A BGA, or Brokerage General Agency, is an insurance agency that works with financial professionals to sell insurance products. They are wholesalers of insurance products and work with dozens of carriers to offer products in life, disability, long-term care, annuities, and health insurance. BGAs act as a one-stop shop for insurance agents, providing them with the tools and resources they need to be insurance experts and offer their clients a range of insurance options. They can also function as the back office of an independent insurance producer, providing support with customer service, new business, requirement processing, and agent licensing. The BGA's primary objective is to provide a profitable, cost-effective, and efficient way to process insurance opportunities.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Definition | Brokerage General Agency |
Function | Sell life insurance products to independent life insurance producers |
Product Categories | Life Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance, Disability Insurance, Annuities |
Clients | Insurance professionals, Property & Casualty Agents, Carrier Life Agents, Employee Benefits Brokers, Financial Advisors |
Services | Customer service, new business, requirement processing, agent licensing |
Support | Educating and providing knowledge to insurance producers, back-office support |
Relationship with Insurance Agents | Non-biased support team, help agents bring essential insurance to their clients |
What You'll Learn
BGAs are insurance wholesalers
A BGA, or Brokerage General Agency, is an insurance wholesaler. They are independent agencies or individuals working for insurance companies, selling insurance products to independent insurance producers, who then sell the policies to their clients. BGAs are not tied to one specific company and can represent several companies and many product lines. This means they can offer clients the best deals available.
The four main product categories for most Brokerage General Agents are life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, and annuities. They work with financial advisors, who then communicate with their clients. BGAs can also provide supportive services for individual producers, including taking applications, processing cases, providing quotes, and answering underwriting cases. They can also act as a back office for independent insurance producers, providing support at the request of the agent.
The primary objective of a BGA is to provide a profitable, cost-effective, and efficient way to process any insurance opportunity a producer would rather not do on their own. They can also provide customer service, answering calls and emails, and replying to status inquiries. They can also process new applications, request missing documents, and order medical exams.
BGAs can also handle agent licensing and contracting matters for agents writing business through them. They can educate and provide knowledge to insurance producers on a variety of products, bridging the gap between complex carrier products and the clients' needs. This benefits both agents and insurers.
BGAs are paid by the carriers, who benefit from the business the BGAs help produce. They do not get between agents and their commissions; agents are paid in full directly from the carriers.
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They work with financial professionals
A Brokerage General Agency (BGA) is an insurance agency that works with financial professionals who are licensed to sell the insurance products of the companies they represent. BGAs are wholesalers of insurance products and work with dozens of carriers. They offer products for life, disability, long-term care, annuities, and health insurance.
BGAs work with financial advisors, who then communicate with their clients. They help insurance agents gain access to the myriad options available in the marketplace. This provides smooth and direct access to get quotes and products from carriers. The goal of a BGA is to help financial advisors find personalized solutions for the individual needs of their clients.
BGAs provide the tools and resources an advisor needs to be an insurance expert. They stay on top of the most competitive options in the insurance space. Financial advisors can leverage a BGA's expertise to analyze an entire industry segment in one phone call. BGAs can also provide education and knowledge to insurance producers on a variety of products, bridging the gap between carriers' complex products and the producers' in-depth knowledge of their clients.
In addition to selling policies, BGAs provide supportive services for individual producers, including taking applications, processing cases, providing quotes, and answering underwriting cases. They can act as the back office of an independent insurance producer, providing support at the request of the agent. Their primary objective is to provide a profitable, cost-effective, and efficient way to process any insurance opportunity a producer would rather not do on their own.
When it comes to getting paid, agents receive their full commission directly from the carriers, and BGAs do not interfere in this process. Carriers pay overrides to BGAs for the services they provide.
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BGAs can represent multiple companies
Brokerage General Agencies (BGAs) are wholesalers of insurance products and can represent multiple companies. They are a one-stop shop for solutions to life insurance and health insurance needs. They are a non-biased support team that helps insurance agents bring essential insurance to their clients. BGAs work with financial advisors, who then communicate with their clients.
BGAs work in the space between dozens of carriers and insurance agents, offering products for life, disability, long-term care, annuities, and health insurance products. They help insurance agents gain access to the myriad options available in the marketplace. This process provides smooth and direct access to get quotes and products from carriers.
The goal of a BGA is to help financial advisors find personalized solutions for the individual needs of their clients. They provide the tools and resources an advisor needs to be an insurance expert. It is the full-time job of a broker to keep track of the most competitive options in the insurance space.
BGAs can represent at least 10 carriers, each with its own unique options and requirements. They can help insurance agents identify the best carrier and product for their clients. They can also educate agents on the products they represent, so agents can determine if they have any clients who might benefit from a new product.
