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Independent agents who partner with a high-quality agency network experience better growth and close-ratio outcomes post-relationship. Retention of book of business, opportunities for higher commissions, no network fees, and flexibility to choose which network services to use facilitate agent satisfaction.

Sales and marketing training is not cheap. It is common for agents to shell out thousands of dollars for lectures from sales experts, hoping to glean a few nuggets they can bring back to their agencies. These big ideas are great but can be difficult to implement without help.

When evaluating an agency network as a partner for the independent agent, there are many factors to consider. Each agent’s business model is unique, so solutions need to be flexible and scalable to the individual.

We surveyed and interviewed independent agents from across the United States to understand the hurdles they face, the partnerships they’ve engaged, and how these strategies have affected their businesses. In our research, we explored the options they chose to overcome income and growth barriers while remaining independent.

In sales, connecting with our prospects is the key to closing the deal. Developing the right tools to successfully identify and understand our prospect’s needs is crucial to creating that important connection, establishing trust, and facilitating communication.

We are in the eye of a perfect storm. We have three hurricane strength forces acting upon the livelihood of independent insurance agents. But with proper marketing, independent agents can weather almost any storm.

One thing that has never changed in this type of marketplace, and likely won’t ever stop being important, is networking and being involved in your community.

South Carolina agent, Jeremy Powers, opened his independent agency on January 1, 2020 – only three months before the start of the global pandemic that would dramatically shift the business landscape over the next year.

Whether your book skews mainstreet, affluent or private client, these are customers in need of your insurance expertise. Here are five RV trends agents need to know for 2021 and beyond:

Most salespeople who are not consistently at the top of the sales chart have a similar method of dealing with multiple project deadlines: they sit down, write down all of the things they need to do and then prioritize. But less prioritized items always seem to get pushed to next month, or, in other words, never get done.

Agency Network. Aggregator. Cluster. The words are used interchangeably in the insurance industry, but are they really the same thing? If you are an independent agent looking for market access and agency growth, is it worth joining some type of an alliance, and how do you know which one is right for you?

Experts predict commercial insurance premiums will rise this year, and umbrella coverage may become more popular as protection against uncertainty. Technology and insurance will continue to intersect, too. Here’s a look at what to expect from the rest of 2021.