Carrier Contracts for Independent Agencies

We help insurance agencies get appointed with insurance companies, place more business, and scale growth.

Perks of Redbird’s FMO Member Services

1. Product Availability: We offer independent life and health insurance agencies looking to get contracted and sell various insurance providers across life insurance, health insurance, Medicare, annuities, disability income, LTC and ancillary insurance plans.
2. Systems & Technology: Access to proprietary systems for agency management, commissions tracking and quoting and enrollment.
3. Independence: You don’t work for us, you work for you! The Redbird Network works behind the scenes to help you write more insurance policies and increase your retention and commission income.
4. Dedicated Support Team: Our support teams will work with your cases every step of the way to ensure maximum placement. There is nothing worse than waiting for a case because you missed a small detail, we keep watch on that for you.
5. Strong and Fair Compensation: Commission rates are fair and strong (paid directly by the carriers) for the different insurance types. The more you write, the higher commission you can receive. Just have a discussion with our leader of brokerage services, Jason Buchheit about commission levels.
6. We’re Accessible: We’re all accessible to help you, eliminating the time you spend chasing problems and looking for answers.

Carrier Contracting

Below is a list of some of the companies the Redbird Network represents and can help you get started selling. You’ll not only find life insurance carriers for independent agents, but also health insurance, annuities and ancillary carriers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get appointed with insurance companies?

Assuming you don’t have any vector hits or a questionable background, insurance brokers should expect to be appointed with insurance carriers and ready to write business in about 10 days.

Depending on the state you live in you can submit your application at the same time as your appointment paperwork which allows you to get started immediately.

This is a standard practice in the insurance industry.

What are the requirements to get appointed direct with an insurance carrier?

In order to get contracted direct with any of our companies you’ll need the following.

1. Active insurance producer license (Get study materials here)
2. E&O (Here is a great resource to get E&O insurance)
3. Current AML Training (instructions are here)
4. Current annuity training (only if you’re selling annuities)
5. Agency license (if you’re getting appointed as a business entity)

Is Redbird Advisors a captive agency?

No.

Redbird does not support captive agents, but there are agency members in the network that have fantastic captive opportunities if that is the path you are looking to go.  We are happy to make an introduction for you.

Redbird’s real value is being a place for independent agencies to get support and remain independent and paid directly from the carriers by accessing highly qualified growth partners. You can work with us at any capacity that best supports your agency and get paired with many of the best life insurance IMO, annuity IMO, etc…

What types of contracts are available?

Below are the types of carrier contracts we can help support or connect you with.

• IMO
• FMO
• BGA
• MGA
• GA
• Street level
• LOA (commission assignment)

There might be some other categories available, but we can support most relationships with these direct contract levels.

Can I build a down line?

Yes, but it’s not a requirement.

We’re here to help you write more life, annuity, disability, and Medicare business, and not to convince you that recruiting should be part of your strategy.

Recruiting and building a team under you is completely your decision.  Let us know if you would like our help.

Does the Redbird Network have an advanced markets team?

Yes.

We have an incredible team available to help you with advanced case design for life insurance, annuities, or disability.  We primarily work with financial advisors that work with a variety of complex cases.

Why do insurance agents need an IMO?

IMO is an acronym for independent marketing organization and sometimes known as an insurance marketing organization. Regardless, they are a source of top-level contracts.

Independent Insurance agents typically need to utilize a life or health insurance IMO or brokerage due to the support systems they can offer. Another reason is because insurance companies do not have the staff to support directly contracted agents to sell their insurance products. An IMO serves as a great middle man between the distribution force and the direct insurance carriers.

A good IMO will help you manage your book of business and provide services such as leads, CRM, marketing programs, hiring new agents, quoting tools, a dedicated recruiter, and top-level commissions as your up-line.

What is an FMO?

An FMO is a field marketing organization which is contracted with insurance carriers and manages distribution channels of licensed agents. FMO’s generally support general agencies (GA), managing general agents (MGA), and direct agents.

Your FMO should help you with marketing strategies to increase your insurance sales in your first year and beyond in the insurance business. A good insurance FMO will provide transparent communication and should be wildly focused on support whether you’re a health insurance agent, life insurance agent, Medicare advantage agent, or Medicare supplement broker.

Common services include marketing, lead generation, insight on the best lead programs, guidance on social media marketing strategies, and how to best navigate insurance carrier underwriting requirements.

Do you have a life insurance quoting tool?

Yes.

All contracted agencies are granted access to back office systems which includes a very simple to use life insurance quoter that will run comparisons for term life, GUL, and final expense.

We will also grant you access to Winflex Web which is a great tool for illustrating more advanced permanent life insurance illustrations.

If you’re looking for Medicare quote comparisons, we can get you access to CSG.

Redbird is not licensed for property and casualty and does not offer home insurance, auto insurance, or traditional business insurance.