Every year around this time, our phones get a little busier. Captive agents start doing the math on another year of quotas, and career changers realize January is right around the corner. If you have been quietly weighing leaving a captive insurance agency, there is no perfect time to go independent. But there is a smart time to start planning it, and it is the fall.
Why is fall the best time to plan a move to independence?
The last three months of the year give you a natural runway. You can research, prepare, and handle paperwork while life runs on its normal schedule, then launch with a clean start when the calendar turns.
- Clean books. Launching January 1 lines your first year of agency income up with a tax year, which keeps bookkeeping and planning simpler.
- Time to prepare without pressure. Licensing, onboarding, and carrier access all take time. Starting in October means you are ready to quote in January instead of still waiting on logins.
- Clients are already reviewing their budgets. The new year is when many households and business owners look hard at their bills, and that includes insurance.
- A full year to build renewals. As we covered in what a realistic first year looks like, renewals are what make year two different from year one. Starting in January gives you twelve full months to build them.
What should I do before leaving a captive insurance agency?
Here is how we would spend the next ninety days.
October: understand your situation. Pull out your agent agreement and read it carefully, especially any non-compete or non-solicitation terms and what happens to your book when you leave. Every contract is different, so have an attorney review yours before you make decisions. If you are not licensed yet, enroll in a pre-licensing course this month.
November: do your due diligence. Talk to independent agencies and networks, and ask hard questions about carrier access, training, support, fees, and who owns the book. Our list of questions every agent should ask before joining an independent agency was written for exactly this stage.
December: build the foundation. Finalize your decision, set up your business with your accountant, and schedule onboarding so you can quote the moment you launch.
How fast can I start writing business as an independent agent?
At Secure American, we built our process so new agents do not lose months to setup. Onboarding training typically takes 7 to 10 business days. When you finish, you get your own logins to quote and bind with our carriers, working in EzLynx from day one. Every one of our agents has booked their first client within five business days of completing training.
That means an agent who starts the conversation with us this fall can realistically be writing business in the first weeks of January, with access to more than 40 carriers, in-house accounting that processes commissions, and a marketing coordinator ready to help build a plan.
What does waiting another year really cost?
The most common thing we hear from agents who made the move is not that they wish they had waited. It is that they wish they had started sooner. Every year spent building someone else's book is another year of renewals you will not own. That is not a reason to rush. It is a reason to plan, and fall is when planning pays off.
If you want to talk through what a January launch could look like for you, visit our Get Started page.
FAQ
Can I take my clients with me when I leave a captive agency?
It depends on your contract. Many captive agreements limit what you can take or who you can contact after leaving. Review your agreement with an attorney before making any move. We also cover this in depth in what happens to your book of business when you leave a captive agency.
Do I need my own office to go independent with Secure American?
No. Home offices are acceptable, as long as you have the proper equipment and can maintain a professional environment.
How long does onboarding take at Secure American?
Onboarding training typically takes 7 to 10 business days. After that, you receive your own carrier logins to start quoting and binding.