Is Commission the Only Way Your Agency Gets Paid?

Your agency earns commission on the policies it writes. But when commission is the only compensation you receive from that business, you may be missing additional income opportunities.

Profitability, retention, growth, and the collective scale of a larger network can all create additional opportunities for agency income.

Through Chicagoland SIA and the broader SIAA network, qualifying member agencies can benefit from five distinct income streams. Together, they can increase the total compensation connected to the business your agency already writes, retains, and grows.

Those five income opportunities are:

• Commissions
• Profit sharing
• Regional incentives
• Quarterly Portfolio Management Service Fees
• Year-end Portfolio Management Service Fees

1. Commissions

Through the collective scale of the SIAA network, Chicagoland SIA members can often access higher commission levels than they would be able to secure independently.

Across your new and renewal business a higher commission level can create a meaningful increase in agency revenue.

2. Profit sharing

Profit sharing gives your agency an opportunity to earn additional income from a profitable book of business.

Traditional carrier profit-sharing programs often require an agency to reach a minimum premium threshold before it can participate. Through Chicagoland SIA, eligible agencies can begin earning profit sharing from the first dollar of qualifying business.

That gives smaller and growing agencies access to an income opportunity they may not be able to reach independently. Strong retention, profitable results, and responsible growth can then increase the value of that opportunity over time.

3. Regional incentives

Regional incentives are based on the collective performance of Chicagoland SIA member agencies.

These programs may reward new business, premium growth, retention, profitability, or increased production with a participating national or regional carrier.

That creates another opportunity for your agency to benefit from the combined production and performance of the broader Chicagoland SIA membership.

4. Quarterly Portfolio Management Service Fees

Portfolio Management Service Fees, or PMSF, is additional compensation available through SIAA.

Member agencies with direct appointments receive a fixed, guaranteed Quarterly PMSF, providing reliable income every quarter. This steady stream of revenue is unique to the SIAA model and reinforces consistent performance.

5. Year-End Portfolio Management Service Fees

Year-end PMSF adds a performance-based income opportunity.

Factors such as premium growth, retention, and profitability can influence the year-end payment, giving your agency another way to benefit from building and maintaining a strong book with participating carriers.

Together, quarterly and year-end PMSF combine recurring compensation with an additional opportunity tied to the overall performance of your portfolio.

What does your current compensation structure look like?

You already invest time and resources in developing carrier relationships, writing new business, serving clients, and retaining accounts.

Through Chicagoland SIA, qualifying member agencies can earn through commissions, profit sharing, regional incentives, quarterly PMSF, and year-end PMSF.

If you are evaluating Chicagoland SIA, we can review your current carrier relationships and compensation structure with you and help you understand which additional income opportunities may be available through membership.

Eligibility and payment amounts vary by carrier, appointment status, production, growth, retention, profitability, and individual program requirements. Your agency may not qualify for every opportunity with every carrier.