Smart Choice Blog This Power Partner Helped My Agency Hit the Ground Running

This Power Partner Helped My Agency Hit the Ground RunningIt is a single success story, repeated over 10,000 times - how an insurance network has made a remarkable difference for independent agents.When Doug Witcher founded the insurance network Smart Choice® in 1994, he was driven by one primary goal: to provide independent agencies with the "Freedom to Succeed."With that vision in mind, the early Smart Choice team committed to empowering independent agencies by offering the tools, resources, and support needed to start, run, and grow their businesses. This meant providing agencies with access to top-rated carriers, product training, and operational support - while ensuring they retained full ownership and control of their businesses. Fast-forward 30 years, and Witcher's dream has more than come to life. Smart Choice is now a thriving network of over 10,000 independent agencies and 100+ carrier partners across 48 states.In 2024, Smart Choice reported record growth, welcoming 1,450 new agencies and adding or expanding 12 national carrier partnerships.This marked the company's eighth consecutive year of adding over 1,000 new agencies, securing its title as the fastest-growing agency network in the country, and factoring in its recognition as a 5-Star Network by Insurance Business America and a Top 20 Network by Insurance Journal.The industry accolades keep on coming. Smart Choice's committed service and dedication to independent agency success recently earned the network one of Inc. Magazine's 2024 Power Partner awards. It was one of 359 companies - and the only insurance network - in the U.S. to receive the accolade, which recognizes the best vendors and suppliers for the small- and mid-size business market.This is the third consecutive year that Inc. Magazine has selected Smart Choice as a Power Partner for its commitment to helping other companies grow. The network's value proposition for independent agencies really shines through in three key areas: market access, training and support, and its agent-friendly contract that doesn't lock agency entrepreneurs into long or difficult terms.Access to marketsSmart Choice provides agencies with access to over 100 leading carriers and 300 products. Most independent agencies do not write enough policies to gain access to these top-rated carriers on their own. Once they partner with Smart Choice, agencies can offer a diverse range of insurance options to their clients, enhancing their competitive edge.David Stuart, Founder and President of Southwestern Insurance Group, based in Nashville, TN, can attest to the value of this partnership. His journey into insurance was unconventional. After building a successful career in medical sales, the Southwestern family of companies - a Nashville-based conglomerate that had hired him as a door-to-door sales intern during college - invited Stuart to establish their property and casualty (P&C) insurance division.Despite having no prior insurance experience, Stuart took on the challenge. He relocated to Nashville and immersed himself in learning about the industry, getting licensed, and accessing the market. Securing carrier appointments was "extremely difficult" in his early days of bootstrapping Southwestern Insurance Group. "With literally no insurance background and without the evidence to really show that we could generate the business, those conversations were difficult," says Stuart. "We had a business plan, we had some financial support, and I certainly had a track record of success in medical sales and door-to-door sales, but not in insurance."After researching ways to gain access to the market, Stuart decided to join an agency network, aggregator, or cluster - ultimately choosing Smart Choice.With the support of this Power Partner, Southwestern Insurance Group gained access to top-tier carriers like Travelers, Safeco, Grange, and more. Those fruitful carrier relationships and their incentive programs, which proved to be game changers for the agency's early cash-flow, have helped Southwestern Insurance Group grow its annual revenue from $50,000 in its first year of business (2018-2019) to $3 million last year.Mentorship and supportAgencies in the Smart Choice network receive robust training and local support through experienced territory managers. These professionals, often former agency owners or carrier-side experts, provide deep knowledge of products and sales strategies, helping agencies expand their businesses and diversify revenue streams.For Stuart, this guarantee of hands-on mentorship and support was a "deciding factor" in why he chose Smart Choice over other agency networks. He was connected with Tony Davis, the Tennessee State Director for Smart Choice, whose guidance was "critical" to Southwestern Insurance Group's early success."We would not have gotten off the ground without Tony's support, his belief, and the investment of his time and energy in helping us," says Stuart. "The entire Smart Choice staff was amazing in that regard, but we were calling Tony daily with questions to [help us] understand our carriers, understand our products, and make sure we were doing things correctly."Davis thrives on helping scratch agency owners like Stuart as they establish and operate successful insurance businesses."The people I enjoy working with the most are those who genuinely appreciate our support," Davis says. "I love assisting individuals who may not have extensive knowledge about insurance but are eager to become insurance agents and start their own agencies. These are the clients who truly value the expertise and guidance that my team at Smart Choice and I provide."This level of support and service is not only reserved for scratch agencies. The Power Partner offers essential tools, resources, and education for agency partners of all sizes and maturity, ultimately helping them to achieve their business goals.Agent-friendly contractSmart Choice prides itself on its agent-friendly contract, offering a straightforward one-year agreement with no joining or monthly marketing fees. Agents retain 100% ownership of their business while gaining access to exclusive products, resources, and discounts that might otherwise be out of reach.In contrast to other networks or aggregators, Stuart found Smart Choice's contract terms are clear and simple, its support system robust, and its commission structure highly competitive. The clarity of ownership over his book of business was a major factor in his decision to partner with Smart Choice, along with the opportunity to retain 100% of commissions after meeting certain thresholds. Additionally, the access to contingencies and bonuses helped to provide crucial cash flow during Southwestern Insurance Group's formative years."I firmly believe that the Smart Choice Agents agreement is the most agent-friendly network contract available," says Davis. "I am familiar with what most other companies and networks offer, and I truly believe Smart Choice stands out. We don't require any upfront payments, and we don't charge fees or dues. Our model ensures that we only share in the revenue after we've helped an agent generate it."This approach allows me to honestly tell agents that I'm in the boat rowing with them, not standing on the shore shouting, 'Row, row!'," Davis continues. "If I can't help them generate commissions, neither of us benefit. That's why I make myself as accessible as possible, taking calls after hours and even on weekends. Their business is my business, and I strive to be available whenever they need support."Smart Choice's promise of partnership is very powerful, especially for independent agencies trying to compete in a challenging marketplace against mega brokers and captives. "When you're trying to run a business, you've got to have partners that care about your business and seeing you succeed - and that's always been clear working with Smart Choice," Stuart reflects.Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 04/06/2025 - 9:14am BusinessInsurance