Frequently Asked Questions From Independent Insurance Agents

HOW MANY CARRIERS WILL I BE ABLE TO WRITE?

This depends partly on your state. Follow this link, to see which ones are available. Because of our structure, you’ll get many more carriers with us than you would with another organization. We’ll submit your appointment paperwork with each available carrier, and they have the final say. Firefly and agents who work with us have a good reputation, so almost all of our agents get appointed with every carrier, without difficulty. Once approved, you’ll have binding authority with that carrier.

Here’s one agent’s review of his experience with Firefly after starting out with a different aggregator first:

 

This agent got direct carrier appointments with Firefly when another aggregator couldn't do it.

WHICH STATES IS FIREFLY IN?

Firefly is in all of the blue states shown on this map:

State map with black background

And here is a list of those states:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

HOW CAN I GET DETAILS ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK WITH FIREFLY?

The best thing to do is DOWNLOAD OUR EBOOK. You’ll receive detailed information about commissions, carriers, costs, quoting, and much more. It should answer almost every question you have about how to become an independent insurance agent with Firefly Agency.

You can also spend some time in our learning center. You’ll find articles and videos there that answer your questions, along with testimonials from other agents who’ve chosen to team up with us.

Feel free to call us at (866) 903-1596 with questions.

The information in any of these resources should help you, whether or not you decide to work with us.

WHAT DO I GET FOR THE MONTHLY FEE?

Our monthly fee is simply the cost of a comparative rater and a management system.

Most companies who offer these services include an extra fee (which is why they’re higher). The ones with lower fees require you to retain these systems on your own, which means you have to add those subscriptions to their fee to know your true monthly cost.

WHAT DO I GET IN EXCHANGE FOR THE UPFRONT FEE?

First, you get direct appointments with 12+ carriers in just weeks, so you’ll start writing business quickly. You also get 1-on-1 training with Firefly that covers carrier appetites, quoting systems, e-signature systems, and more.

Essentially, your up-front fee cover your entire onboarding process. Firefly gets you your carrier appointments so quickly and easily that many agents have told us that Firefly feels like a cheat code to getting an agency started. Are you a good fit for Firefly?

​CAN I HAVE MY OWN P&C CARRIER APPOINTMENTS AND STILL WORK WITH FIREFLY?

You sure can! Most agents who are starting from scratch with us don’t need or want outside appointments, but for established agents who are trying to get their agency to the next level we know this is a big deal.

Most aggregators either don’t allow agents to have outside appointments or they require YOU to pay THEM a portion of the carrier commissions you have outside of them.  For established agents, this can make working with an aggregator feel like one step forward and two steps back.

We don’t have a commission split requirement on the business you have with your own carriers.  Combine that and direct appointments with our carriers, and your agency can take two steps forward!

Check out this article to learn more about working with us and having your own appointments.

WHO OWNS THE BUSINESS THAT I WRITE?

You own the book. You can sell it to an agent who works outside of Firefly, to an agent who works with Firefly, give it to a family member, or do whatever you like with it, really.  You build it, you control it.

To learn more click on the yellow “Grow Your Agency” button at the top of the page.

HOW LONG IS YOUR CONTRACT?

There are no time stipulations. Firefly agents control their books and you can leave with 30 days’ notice.

HOW QUICKLY CAN I START WRITING BUSINESS?

First, you will need to complete appointment forms with your new carriers and get set up with Firefly’s tools and management system. Our automated appointment process lets you do almost all of it online, and begins within one business day of you signing up.

You’ll also begin regular training with our staff. We’ll get you up to speed on each insurance carrier so that you’re ready to start writing within the first four-to-six weeks.

WHAT PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS DO THE CARRIERS OR FIREFLY HAVE FOR ME?

If you worked with other aggregators, you would have production requirements for each carrier you get a direct appointment with. But with Firefly, you have one small universal production requirement that satisfies all of the carriers you get appointed with. (Click the link for details about how it works.)

With Firefly you will not have to choose between doing what is best for your customer and trying to sell a higher rate to keep a carrier happy!

DO I HAVE BINDING AUTHORITY?

Yes! With Firefly you get direct appointments with every carrier. You can talk directly with your underwriters and you can bind coverage.

With some aggregators or brokers, you may find yourself waiting for someone else to quote or issue your policies.

But not with us. You’ll have binding authority insurance agents with other companies only dream of.

ARE THERE ANY AGENTS WHO WORK WITH FIRELY THAT ARE SELLING THEIR BOOK?

It’s rare to see an insurance book of business for sale. Once agents have hit $500K in active premium all they have to do is maintain that premium level.  Carriers do not pressure you to grow, which means you are not forced to sell or fully retire.

From an agent’s perspective it doesn’t make financial sense to sell. Instead, they can service the book with little effort and continue to get paid the residual income.  Selling the agency for them would be like selling the goose that lays golden eggs.  Would you do that?

There is rarely an agency listed here, but you are welcome to check for any available acquisition opportunities.

If you’d like to learn what makes Firefly different, and how you could build an agency that YOU won’t list here either, click this link, or on the “Grow Your Agency” button on the top of this page.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER ADDING MORE CARRIERS?

Yes.  We are confident in our carrier’s abilities in any state and we would always consider a partnership that would add even more value to our agents and customers.

HOW OFTEN ARE COMMISSIONS PAID?

Commissions are paid monthly, by ACH deposit to your account.

We’ve heard from our agents about commission delays and problems with other aggregators. Rest assured that with Firefly, your commission payments will be as certain as the sunrise!

WHAT IF I TRY FIREFLY, BUT DECIDE IT’S NOT FOR ME?

Becoming an independent insurance agent is a big decision. Hopefully you get it right the first time. But things don’t always work out and life is too short to spend it working in a situation you don’t love!

Firefly’s contract does not have a time requirement, so you can leave anytime if you decide that we’re not right for you.

All you need to do is give us 30 days written notice so we can stop your monthly fees, finalize your termination, and offboard your agency. The up front fee is non-refundable, but since you own the book you’ll have an opportunity to leave with the policies you wrote without any non-competes.

This doesn’t happen often because most agents do a great job with their due diligence and we try hard to only work with agents who are a great fit for us.  But, if it doesn’t work out you and we want to be able to part ways on good terms.

CAN MY AGENCY KEEP ITS NAME?

In a word, yes. We understand you have worked hard to establish credibility and a strong reputation. Your name symbolizes your independent success and it should continue to do so.

ARE THERE ANY VESTING PERIODS BEFORE I CONTROL MY BOOK?

Nope. You own your book of business from day 1.

CAN I GIVE MY BOOK TO MY KIDS WHEN I RETIRE?

Absolutely.  Assuming they are licensed and eligible to take the reins, you can give them your book of business as a legacy. There is no cost or fee to Firefly to make this happen.

CAN I SELL MY BOOK ON THE OPEN MARKET?

Yes you can. Our contract does not restrict who you can sell your book to. Sell to who you want, when you want.

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