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Legal Advocacy & Contract Reviews.
Free Download for Members
Agency-Company Appointment Contracts Guide.
This guide outlines critical contract provisions—including ownership of expirations, data security, and post-termination rights—with key considerations and sample language to help you navigate agency-company agreements.
resource from Big “I” Best Practices
An Agency’s Guide to Producer Contracts.
This 40-page resource breaks down key contract provisions, includes five sample contracts and features a producer contract checklist to help you build producer contracts with confidence.
Contract reviews.
The Big “I” Office of General Counsel (OGC) reviews agency-company agreements based on requests from Big “I” member agencies and state associations and in connection with requests for assistance by carriers. The OGC has completed additional, informal reviews of agreements that are not posted on this website. Please email Scott Kneeland if you have questions about an agency-company agreement.
Memoranda & FAQs.
AI Legal Issues & Acceptable Use
Texting with Clients: Requirements Under the TCPA
Worker Classification: Employee vs. Independent Contractor
Governance & Member Information.
- Antitrust Policy and Guide
- Guidelines on Carrier/Vendor Feedback for Agents and Brokers
- Antitrust Compliance Statement for IIABA Committees/Task Forces/Boards
- Statement of Principles on Conflicts of Interest
- Antitrust Policy and Guide; Standard of Conduct and No-Harassment Policy; and Statement of Principles on Conflicts of Interest Acknowledgment Form
- Standard of Conduct and No-Harassment Policy
- Whistleblower Policy
During its January 2024 board meeting, the Big “I” Board of Directors adopted a policy statement on agent compensation and appointments in the current hard insurance market.
The statement is intended for all insurance industry stakeholders and emphasizes the critical and unique role that independent agents and brokers play in the insurance marketplace. It details the services they provide for both consumers and carriers and expresses concern about recent carrier reductions in agent commissions and inappropriate agency terminations.
While acknowledging the challenges insurers face in the current hard market, the statement also affirms that “we also believe the practice of reducing agent compensation and terminating agency appointments is rash and misguided” and that “the ability of agents to serve the needs of consumers is hindered when insurers inappropriately terminate agency appointments.”
The policy document goes on to say that insurers have a responsibility to discuss in advance with their distribution force any significant actions they will take.
Read the January 2024 Big “I” Policy Statement on Agent Compensation and Related Issues.
- IIABA Board Policy on Certificates of Insurance and Evidences of Insurance, adopted Sept. 29, 2007
- IIABA Policy Statement Regarding Use of Consumer Credit Information and Credit/Insurance Scores, adopted Sept. 20, 2002 and revised Jan. 25, 2004
- IIABA Policy Regarding Broker Placement Service Agreements, adopted Oct. 4, 2004
- IIABA Policy Regarding Insurance Company Disclosure of Producer Compensation, adopted Sept. 9, 2005
- IIABA Policy Statement on Real-Time Multiple Company Rating, adopted Jan. 15, 2006
Certificates of Insurance resources from the Big “I” Virtual University
About the Big “I” Office of General Counsel.
Navigating complex legal and business challenges is part of running an agency—but you don’t have to do it alone.
The OGC responds to Big “I” member and state association requests on a broad range of legal and business issues, including reviews of and advocacy on contracts addressing agency relationships with carriers, Big “I” trademark use and infringement, antitrust regulations, and federal laws and regulations that impact Big “I” members.
The OGC also prepares memoranda and FAQs to assist members in complying with the federal laws and regulations that affect their businesses.
Advocacy on behalf of members is central to the activities of the OGC, including protecting agents’ ownership of expirations and other key components of agency-company contracts, proactive negotiation with carriers for changes in agency-company contracts, and more. The OGC also works with members and state associations on strategies for litigation on industry issues.
The OGC provides legal and business counsel to the Big “I” and all its subsidiaries on contracts that deliver products and services to members, such as Big “I” Professional Liability, Big “I” Alliance, Trusted Choice®, Independent Agent magazine and the Big “I” Virtual University.
