My 2 cents :). My agency is using 3 wholesale brokers, here in CA for our Standard Carriers and we are pretty happy. Our #1 carrier is Star-Alliance Insurance Services, god bless them. Excellent company they have standard and non standard markets. We also write business with Agent Secure and ocasio...

Jacqueline, The advice I gave you is the same advice I would give any new agent - based on my 30 years in the business. You also got advice from other agents on how you can succeed. Unfortunately, your responses to everyone have been the constant tirade of poor pitiful me! Where ever did you get th...

This is not a true fact and I can tell from your background that you have not worked for an insurance carrier before. Yes, the cost of doing business for a start up agency is huge, but asking the carriers to "absorb" these fees would only result in higher base premiums for ALL insureds. T...

First of all, congratulations for making the first step - independance. Now quit whining about the cost of doing business, etc. I was a bit older and a single mother when I started my agency from scratch 8 years ago. Cathy or whoever and whatever you are: Not to be rude, but you have no right to be...

hipokets wrote:Have you tried a group like "Combined Group"?

They're totally captive.

Why are you running mvr's and clues on quotes in the first place it's a quote ( estimate based on the information the customer gives you ). Your not the only one in this situation, I've wondered how to get the preffered appointment myself, because most of them want you to be appointed with atleast ...

bgc952 wrote:Try signing up with one of the companies who will allow you to run your MVRs for a smaller fee than the carriers. I use iix.net and pay a little over $3 per MVR for California reports.

Do they have to be approved by the carriers?

A couple more things for you to consider. Are you a member of the state Independent Insurance Agents of America or PIA associations? As a member benefit, you have access to programs with standard market carriers without the hassle of premium committments. Also, have you considered joining The Iroqu...

Getting preferred appointments with no prior broker experience will take time. Have you tried to get appointments with a wholesaler to access preferred companies like Safeco and Travelers? If not do it. Once you start building a preferred book through a wholesaler then they will start coming around...

I was wondering if the rest of you have run into this problem. I am a small, 1-person scratch agency that literally had to start out with nothing at all. No money, no access to credit, nothing. Kind of hard to have anything when, due to age discrimination, nobody will give you a job so you are not p...

How do I reach them? Should I be appointed with them? Check out an MGA called LifeStar. They are pretty good. Their number is toll free: 1-866-888-5736. They will help you with the appointment. Ask for Victoria Setterberg. Tell her Jacqueline Homan from the Homan Agency in Erie, PA referred you. Go...

As a small independent agent in PA, I resent the insinuation that as a commissions-only paid insurance sales person that I am only out to make a buck and not interested in providing valuable services to customers. If I fail to find the best bang for the buck regarding coverage and the cost for that ...

Try US Financial Life. They claim to be pretty good at writing risks others decline.

We have a A.M. Best Rated "B" Carrier that has been very successful in writing both hard to place commercial and personal lines business for us in NJ that other wouldn't or couldn't write. If you thank you may be interested, fax over aby company's completed app. to (215) 324-8186 to see i...

Dear Bill; I read your posting. I'm a wholesaler who specializes in Personal Lines for the Tri-States. I have 3 excellent H.O. companies(excess). Coastal and prior losses are usually not a problem. I also represent a Surplus lines carrier who writes stand alone CPL, umbrella and excess umbrella. Al...