FAQs

SAN is an independent insurance agency integrator group. We partner with national and regional carriers to provide independent agents with access to companies and markets which may be otherwise unavailable to insurance agents. In addition, we offer member benefits designed to increase income, enhance agency value and help independent agencies remain independent.

SAN is a Master Agency affiliated with SIAA – the #1 alliance of independent insurance agencies in the country.

SIAA is a national insurance alliance comprised of Master Agencies throughout the United States. The Master Agencies recruit and support independent insurance agencies (member agencies) within their market area.

SAN’s market area includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and parts of New York and Pennsylvania.

After recruiting the member agency, the Master Agency makes available its appointments to major carriers. It also provides management support, marketing, training, and additional income opportunities to the agency.

The concept of SIAA began in 1983 with the creation of the Satellite Agency Network Group (SAN Group). Local independent insurance agencies kept running into roadblocks because of their size, low commissions, and lack of access to competitive companies. The idea was to create a “Master Agency” to help grow these agencies’ reach and profitability.

In 1995, after SAN Group proved it could give local agencies a larger reach, and with encouragement from a group of insurance executives and consultants, a new national business model based on the success of the SAN Group was created – SIAA.

SIAA offers tools and resources for its Master Agencies and our members that can not be found in other alliance networks.

Insurance aggregators provide market access and aggregate premium, sometimes with additional compensation, but without any support services or tools. Insurance agents join an aggregator to gain access to insurance carriers’ contracts. This relationship tends to be very transactional.

A cluster occurs when a group of agents form either a formal joint venture or a loose affiliation to place their individual books of business as part of a larger book in order to receive higher commissions or profit sharing. Cluster members continue to operate individually.

SAN and SIAA are neither aggregators, nor clusters. We started our alliance with an idea to help other agents grow their entire business, helping member agencies become sustainable for the long term. In addition to providing company access and the highest compensation in the industry, our unique business model focuses on providing member agencies with the tools for success. This can include agency access to mentors, the ability to work with our Agency Growth Coaches, marketing support, programs & specialty markets, E&S partnerships, training and education, life & benefits partners, technology partners, and perpetuation planning.

SAN does not have a specific profile for member agencies, and we have members of all sizes and experience levels. Many of these members are smaller agencies in need of markets; however, direct writers, life and health, financial service agencies, and producers, without vesting in their book, will all find SAN membership beneficial.

Are you an:

• Exclusive agent looking to go independent?
• Existing agency owner who needs more carriers and/or wants to increase your business income and value?
• Experienced producer looking to start your own agency?
• Owner of a mature, established agency who’s looking for strategic partnerships?

If you answered yes, then SAN just might be the perfect fit for you!

While there is no stated minimum, most startup agencies succeed if the principal has two or more years of experience as a licensed P&C insurance agent.

Yes. We are constantly negotiating higher commissions, bonuses and overrides with our carriers. Several excess compensation arrangements, premium financing, and excess and surplus lines overrides are also in effect.

There are two methods. First is through direct company appointments. Members have the ability to earn direct codes. Upon receiving the direct code, all commissions – including any preferred commissions – are paid directly to the producing agent by the writing company. Policies are issued in the member’s name and the member now qualifies for any additional profit sharing, bonuses and overrides.

Second is through AccessPlus. The AccessPlus placement facility allows members to place business with non-appointed insurance companies. This enables members to place business while learning about the company’s competitiveness and appetite, while using the production to ultimately earn additional direct access codes. Upon earning direct access, all business is transferred to the direct access code.

Not all business fits standard insurance companies. SAN and SIAA have developed significant relationships with national Excess and Surplus Wholesalers as well as numerous program and specialty market providers. Members can utilize SIAA MarketFinder to quickly identify the appropriate market access. These market access partners provide direct access, enhanced commissions and additional overrides.

Yes, there are several options for perpetuation under the SAN agreement and in certain circumstances is contractually guaranteed by a formula included in the membership agreement.

Membership does not limit your perpetuation planning. In fact, it simply opens up more opportunities for your consideration.

First and foremost, you get access to different companies. But simply having access to insurance companies and aggregating premiums will not make an independent agency successful.

SAN is more than simply company access, it’s a model uniquely focused on providing member agencies the tools for success. This can include agency access to mentors, the ability to work with our Agency Growth Coaches, marketing support, programs & specialty markets, E&S partnerships, training and education, life & benefits partners, and perpetuation planning.

We started our alliance with an idea to help insurance agents grow their entire business, so these services are available when you need them to run a successful independent insurance agency.

SAN’s biggest advantage? We are committed to helping member agencies become sustainable for the long term, and work with you to define and customize the path from your exclusive agency to your independent agency. It’s all about YOU!