How Emerging Technology is Changing the Shape of the Insurance Industry

From automation to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to offering policy quotes in real-time and more, insurance agents are looking for their carriers to boost the implementation of new and emerging technologies not only for their own benefit but for the benefit of their policyholders as well. When the world as we knew it … Read more

Community Marketing Tips for Independent Insurance Agencies

Community Marketing

Independent agencies and brokers rely on sales to survive. Without sales, an agency will lack customers, lose revenue, and have no future. If sales represent the vehicle driving the success of your independent agency, then marketing, specifically community marketing, is that vehicle’s fuel. Community marketing is essential to any independent insurance agency or insurance broker’s … Read more

Are You Compromising on Ownership & Earnings?

insurance agent compromising on ownership

There is one key question you should ask any aggregator before you join: What type of appointments will I have access to? Varying carrier appointments mean very different things when it comes to access, earnings, and ownership of that business. Before you sign on the dotted line, ensure you understand all the differences laid out … Read more

Register Your Business + Obtain Federal & State Tax IDs

Getting official IDs and registering your agency

Once you settle on a name you like, you will need to protect it. First, you need to register your entity name at the state level. Typically, the information you will need to file with your state agency includes: a. Business Name b. Business Location c. Ownership/Management Structure (for LLCs, this is typically your Articles … Read more

Interview with the Mastersons

Interviewing Marti Masterson

Marti Masterson and her husband Doug have been involved in the insurance industry for over 20 years, 11 of which they’ve spent as independent agents with ASNOA. Now the two are enjoying retirement after Marti sold her book for 280% of its revenue, but their journey was not an easy one. ASNOA’s Communications Supervisor Madeline … Read more

Bootstrap Marketing for IAs

Bootstrap marketing techniques

You’ve heard by now the importance of investing in marketing for your agency, but 1) who has the time to launch several successful marketing campaigns and 2) where would you find the money to pay for them? The good news is that it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to build … Read more

Becoming Independent: Leaving Captivity

Resigning from a Captive agency

This blog is the first in a series that takes you all the way through your journey to becoming independent; from finishing your career as a captive agent to confidently running your own agency, ‘Becoming Independent’ will highlight each step in the process and what you can do to maximize your success rate. The first … Read more

How to Compare Insurance Aggregators

Comparing insurance networks

More money, independence, access, how many times have you heard these buzz words from other networks you’ve interviewed? The truth is they lure you in with these promises, but once affiliated, you’re quick to see the tarnish under the shine. We don’t mean to burst your bubble, but we’re tired of watching independent agents fall … Read more

Introductory Meeting with Carriers

Important Questions to Ask During Carrier Meeting

Your First 180 Days as an Independent Agent: Recommendations for Success In this blog, we are going to cover what you should ask during your introductory meeting with carriers, documents to gather, and a template to keep it all organized. This will be the first in a series of blogs covering different topics that we … Read more