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.

Learn how veteran agent John McMillen uses Smart Choice resources, carrier access, and commercial support to better serve clients and plan for the future.

Discover how underrepresented minorities are thriving as independent insurance agency owners through entrepreneurship, community leadership, and long-term business growth.

A book of business in insurance is the full portfolio of clients, policies, and recurring commissions an agent or agency manages.

See how much it costs to start an insurance agency with licensing, tech, marketing, staffing, and ongoing expenses

Compare insurance agent license requirements by state, pre-licensing hours, exam fees, fingerprinting, and timelines. Plus what to do after you're licensed.

This Q&A with Emily McCall, Territory Manager in Florida, highlights how Smart Choice supports independent agents through a flexible, non-exclusive model that complements existing carrier relationships. She emphasizes programs like Express Markets and Smart Start, which allow agents to begin writing business quickly while retaining full ownership of their clients. With a capped commission structure and strong carrier access, Smart Choice is positioned as a partner focused on helping agencies grow and succeed long term.

Smart Choice is migrating to a new mobile communication technology offered by World Mobile. This new blockchain-based system offers privacy, security, data ownership, encrypted VPN, SIM fraud protection and hybrid use of any network’s cell towers for greater reliability.

NFL veteran builds a relationship-driven agency with 93% client retention.