BGAs can offer incentives and commissions to insurance agents, and they can also provide support services such as taking applications, processing cases, providing quotes, and answering underwriting cases. They can act as the back office of an independent insurance producer, providing support at the request of the agent.
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They help insurance agents find the best products for their clients
A Brokerage General Agency (BGA) is a wholesaler of insurance products. They work with insurance agents and financial advisors to help them find the best products for their clients. They are not insurance producers themselves but act as a consultant or partner to insurance agents, providing them with the tools and resources they need to be experts in their field.
BGAs work with dozens of carriers and offer products for life, disability, long-term care, annuities, and health insurance. They help insurance agents gain access to the myriad options available in the marketplace, providing a smooth and direct route to get quotes and products from carriers.
The primary objective of a BGA is to help financial advisors find personalized solutions for the individual needs of their clients. They are a non-biased support team, and when agents grow and excel, the BGA grows with them. They can also function as the back office of an independent insurance producer, providing support at the request of the agent.
In addition to providing access to insurance products, BGAs may also offer supportive services for individual producers, including taking applications, processing cases, providing quotes, and answering underwriting cases. They can also provide education and knowledge to insurance producers on a variety of products, bridging the gap between the complex products offered by carriers and the clients' needs, which are best understood by the producers.
BGAs are particularly useful for insurance agents who want to offer their clients policies from multiple companies. In the past, life insurance agents were typically hired by a single company and sold only that company's products. Now, with information and pricing readily available online, consumers often expect agents to offer policies from a range of providers. BGAs facilitate this by giving agents access to multiple carriers.
BGAs are also beneficial for insurance agencies that are looking to add life insurance to their offerings. These agencies want to ensure that their clients continue to receive quality service and that their client relationships are not jeopardized. BGAs can provide the tools and support to help them achieve this, such as online case access, accessibility to life insurance companies for in-force policy information, and timely updates during the underwriting process.
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BGAs can provide education and knowledge to insurance producers
A BGA, or Brokerage General Agency, is an insurance agency that works with financial professionals who are licensed to sell insurance products. BGAs can represent multiple companies and product lines, including life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, and annuities. They act as a partner to insurance agents, helping them find the best product for their clients.
One of the key advantages of working with a BGA is the education and knowledge they can provide to insurance producers. BGAs are experts in the insurance industry and can offer valuable insights and training to insurance agents. They can help insurance producers stay up-to-date on the latest market trends, products, and regulations, enabling them to make informed decisions and provide better service to their clients.
Secondly, BGAs provide valuable support services, such as taking applications, processing cases, providing quotes, and answering underwriting inquiries. This not only saves time and resources for insurance producers but also ensures that they have the necessary knowledge and tools to serve their clients effectively.
Additionally, BGAs often offer product training and education as part of their customer service. They can provide insurance quotes, product information, and market analysis to insurance producers, helping them understand the features and benefits of different insurance products. This enables insurance producers to make informed recommendations to their clients and ensure they are offering the most suitable policies.
Furthermore, BGAs can offer expertise in specific areas, such as estate planning, tax planning, and charitable planning. This specialized knowledge can be invaluable for insurance producers, especially when dealing with complex cases or high-net-worth individuals. By partnering with a BGA, insurance producers can enhance their professional capabilities and better serve their clients' diverse needs.
Lastly, BGAs stay abreast of industry changes and trends, including new products, tax laws, and estate planning regulations. By providing this knowledge to insurance producers, BGAs ensure that they remain compliant and offer relevant, up-to-date advice to their clients. This ongoing education helps insurance producers stay ahead of the curve and adapt to the evolving needs of their clients.
In conclusion, BGAs play a crucial role in providing education and knowledge to insurance producers. By offering access to a diverse range of products, carriers, and services, BGAs empower insurance producers to make informed decisions and provide valuable advice to their clients. Through ongoing training, market insights, and specialized knowledge, BGAs contribute to the professional development of insurance producers, ultimately enhancing the quality of service in the insurance industry.
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Frequently asked questions
BGA stands for Brokerage General Agency.
A BGA is an insurance agency that works with financial professionals who are licensed to sell the insurance products of the carriers they represent.
A BGA acts as a partner to an insurance agent, helping them find the best product for their client. They can represent several companies and many product lines.
The four main product categories for most Brokerage General Agents are Life Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Annuities.
A BGA acts as an insurance wholesaler, with the authority to accept and place applications, appoint agents on behalf of the insurance carrier, and provide underwriting and administrative services. They provide education and knowledge to insurance producers on a variety of products, bridging the gap between carriers and producers.