In this industry, and in life, having the right partner is vital to success. Those of us that have made great choices tend to have more fun and fewer headaches. Perhaps one of the most important business partnerships that is often overlooked is the choice of carriers.

If one is in the industry long enough, there is a good chance this has hit home a few times. Choosing a carrier that refuses to look at you, the broker, as a true partner can often lead to a nightmare for you and your clients. A broker should look past the company sales rep from any carrier and speak with the administrative people to get a good clue as to what their culture demands in their relations with the broker community, including the language that they use; how their systems are set up to handle commissions, new business and billing; their website interface; or any of the other day-to-day operations of an insurance company. What is the attitude of the staff? Do they respond quickly? Do they at least act like they care? Do they take responsibility and correct mistakes when they are made? Do they care about your business, not just their own 'cast in stone' procedures? These are important questions to ask. Of course, this means the broker must also have strong business practices and a high sense of ethics.

Finding the right carrier that recognizes the importance of the broker is not always easy, but has been a fundamental key to our success.