Superior Access Vs. SIAA

[wornout]

Searched the forums and found various opinions on each of the above. Starting an independent agency after being captive. Love SIAA but hate the commitment and punitive contract if you don't stay 15 years.

Superior Access seems so easy to start, but difficult to act quickly with quotes. Not so concerned about binding authority.

Superior Access doesn't give references...anyone here interested in giving them a review?

How about negotiating with SIAA? The backend deal seems pretty awful - 30% of your book after 15 years AND 45% if you leave early plus the buy in.

 

[bluestar1]

I don't think this is very helpful information for you, however, my understanding is that Superior Access is part of SIAA.

 

[Benefits Man]

other options are agentsecure.com and insurancenoodle, for personal lines SA does seem to be the best. I just got into P/C (1 month ago) and SA has been good to me thus far.

 

[wornout]

I checked out both their sites and not happy with the carriers in my state. I don't think I will be competitive.

SIAA and Superior are in fact separate businesses. SIAA was started in New England. Both companies operate as master agencies, but with SIAA you eventually get a sub code. Apparently with Superior, after you right enough business with a carrier you can go direct.

 

[InsureTexasNow]

I used superior getting started for some markets. Mostly auto and home. Only issue is the can take a really long time on some quotes and binding. I have seen it anywhere from 4 hours to 48 hours just to quote. Most recently 48. You might as well take thursday afternoon and Friday off because you will not get anthing done with them before the weekend.

 

[moeasadi]

I recommend to negotiate a good split with a local indy agency that will let you own your book.Once you have about 500k book, and you know all carries reps, you will get you own appointments and move your book.
This is what I did for 1.5 years and now I have Travelers small business and in process of getting appointed with Hartford.Personal line appointments are more difficult than commercial.

 

[wornout]

My luck has changed, I can get 3 direct appointments now, so I might try Superior Access or Smart Choice to supplement for until I can add more. No one seems to have great success with Superior, so I think I might pass.

 

[Lakewood]

I used superior access for several months when I converted from captive to independent. The level of service you get from them will kill your business. Your competing against agents that can quote and bind in less than 30 minutes. If your using SA, that will not happen. One time it took them over 16 days to replace a car on a policy. The policy was already in force. All they had to do was replace the car.

Now I'm with SIAA. They get you direct appointments. You are not a sub producer. Because they represent hundreds of agencies, you get top commission from day one. I get 15% NB and 15% renewal, plus I get profit bonus. You will not get any kind of bonus with SA.

If you really want to start and build a successful independent agency, stay as far away from SA as you can get.

 

[Guest]

Lakewood, thx for bringing back the over a year old thread,

I will say this about SA thou, it sucks for personal lines, but for commerical it isnt bad. Commercial isnt usually a immediate need like PL is....

 

[wornout]

I agree with Superior Access assessment. I did end up using them for commercial when I first started. It was a huge pain. Very long to get a quote, then when it was time to bind and issue, they changed carriers and price. I am not sure their underwriters really know what they were doing. I left them, but the biggest pain is that I still have to service clients I wrote with them with claims and policy inquiries-- so I have to call Superior because I have no access to the carrier -- or the policy. I wish I had not used them.

I am still searching for access to more lines for commercial. Anyone have an opinion on Smart Choice? I have access to Main Street and Hartford for commercial, but they don't seem to want to write more than BOPs -- and most of those they don't want those.