Top Factors To Look For in an Insurance Agency Network

Independent insurance agencies are navigating one of the most significant periods of change the property and casualty industry has seen in decades. According to McKinsey’s Agents of the Future report, advances in predictive modeling, direct distribution, and carrier consolidation are reshaping how insurance is sold and serviced. Many smaller and mid-size agencies are feeling pressure to sell or to join larger networks for access and stability

Joining a network can be a smart alternative to selling, especially when it offers benefits that give agencies freedom to grow and remain independent. But not all networks offer the same value. ISU Steadfast was recently recognized by Insurance Journal as a 2025 Top Agency Partnership and by Insurance Business America as a 5-Star Insurance Network and Alliance — clear recognition of the impact we deliver to independent agencies nationwide. Here’s how ISU Steadfast stands apart.

Key Takeaways

• ISU Steadfast offers eligible members up to 100% commission and profit sharing with no minimum premium requirements, allowing agencies to benefit from day one.

• Members retain full ownership of their book of business, with no clawbacks, restrictions, or loss of renewal rights.

• Direct access to carrier underwriters enables faster, more informed decisions compared to networks that use call centers or intermediaries.

• Agencies receive immediate access to a broad carrier lineup without needing to hit volume thresholds or requalify individually.

• Personalized, scalable support replaces generic help desks, with tools like the CL Submission Engine and IVANS downloads to streamline workflows.

• ISU Steadfast protects and strengthens agency independence, so members can grow on their own terms.

6 Factors to Evaluate When Choosing an Insurance Network

A network’s structure determines how much freedom an agency keeps as it grows. ISU Steadfast was designed to strengthen that freedom. The six factors below reveal where networks differ and how ISU Steadfast helps members grow stronger without giving up control.

Maximize Your Earnings: Commission and Profit Sharing Explained

Your compensation is a direct reflection of the value you create. Many networks retain a significant portion of commissions or bonuses and require agencies to reach premium thresholds before qualifying for shared revenue.

At ISU Steadfast, members participate from day one, with no minimum premium requirement. Eligible members have the opportunity to earn 100% commission on control code business, depending on the membership tier that best supports their goals.

This flexible approach ensures agencies benefit from collective strength while choosing the structure that fits their business.

Direct Carrier Access: Why It Matters for Your Agency’s Growth

Real market access connects you with experts who understand the full context of your business. It’s the difference between receiving guidance from a specialist and searching for piecemeal answers from a call center.

ISU Steadfast provides direct access to underwriters who bring true expertise to placements.

This professional access strengthens collaboration, improves responsiveness, and helps you move business forward with confidence.

Protect Your Independence: Full Ownership of Your Book of Business

Your book of business is the foundation of your independence and the source of your long-term equity. Some networks retain partial ownership or limit renewal rights through contract terms or clawbacks, reducing your control over what you’ve built.

With ISU Steadfast, you maintain ownership of your book. Every policy, client relationship, and renewal stays under your control.

You can preserve your autonomy and ensure that the business you’ve worked hard to grow remains fully yours.

Scalable Member Support: Tools and Expertise that Supports Scale

The quality of support from the network you choose, determines how efficiently you can grow. Many networks rely on help desks or shared service queues for member assistance. ISU Steadfast members benefit from a team that understands your agency and is committed to your success — whether that’s strengthening carrier relationships, solving operational challenges, or uncovering new growth opportunities.

Our technology enhances this experience, not replaces it. Proprietary tools like our Commercial Lines Submission Engine and IVANS AL3 downloads streamline your workflows, giving your team more time to focus on clients and close business faster.

Independence First: How ISU Steadfast Preserves Agency Autonomy

Your independence is your greatest strength, and it grows alongside your success. Some networks are structured to centralize control or absorb their members over time.

ISU Steadfast was built for the opposite purpose. Every program, partnership, and service is designed to strengthen your autonomy so you can make decisions, manage relationships, and scale your agency on

Independence is not a feature of ISU Steadfast; it is the foundation.

Access and Control: The Keys to Long-Term Agency Success

When a network limits your access or control, it limits your agency's future. Once your book, your carrier relationships, or your data sit inside someone else’s system, your flexibility disappears. You can lose the ability to move accounts freely, negotiate with carriers, or even decide how your own revenue is used. Over time, that loss of control turns independence into dependency, and the agency you built becomes another line item in someone else’s balance sheet.

ISU Network vs. Others: Side-by-Side Comparison

Choosing the right network requires looking beneath the surface. The chart below highlights how ISU Steadfast compares with other models in the areas that most directly affect agency independence and profitability.

Empowering Growth Without Sacrificing Independence

Independence thrives when it’s paired with access, expertise, and support. ISU Steadfast connects you to the tools and relationships that make growth possible on your own terms.

With the CL Submission Engine, exclusive E&O program, and direct Lloyd’s access through HWS Specialty, smaller agencies can compete and win in markets that once felt out of reach.

Membership also means being part of a collaborative community of more than 220 agencies. Shared insight and partnership turn individual progress into collective strength.