Should I Go Out on my Own or Stay?

CGreen, for instance, if someone on Clicks on my ad from North Carolina and fills out my online form on my site, I'm CC'd in an email, which is sent directly to my contact at MetLife or I can just copy and paste the info for MetLifeGA to call them. After two attempts and they can't get a hold of them, I try up to five more times and then transfer the call or set up a time for the MetLife GA staff member to talk with them. That lead at most cost me $1.50, if they clicked to get to my site. It's not like I'm spending $12 from one of these Internet lead companies and competing with up to 7 agents. I've grown past that.

As for Farmers GA, I'm unsure how the DOI will stop them or stop Farmers Agents from brokering business. Farmers is quasi-independent/captive hybrid. The Farmers GA main relationship and partnership is with Program Administrators or MGA's that offer Zurich products as well sub-producer appointments with Chubb, BTIS, CNA, Hiscox, and of course it's biggest partnership is with the Insurance Noodle, which Farmers Agents utilize to broker Safeco, Hartford, Travelers, USLI and others as a sub-producer.

I utilize Farmers GA for commercial writing only in my non-resident states and utilize BTIS and USLI the most in my non-resident states, except for the entertainment side, which Farmers GA doesn't touch and I already a firm relationship with the carriers, administrators or GA's, which I retail and wholesale those lines of business for.

I wish my books were bigger. As a Farmers Agent I focus on Farmers products locally, specially homeowners.

Nationally, I enjoy do entertainment insurance.

I see the MetLifeGA as additional agency producer selling additional products, which in turn helps me focus on my selling Farmers locally and of course my bread and butter, entertainment products. Plus I don't have to pay them hourly to quote, call, sell, nor service those clients.

CGreen, I see where you are coming from, if you were personally trying to write it and service it and spending money on purchasing leads or referring your primary base of clients there I can see how that split night be an issue and I would want to leave too. I'm not doing that and have no issue. I'm just outsourcing my agencies personal lines and standard commercial lines side for my non-resident states out to MetLifeGA. It's a win-win situation. I own the expirations and can roll those policies later to another GA, if I want. For commercial, I'll roll it to the Farmers GA prior to the renewal, where I'll get a much better split, plus it helps with my agency's overall profitability bonus,that Farmers pays quarterly out.

If I ever get Farmers appointments in my non-resident states, I certainly will have customers to already solicit to.

I'll be honest to say, that until about 6 months ago, I was only focusing on entertainment insurance in my non-resident states, but when I switched from purchasing leads to pay-per-click, I started to thinking about others was on making secondary income utilizing my non-resident licenses. I started to looking at outsourcing and that's how I learned about the MetLifeGA. Which recently I was approved and it's been hard up to know to place that personal lines business with anyone, till got that sub-producer appointment.

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Again sorry for any Grammar or Spelling mistakes. I'm on my cell. Lol.

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Bww143,

It is hard for them too, but that's where you may want to show some interest in purcashing the agency from them when they retire or have the first right of refusal, if they suddenly pass and there family members take it over.

That's s conversation you will need to have with them.

Agents hate loosing great producers. Specially those who they invested time and money in and made them lots of cash!

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By the way when I'm referring to the Farmers GA I mean the general agency, which Farmers owns-operates and not the state of Georgia.
 
I am a 1099 employee with a local independent P&C agency in Indiana for the last 7 years.
I pay $300 month in fees for EO, agency management system, and a multi-rater. I currently produce 150k in new business per year and my book is 500k.
I get 70% split for new and renewal business with at an average commission of 15%


I have been curious about going out on my own and joining a cluster or trying to get appointed directly. Given the above numbers, would you all consider joining a cluster, or is it difficult to get appointed directly by companies with the above numbers.

Thank you,

Check out the Eagle Licensed Client Advisor Program at: EagleInsuredAdvisors.com
 
Yep... www.iinsureMe.com. Did a phone interview to learn more and swapped a few emails with the founder. Thought it was a weak comp plan. Basically, the company produces referrals for a general agency, which the general agency contacts those referrals and closes the sale for you. Since the company is the producer (BOR) they aren't receiving a full commission, so basically only half from the general agency (AOR) and then they split what they receive (50/50) with you, up to $50,000 in premium. After you surpass $50,000 in premium you earn 100% of what the company receives from the general agency. An added bonus is that you do earn an override up to five (5) levels of producers. It's an interesting concept, but perfect for the part-time producer or the person who has licenses and is not using them or the agent who wants to move his book over and no longer wants service his customers and basically retire. If you want to build a team, slowly sell, train others and feel like your a territory manager, then it might be perfect for you. I passed, but thought it was interesting. Perfect for those life MLM agents, who want to get into P&C. Lol.

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Indienoise, I see you were saying there was another one. Wow!!!! Eagleinsuredadvisors.com.
 
Your doing alright. You don't have any worries & little expense. If you think you want to make more, just line up more sales and you don't have to worry about paying someone else to make you a little more money. I'll guarantee, with your sales you won't do any better on your own.
 
I would not go on your own unless you have the capital to make a go of it... Shoestring budget, at least 50K with an office space, 20k without one.
 
You can do it with an office for about 30 first year but you will have to do everything yourself. However I would not go out on your own unless you have other areas for revenue or can kill it on p and c.
 
I work out of my home now and go to office to meet clients. I sell mostly Travelers, Donegal, Grange, Allied, Hanover. Anyone know the appointment qualifications for any of these companies? I am on track to produce a little over 200k in new personal lines business this year.
 
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I think travelers wants about 500k book first

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It's going to be hard to split that premium some will want more than that by themselves.
 
I've seen Travelers appoint new agencies with NO experience in P&C what so ever. That agency shut down within 6 months. It's all about working over the rep
 
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