What is the difference between a captive agent and an independent agent?
In short, a captive agent contracts with only one company, and is bound by that contract to solicit or sale only the products of that one insurance company. Agents of captive companies are limited to that one company as to what they can offer their clients. Examples of companies that use captive agents are State Farm, Farmers, All State, American Family etc. In contrast independent agents contract with multiple carriers and are able to offer their clients the products from anyone of these carriers. In our opinion the client benefits by having one agent who can shop the market for him or her. This is why independent agents are often referred to as brokers. As a caveat, independent agents cannot offer the products of captive agent insurance companies.
