Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What size agencies do you accept?
Q. Can a New York agency join?
Q. What percentage of my agency will Renaissance Alliance own?
Q. What if I join and it's not for me? What is the fee to leave?
Q. Will I lose my independence by joining RAIS?
Q. Are we too big for you guys?
Q. How do you handle agency management systems conversions?
Q. Isn't RAIS just like SANS, GenCorp, ISNE, Berkshire, Main Street, or any other aggregator?
Q. We are in the midst of acquiring agencies. What can RAIS do to help us?
Q. Will I lose control of marketing my business?
Q. Do all agencies have to use or convert to AMS360?
Q. I'm not sure I need more markets, why should I consider RAIS?
A. What size agencies do you accept?
Generally, we seek agencies with $5 million in premium or more. Occasionally, due to special circumstances, we will consider agencies that don't quite meet that threshold. Call us and let's talk things over.
A. Can a New York agency join?
Currently, our service area includes CT, MA, NH and RI.
A. What percentage of my agency will Renaissance Alliance own?
None. We will own 0% - you retain complete ownership of your agency and complete independence.
A. What if I join and it's not for me? What is the fee to leave?
We try to prevent any potential disruption by working with you to do due diligence in advance to ensure that membership will be a good fit for you and for our current members. However, if you are a member of the Alliance and you choose to leave, you need only provide us with a 180 day notice in writing. There are no fees or penalties.
A. Will I lose my independence by joining RAIS?
RAIS is the solution to ensuring your independence. At a time when an independent agency's options continue to shrink due to carrier volume commitments and specialization, RAIS enhances a member's options by providing increased access to markets without volume commitments. In addition, we have the marketing & placing staffing to stay current with changing carrier appetites and to submit the business to the entire marketplace. RAIS is all about enhancing the independent agency's ability to remain local while providing market access, IT capabilities, in-house experts and profit sharing predictability.
A. Are we too big for you guys?
Probably not. Many larger agencies have reached this false conclusion based on restrictions by other organizations that aggregate premium. The average RAIS agent is just over $7 million in premium with agencies ranging in size from $2 million to $30 million. The number of larger agency members has increased in recent years. Our larger members find that RAIS frees them up to grow by increasing their time and resources available to focus on new business or acquisitions.
A. How do you handle agency management systems conversions?
RAIS has a team of IT experts and a training staff that ushers your staff though the entire process. Our support team has done this so many times that they have streamlined the process to a point that it is less painful than you might be imagining.
A. Isn't RAIS just like SANS, GenCorp, ISNE, Berkshire, Main Street, or any other aggregator?
That is a common misperception. We all aggregate premium but that is where the similarity ends. RAIS is a collection of very select agencies that are gaining far more than additional markets or enhanced profit sharing. RAIS members benefit from centralized marketing of new and renewal commercial business by seasoned industry experts and are free of the burden of IT systems management. They also have IT help and training to call upon whenever needed, as well as a roster of industry consultants and experts. RAIS has been a catalyst for tremendous growth in these agencies.
A. We are in the midst of acquiring agencies. What can RAIS do to help us?
A time of growth and transition might be the perfect time to consider RAIS. Many RAIS members are in acquisition mode. RAIS has helped members to establish management controls, training support and consistency of process to more efficiently fold in new agencies. RAIS also reduces the burden on non-mission critical functions so your time is freed up to focus on finding and acquiring new agencies.
A. Will I lose control of marketing my business?
Your business remains your business, owned by your agency. RAIS is there to service your agency – you still control what carrier will write the business. RAIS members access a proprietary real time system for monitoring every submission. You will know exactly what carriers have the submission, what their response has been, if they are quoting or looking for new information. You have the option of speaking directly with the underwriter at anytime. Once you have the quotes in hand, it is your choice and your client's choice as to where the business is placed.
A. Do all agencies have to use or convert to AMS360?
The value of aggregation is magnified by all agencies sharing a common agency management system. It allows RAIS to aggregate data that provides a very compelling story to insurance carriers. We gain an understanding, by class, of where the greatest concentrations of business are focused. This is a powerful tool when negotiating carrier contracts and designing programs. The unity of all agencies on one system also allows us to design state of the art workflow efficiencies for all agency members.
A. I'm not sure I need more markets, why should I consider RAIS?
The most common reason agencies choose to join RAIS is that the principal has an aggressive vision of where they want to take the agency. RAIS membership helps them to minimize the timeline to reach their growth goals. Agencies in acquisition mode benefit from standardized processes implemented across all disciplines and offices. They are able to access professional training and reduce the variances in levels of expertise across the operations. Most importantly, all agencies are able to maximize growth by deploying the majority of internal resources to servicing current customers and bringing in additional business.