The Hartford sells its property and casualty insurance products and services through insurance agents and brokers, commonly referred to as "Producers." The compensation we pay Producers is designed to encourage them to sell our products, place profitable business with us, and provide services to us and our policyholders. A Producer may receive one or more of the below payments, depending on the Producer's business relationship with us.
Base Commission
Producers are generally paid a Base Commission for the sale and service of policies placed with us. Base Commission is a fixed percentage of the policy premium or a fixed amount per policy, generally set prior to the sale (effective date) of the policy to which it applies. The percentage or amount may vary depending on certain factors, such as the type of product, the risk classification, whether the policy is new or a renewal, whether another policy is written for the same insured, and the services provided to the policyholder.
In some cases, the percentage or amount may be negotiated on a transaction by transaction basis, and may vary by Producer based, at least in part, on the Producer’s past performance and the expected value of the Producer’s business going forward.
Contingent Commission
Contingent Commission is generally a particular percent of the premium written during a preceding performance period or a particular sum that is based upon a Producer's ability to meet certain production, growth, profitability or other performance objectives established by us for that preceding period.
As such, eligibility for, and the amount of, Contingent Commission cannot be determined until after the sale of policies that occur over a given period of time. Contingent Commission is generally paid separately from Base Commission on an annual or other periodic basis.
Supplemental Commission
Certain Producers may be eligible for Supplemental Commission, which may be offered in lieu of or in addition to Contingent Commission and/or Base Commission. Like Base Commission, Supplemental Commission is a fixed percent of premium or a fixed amount per policy, which is generally set prior to the sale of the policy to which it applies. Eligibility for, and the amount of, Supplemental Commission paid on current business is based upon a Producer's ability to meet certain past production, growth, profitability or other historical performance objectives established by us. Supplemental Commission is generally paid separately from Base Commission on an annual or other periodic basis.
Other Compensation, Services, Benefits and Support
Certain Producers may receive other services, benefits and support from us, which may also depend on the Producer meeting production and other performance objectives established by us. These other services, benefits, and support may include:
Fees for Services and Enhanced Commission
We pay fees to some Producers for services they perform for us. The fees may be payable in fixed sums over a period of time, as a percentage of premium, in a fixed amount per policy, or based upon other measures.
The services performed may be similar to the services provided by other Producers, who may choose to be compensated through commission only.
The services provided by Producers may be of a sales and marketing nature, including, but not limited to providing: (i) data, reports and information on our market performance and industry trends; (ii) information on the Producer's accounts to enable us to better match them with our products and underwriting appetite and assist in the selection of accounts to request quoting opportunities; (iii) consulting or assistance in the development of our sales, product and/or marketing plans to enhance our ability to meet the needs of their customers and write more business with the Producer; and (iv) assistance in communicating our marketing messages.
What we will pay for some of the services may depend on the value of the business that the Producer has with us. In some cases, we may pay an additional or "enhanced" commission for a combination of the placement of business and such services.
The services provided by Producers may be of a sales and marketing nature, including, but not limited to providing: (i) data, reports and information on our market performance and industry trends; (ii) information on the Producer's accounts to enable us to better match them with our products and underwriting appetite and assist in the selection of accounts to request quoting opportunities; (iii) consulting or assistance in the development of our sales, product and/or marketing plans to enhance our ability to meet the needs of their customers and write more business with the Producer; and (iv) assistance in communicating our marketing messages.
What we will pay for some of the services may depend on the value of the business that the Producer has with us. In some cases, we may pay an additional or "enhanced" commission for a combination of the placement of business and such services.
Delegated Underwriting Services
In some cases we may delegate underwriting authority to a producer. In addition to receiving other forms of compensation described herein, such producers may receive an additional commission or other compensation for performing this underwriting function.
Quoting Preferences and Book Quoting Opportunities
A special additional commission or other form of fixed or variable compensation may be paid to a Producer in connection with arrangements where we are provided with an opportunity to quote on all or a portion of a Producer's book of business, or we are placed in a group or list of preferred or strategic carriers to whom a producer will provide greater quoting or sales opportunities. In some cases, this preference may take the form of an exclusive or a right of first refusal.
Individual Producer and CSR Incentive Awards
We may provide individual Producers and customer service representatives employed by an agency with incentives for placing business with us or taking other actions. These incentives may be in the form of cash or non-cash awards based on contests or other performance objectives established by us, such as the number of policies written, amount of premium written, number of quotes obtained, and the number of policyholders signed up for our electronic funds transfer premium payment method.
Marketing and Other Support
We may assist or pay for a Producer's marketing efforts and certain other business expenses. This assistance may include, but is not limited to, items such as education, training expenses, lead generation services, advertising assistance, sales and business meetings, and other services that help the Producer promote us and our products.
Other Benefits
We may provide certain Producers with other benefits, including, but not limited to, entertainment, tickets to sporting events, travel, gifts, branded merchandise, and attendance at corporate-sponsored meetings, including transportation, accommodations, and meals.
Policyholder Services
We may make available various policyholder services to certain Producers with or without charge to the Producer. When a fee is charged to a Producer for such services it may also be waived based upon the Producer meeting certain production or other performance objectives established by us. Fees charged for such services are generally offset against commissions payable to the Producer and therefore result in a reduced commission being reported on policies issued through the Producer.
Loans and Investments
We may advance compensation to Producers or make loans to Producers, which may be interest free or be carried at a below-market interest rate. We may also make investments that provide us with an ownership interest in a Producer.
Interest on Premiums Collected
Interest earned on premiums collected by Producers and placed on deposit before having to be paid to us may be retained by the Producer, as permitted by law.
Compensation for Replacing Business
In some cases, for example when terminating our relationship with a Producer, we may offer a Producer extra compensation for replacing business written by us that we no longer desire to write.
Surplus Lines Insurance Brokers, Employees, Producer-Owned Captives, and Other
Surplus Lines Insurance Brokers
We may distribute certain products and services through surplus lines insurance brokers. Surplus lines insurance is offered by underwriting companies that are not admitted (licensed) in the jurisdiction in which the policy is issued. These individuals and firms generally are compensated in the same manner as Producers, described above.
Employees
We also have employees who sell insurance for us. In addition to their regular salary, these employees may receive additional cash or non-cash compensation based on the number of policies sold or other performance objectives established by us.
Producer-Owned Captives
Certain business we write is reinsured by an entity in which the Producer of the business has an ownership or other financial interest, known as a Producer-owned captive. These Producers participate in the underwriting profitability or loss on such reinsured business.
Other
We may also pay compensation, including endorsement fees, royalty fees and administrative service fees, to associations and other entities that endorse The Hartford and promote the sale of our products and services.
Some Producers may charge their customers a fee on their own account related to services they provide to their customers. Any such fee would not be part of the premium we charge or collect, would not be charged on our behalf, and may be in addition to receiving compensation from us.
On some transactions multiple Producers receive compensation from us.
Base Commission, Supplemental Commission, and Contingent Commission ranges by type of policy for property and casualty lines are available by choosing the appropriate link below.
This information applies to our United States property and casualty operation. Please check this website periodically for updates. For specific details about compensation relating to your policy, please contact your Producer.