I am in the same boat-the quandry of choosing SIAA or Smart Choice.My main concern is carrier access-I am ASSUMING that there are probably significantly more carriers to access with SIAA than with Smart Choice.My assumption is based on the complexity and front end,monthly,and exit $$costs involved with the SIAA contract vs. the (apparent) simplicity of the Smart Choice agreement.Neither has made it clear what carriers I would be able to write as I start.As a 20 year captive agent who sold my book recently,experience and contacts are not a problem-I just need carrier access..Does anyone know or have experience with carrier access with SIAA vs Smart Choice?..ANY information would be VERY MUCH appreciated as this is a major decision for me...Thank you..
SIAA Vs SmartChoice Vs Insurance Noodle
- Thread starter gavros777
- Start date
I just went through this process buddy as I expand to another state and it is not even close. If you are really serious about building a large agency its SIAA you want. I guess I can be biased though since I now have SIAA in two different states but before signing up with SIAA in TX I looked at SmartChoice, Noodle and all the other known aggregators/clusters and while there were some "ok" options, it wasn't even close.
Good luck.
Ins ForCali
New Member
- 4
Hi there! I am an agent in CA looking to open my own agency from the scratch ).
Which GA did you go with? How is it going for you? Or maybe you found something better?
Central Coast Agent
Expert
- 54
Hi Ins For Cali - I'm here in CA as well and started from scratch 9 years ago and still going...I started with Insurance Noodle, and I'm still with them. However, you may want to look at some independent MGA's like RIC Insurance or Gorst Compass, both of which have no fees. Both are in CA and have broad markets to include excess and surplus lines (contractors, etc). No complaints with any of them, including Noodle. It helps to have several MGA's lined up so you can really shop for your clients.
- 977
More is not always better when it comes to brokerages. Many of them have essentially the same basic carriers and programs, with very few differences. Where they can vary is speed, submission method, if they impose their own set of guidelines on a risk, flexibility (including applying credits where applicable), etc.
You might be sending in duplicate submissions for no real reason. Be strategic about your mga selection.
You might be sending in duplicate submissions for no real reason. Be strategic about your mga selection.
BADTROUT
Guru
They are ALL easy to get in... it's the getting out that you need to pay attention to. Bonus structure is also a huge factor.
Is it vested interest in your book or the freedom to come and go... will there be a buyout at the end? There are many evils lurking in contracts, everyone here has an opinion for or against one group or the next. Research should be done over weeks, and not days.
Best of luck!
Is it vested interest in your book or the freedom to come and go... will there be a buyout at the end? There are many evils lurking in contracts, everyone here has an opinion for or against one group or the next. Research should be done over weeks, and not days.
Best of luck!
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This post thread will never ever die.
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Have you spoken with both? You should definitely review the contract from the SIAA master agency that you would be signing.
I don't believe that Smart Choice gives you binding authority, while you will have it on any direct appointments through SIAA. On personal lines that is a bigger deal than you might realize.
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