What's Better for Primarily PL P&C Shop

[infoe]

*edit* bah forgot to finish subject line..should end with "producers or agents or both?"

Just looking over a thread, where the OP is asking about bringing on new agents, I didnt want to hijack the thread but it got me thinking.

In the captive world (current world) everyone has producers..pay them a base or draw, give them goals, they get commissions, incentives for multi-line yada yada

but in the independant world are the more successful offices a mix of producers and independant agents with commissions splits?

or
just producers?
or
just independant agents?

I figure the receptionist and CSR's will always need to be there in either sense.

Off the top of my head I'm assuming agents with splits seems best to start, your not paying a fixed expense (base), you're not paying for the marketing of the business or leads, less training necessary.

But if they have full vesting of their book from the beginning how do you protect yourself from a large piece of business leaving you?
I've seen massive p&c offices in Florida where it's just producers and CSR's on the other hand where there is no need to pay renewal commissions, that book is only the agents (as in the captive world)

so...what are your thoughts?

 

[Bertolinoins]

There are several different business models that work well. I think if your business model does not include some sort of vesting and payout for your agents... You will struggle to recruit and retain very strong agents over the long run.

 

[infoe]

I want to have new and renewal commissions...

If the agent is bringing in their own business then I definately think there should be vesting.

but if you have team members/producers that through your marketing/advertising efforts are writing policies...do you think there should be an ownership of that policy?

Should that not go to the house?

I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to structure it. I know some agencies do just one or the other (agents or employees/producers)

I'm ok with paying out large sums of commissions man...If I'm paying, I should be making some also (at least in theory right?)

 

[VolAgent]

If they are order takers, no ownership. The more the agent has to work to sell the policy, including finding the prospect, the more the agent owns it.