captive agents in states where they have independent agents.

Now, Farmers also owns other carriers, such as Bristol West, Foremost, and now 21st Century. Some of these can be written as an IA. You may or may not want to, but as far as I know, they have them available. I know I have them all available to me through various sources.

Dan

Oh, well that messes that up. Probably not available here. I probably won't have any trouble switching my Foremost & Bristol to IA agreements. As far as I've heard, Foremost is one of the few companies that will write vacancies and we have a lot of those here. Bristol seems to be good for the really young drivers or ones with problems.

Who do you all suggest for the rest? I don't like that the Progressives & Geicos have turned something as important as insurance into a commodity, but I don't know their policies. Are they good policies, not just on price, but on quality of coverage?
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Oh, well that messes that up. Probably not available here. I probably won't have any trouble switching my Foremost & Bristol to IA agreements. As far as I've heard, Foremost is one of the few companies that will write vacancies and we have a lot of those here. Bristol seems to be good for the really young drivers or ones with problems.

Who do you all suggest for the rest? I don't like that the Progressives & Geicos have turned something as important as insurance into a commodity, but I don't know their policies. Are they good policies, not just on price, but on quality of coverage?

It just occurred to me. If I do go IA, I need to find some E&O insurance for myself, as I won't be covered by my DMs anymore. Does it make it easier to get if you're currently covered under a policy? I've read that it can be pretty hard to obtain as a startup.

 

[Soaringagent]

You'll want to definitely get quotes on E&O before you leave. It's pretty easy to get appointed with Progressive - and they do have good claims service.

 

[bobson]

Farmers is strictly IA east of the Misssissippi I believe. But that will be changing in the coming months. Foremost will become the indepedent brand of the Farmers Group, which will include small commercial written with Zurich right now. At least that is the rumor I heard.