受托人在信托中的角色与报酬

The 明尼苏达城市联盟 保险信托 is a cooperative self-insurance pool of cities and related entities (referred to as members) and is not an insurance company by traditional standards. The Trust’s property/casualty and workers’ compensation programs are designed to operate through a local insurance agent.

代理关系的要点

Following are key points related to the insurance agent’s role 和补偿 in the Trust:

  • As a condition of participating in the property/casualty program, 会员必须有保险代理人. Members have the option not to use the services of an agent for the workers’ compensation program, 尽管大多数都是这样.
  • 会员可以选择他们想要的任何一家持牌代理. 代理人的选择完全由会员决定, and any licensed agent in the state of Minnesota can participate.
  • The agent’s role with the Trust is different than it is for commercial carriers. 从信托基金的角度来看, the agent’s role is that of an adviser and service provider to the member rather than as a salesperson for the Trust.
  • The agent’s fee or commission is negotiable between the member and the agent. The member and agent can negotiate any commission or flat-fee arrangement that works best for the relationship.
  • The services an agent provides are negotiable between the member and the agent. The level and types of services that members ask and expect their agent to provide vary. It’s important everyone understands and agrees on what duties and 责任 the agent will complete, 以及代理从这些服务中获得的报酬.

剂的选择

会员可以选择任何他们想要的授权代理. 如果会员想换代理人, the Trust recommends the process begin well in advance of the member’s coverage renewal date. This will make sure the new agent selection is settled before work begins on the renewal.

Some members prefer a request-for-proposal (RFP) process when selecting an agent. Upon request, the Trust can provide copies of RFPs used by other members.

The Trust encourages members to think about not only the fee or commission amount, 还包括提供服务的程度, 以及选择代理人时的经验水平.

代理形式化

The Trust recommends the member’s city council or other governing body select and define the agent’s duties 和补偿 by motion or resolution. The Trust and the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents (MIIA) have a model resolution for appointing an agent, which should be edited to reflect agreed-upon services 和补偿.

View the model resolution for appointing a city insurance agent (doc)

Another approach is to develop a formal written contract between the member and the agent dealing with these same points. Such a contract might also address the role the agent might play in overseeing the insurance options a member might buy from sources other than the Trust, such as specialty liability coverage for a hospital or nursing home.

代理费用及佣金

The Trust’s practice is to include an allowance for a 10% agent’s fee in the premium for property/casualty coverage. 然后，信托将这笔费用支付给代理人. 然而, the member and the agent are free to agree on a different fee, 或者在不同的基础上补偿代理人.

If the member and agent agree on a different percentage fee, the member should tell its underwriter. 溢价报价将反映这一变化. Any increase or decrease in the agent’s compensation will flow through directly as a dollar-for-dollar increase or decrease in the member’s premium.

Another option is for the member and agent to agree on a different compensation basis instead of the percent-of-premium approach, 比如一年平一次, 每月保留费, 或者按小时收费. If this arrangement is chosen, it generally works best for the member to pay the agent directly. 在这种情况下, the Trust would provide the property/casualty coverage quote on a “net of commission” basis.

The Trust’s workers’ compensation rates include an allowance for a 2% agent’s fee. 如果成员选择此选项, the Trust reimburses the agent directly once members have paid their premium. If members choose not to use an agent for workers’ compensation, if the agent’s services on workers’ compensation are included and compensated under a direct contract for service, 或者如果代理和会员同意不同的费用, 信托会相应地调整会员的保费.

代理服务

It’s important for members and agents to occasionally discuss the agent’s role so everyone understands and agrees on the agent’s duties, 责任, 和补偿. 以下是成员可能要求代理提供的服务.

  • Advise and help in pulling together and reporting data needed for rating purposes.
  • 帮助管理, 跟踪, 确保可保资产得到保障, 比如建筑, 移动属性, 和汽车.
  • Coordinate the gathering of information in order to complete the renewal application.
  • Complete or help in the completion of the renewal application.
  • Advise and help in evaluating and selecting among coverage options, such as deductibles and limits.
  • Review coverage documents and invoices to assure coverage has been correctly issued and billed.
  • 帮助解决有关保险范围和保费计算的问题.
  • 就保险范围可能出现的缺口或重叠提出建议.
  • 协助合同保险要求.
  • 协助提交索赔和承保范围解释.
  • Review loss reports for correct reporting and appropriate reserves.
  • 帮助进行安全和损失控制活动.
  • 帮助识别和处理风险暴露.
  • 协助物业评估.
  • 帮助管理和确保保险凭证.