Blog + Magazine

Discover the challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. private auto insurance industry in 2023. Learn how independent agents can thrive despite rising inflation, supply chain issues, and increasing premiums. Explore strategies to succeed in this evolving market and maximize your agency's growth and profitability.

If you’re thinking about making the leap from captive to independent agent, this guide explores the pros and cons of such an endeavor, as well as practical steps and success strategies to help you navigate the decision-making process.

You want to grow your agency and you know you could – if only you had more help. Hiring new team members is an expensive and complicated next step, and fortunately, there’s an easier way to grow before you reach that point. With our Smart Start programs, you can access the support you need to expand your personal and commercial lines business without the time and expense of recruiting and adding payroll.

Moving into 2023, independent agents who wish to grow will have to adopt different mindsets than in the past. As carriers continue to tighten risk guidelines, implement cancellations and rate hikes, and reduce appointments, they will look to partner with growth-oriented agencies.

The beauty of being an independent agent is that you’re often aligned with a number of carriers and partners who have done a lot of work for you, versus only having access to the carrier you work for as a captive agent.

Mark Brandt, VP of Commercial Lines at Smart Choice, sat down with Andy Wittgren, Director of Select Sales at Cowbell Cyber, for a Q &A on the state of cyber insurance today.

2023 Commercial Lines Edition

Time to take the plunge!

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Chris Walters is the owner of Integrity Insurance Group in Charleston, West Virginia. Since opening in 2019, Chris has built a $4 million book of business, and the network support he received from Smart Choice has played a key role. 

Independent agents are all too familiar with how challenging it can be to find success. Over the years, insurance networks have emerged as a prime way to help independent insurance agencies find their footing, connect with carriers and achieve their goals.

Hard Market and Rate Hikes: If you’ve been in the industry for any length of time, you know it’s cyclical. We are currently experiencing a hard market unlike any other we’ve ever experienced as we exit an unprecedented (at least in our modern lives) pandemic. Supply chain issues, labor shortages, inflation, inventory shortages – they’re all contributing to alter our industry’s delicate balance. 

For 13 years, Suzanne was the office manager at a local State Farm agency, until one day her boss retired. It’s a situation in which many insurance professionals find themselves.

The last three years may have forever changed the future of the insurance industry. Changes that had been taking place in an industry historically slow to adopt technology were forced to accelerate during the unexpected pandemic of 2020.