One of the questions I'm asked most often is:

"If you were starting over today, would you go captive or independent?"

After working in both worlds, my answer is pretty simple:

I'd choose the independent route every time.

That said, I'm incredibly glad I started as a captive agent.

I began my career at an Allstate agency, and looking back, I think it was one of the best places I could have started. The training was excellent. I learned the fundamentals of insurance, developed my sales skills, gained exposure to claims, and built a foundation that I still rely on today. I don't think I'd be where I am without that experience.

So this isn't a knock on captive agencies.

In fact, I know many captive agents who have built phenomenal businesses, take incredible care of their clients, and earn a great living. For the right person, it's an outstanding career path.

But once I transitioned to the independent side, I realized it fit me much better.

The biggest reason is flexibility.

I enjoy having access to multiple carriers instead of trying to fit every client into one company's underwriting box. I like being able to solve more complex insurance problems, compare policy forms, and move clients when rates, underwriting guidelines, or carrier appetite changes.

More importantly, I feel like it's easier to truly advocate for the client.

As an independent agent, if I believe another carrier has a better product, a better claims reputation, or simply a better solution, I can recommend it without hesitation. My loyalty is to the client first—not to any one insurance company.

When you're captive, that conversation can be much more difficult. If your carrier raises rates significantly, restricts underwriting, changes policy forms, or receives negative publicity, you're often left defending decisions you didn't make because you don't have another product to offer. That's a tough position to be in, and it's one I don't miss.

We've seen this play out over the past few years. Several well-known carriers have faced criticism over market withdrawals, non-renewals, rate increases, and claims handling after catastrophic events. Whether that criticism is completely justified or not, consumers usually don't distinguish between corporate leadership and their local agent. The local agent ends up having the difficult conversations.

Another aspect I don't miss is the pressure around life insurance production goals.

I want to be clear—I am a huge advocate for life insurance. I believe it's one of the most important financial products a family can own, and I think every agent should be discussing it with their clients.

But captive organizations place significant emphasis on life insurance production. There can be pressure to hit life insurance goals, and alot of times cut compensation if you dont sell enough life insurance.

Personally, I never liked the idea of my property and casualty compensation being impacted because I wasn't writing enough life insurance. I want to recommend life insurance because it's the right solution for the client—not because I'm trying to satisfy a company production requirement.

Over the last several years, my appreciation for the independent model has only grown. When one carrier changes direction, I have options. I can pivot. My business isn't dependent on the decisions of a single insurance company.

That's why, if someone asked me today where I'd build my long-term career, I'd recommend the independent model.

Not because it's easier—it definitely isn't. You have to learn dozens of carriers, underwriting appetites, policy forms, billing systems, and claims philosophies. The learning curve is steeper, and the responsibility is greater.

But in my opinion, the tradeoff is absolutely worth it.

You gain flexibility.

Your clients gain more options.

And you're free to advocate for your clients without feeling tied to the interests of a single carrier.

That's just my experience. Others may disagree, and that's okay. There are exceptional agents on both sides of the industry.

I'm grateful I started as a captive agent.

But if I had to start over tomorrow, I'd choose the independent path again without hesitation.