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Business Definition for: captive agent

captive agent

insurance agent working exclusively for one company. Such an agent will tend to have more in-depth knowledge of that company's policies than an independent agent , who can sell policies from many companies. Captive agents are usually paid on a combination of salary and commissions earned from selling policies, in the first few years they sell policies. Later, they are usually paid exclusively on a commission basis.

captive agent

representative of a single insurer or fleet of insurers who is obliged to submit business only to that company, or at the very minimum, give that company first refusal rights on a sale. In exchange, that insurer usually provides its captive agents with an allowance for office expenses as well as an extensive list of employee benefits such as pensions, life insurance, health insurance, and credit unions.

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Copyright © 2000, 1995, 1991, 1987 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. Reprinted by arrangement with Publisher.