How we collect data and rate carriers.
InSifter publishes commission data, ratings, and reviews for insurance carriers, aggregators, and lead vendors. This page explains where our information comes from, how we present it, and what its limits are. We update this methodology as our practices evolve.
1. Where our data comes from
InSifter aggregates information from multiple sources to give independent insurance agents an honest view of the carrier and distribution market. Our primary sources are:
- Independent agent submissions. Licensed insurance agents voluntarily submit commission rates, ratings, and reviews based on their direct experience with carriers, aggregators, and lead vendors. Submissions can be made anonymously through our contribution form.
- Public regulatory and industry sources. AM Best ratings, state department of insurance filings, SEC filings (where applicable), and other publicly available materials.
- Carrier and aggregator public materials. Information posted on company websites, public press releases, agent recruiting pages, and carrier appointment portals.
- Editorial research. Where data gaps exist, our editorial team supplements with reasonable industry estimates clearly labeled as such.
We do not purchase data from third-party data brokers. We do not have any commercial arrangement with any carrier, aggregator, or lead vendor that would influence ratings or coverage. Carriers cannot pay to be listed, removed, or rated more favorably.
2. How commission data is published
Commission rates shown on InSifter represent agent-reported ranges or averages for a given carrier, line of business, state, and channel (direct or aggregator). Because commission terms vary based on production volume, contract type, exclusivity, and individual agency negotiation, a single published number cannot capture every agent's actual experience.
What our commission numbers mean
- A published rate represents the average or most commonly reported rate from agent submissions for that specific combination of carrier, line, state, and channel.
- Rates are typically displayed for new business and renewal separately.
- Where we have fewer than three reports for a given combination, we may flag the data as low-confidence or omit it entirely.
- Rates are not predictions or guarantees. Your actual achievable rate depends on your agency's volume, contract terms, and individual negotiation.
Important: Commission rates published on InSifter should not be used as the sole basis for any business decision. Always verify current contract terms directly with the carrier or aggregator before making an appointment, moving a book, or providing advice to a client.
3. How carrier and aggregator ratings work
Carrier and aggregator ratings on InSifter are calculated from a combination of agent-submitted ratings and editorial baseline values. Our methodology is designed to produce a stable, representative view of how independent agents experience working with each company.
Components of a rating
Each carrier or aggregator rating is built from multiple sub-categories, which may include:
- Appointment difficulty
- Payout speed
- Underwriting flexibility
- Agent support
- Claims handling
- Product competitiveness
- Technology and portal experience
- Marketing support
How submissions are blended
To prevent a small number of ratings from creating volatile or misleading scores, ratings are calculated using a weighted blend of editorial baseline values and agent-submitted scores. As more submissions accumulate, the displayed rating shifts to reflect those submissions more directly. This methodology is intended to balance responsiveness with reliability.
We do not weight ratings based on the seniority, agency size, or production volume of the rater. Each submission counts equally.
4. How agent reviews work
Agent reviews on InSifter are submitted by users who are licensed independent insurance agents. We make a reasonable effort to verify that submitting users are agents through account creation and licensing checks where applicable.
We display reviews substantially as written by the contributing agent. We do not edit reviews for sentiment or favorability. We may edit reviews for:
- Profanity, harassment, or personal attacks
- Disclosure of confidential information
- Apparent factual errors that the reviewer agrees should be corrected
- Spam or content that does not relate to the company being reviewed
We do not remove reviews because a company dislikes them. Companies can request a review of a specific review if they believe it contains factual errors.
5. Ratings are opinion, not professional advice
Ratings, reviews, scores, narrative summaries, and editorial commentary published on InSifter represent the opinions of contributing agents and InSifter's editorial team, formed in good faith based on the information available to us. They are intended for informational and educational purposes only.
InSifter is not:
- A licensed insurance agent, broker, or consultant
- A registered investment advisor
- An attorney or provider of legal advice
- An accounting or tax advisor
Nothing on this site should be construed as professional advice. Independent insurance agents make their own appointment, placement, and business decisions and should consult appropriately licensed professionals where needed.
For carriers, aggregators, and lead vendors: A rating or review on InSifter is the opinion of the rating agent or our editorial team, formed in good faith. It is not a statement of fact about the quality of your products, services, or operations. We welcome dialogue and corrections through our corrections process.
6. How carriers can request corrections
If you represent a carrier, aggregator, or lead vendor and believe we have published factually inaccurate information, please contact us at corrections@insifter.com or visit our corrections page for the formal request process.
We respond to all good-faith correction requests. Where we agree information is inaccurate, we will correct it promptly. Where we disagree, we will explain our reasoning and invite further dialogue. Where appropriate, we will publish an "official response" from the company alongside the disputed content.
We do not remove ratings or reviews simply because a company dislikes them. We do correct factual errors.
7. Limitations and known gaps
We are transparent about the limits of our data:
- Sample sizes vary widely. Some carrier/line/state combinations have many reports; others have few. Where samples are small, ratings should be interpreted accordingly.
- Selection bias is real. Agents who choose to contribute may not be representative of all agents writing a given carrier.
- Data has lag. Carrier appetite, commission structures, and underwriting terms can change before our data reflects them.
- Some carriers, aggregators, or vendors may not yet appear in our database. Absence is not a judgment about quality.
- State coverage indicators reflect our best understanding at the time of publication and may not reflect recent expansions or pullbacks.
We work to expand and improve coverage continuously. If you notice a specific gap, contribute or email us at corrections@insifter.com.
8. How often we update
Different types of data update on different cadences:
- Commission rates and ratings: updated continuously as new agent submissions arrive, with editorial review on a quarterly basis.
- Daily Pulse entries: updated daily with rate changes, appetite shifts, launches, and contributor highlights.
- Carrier directory: reviewed quarterly for additions, removals, and corrections.
- Methodology and editorial policies: reviewed at least annually. Material changes are reflected in the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.
Questions or concerns
For methodology questions: editorial@insifter.com
For corrections requests: corrections@insifter.com
For privacy or legal matters: see our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.