Agencies change. Rules change. That's why we treat vetting as ongoing, and why you should keep checking too.
When an agent tells us an agency is great, we believe them. We also know that tells us how it was when they were there. Agencies aren't fixed things. A strong one can slip, and a rough one can improve, and the reasons are usually outside the agent's control.
An agency run by a good owner can be sold, merged, or handed to someone with different priorities. Pay schedules, training, and culture often shift quietly afterward.
Agencies depend on their lead vendors and marketing channels. When a source dries up or gets more expensive, the agency has to adjust, and it often passes the cost or the lower quality down to agents.
Commission rates, chargeback terms, and requirements are set partly by the carriers an agency works with. When a carrier changes them, the agency's pay plan can change with it.
The rules about how insurance can be marketed and sold change often, especially in health and Medicare. An agency that adapts early usually stays stable. One that doesn't can face disruption that lands on its agents.
This is why our vetting isn't a one-time stamp. We keep surveying agents, and if an agency stops meeting our standard after partnering with us, we pause the partnership. You can read how it works in Our Vetting Process, Explained.