When Cristin Hopkin Bishop stepped forward at this year’s NAILBA Annual Conference to accept the Legends and Luminaries Award on behalf of The Brokerage Inc., she represented a company whose history began long before her own career in the insurance industry. Founded in 1976 by her parents, Ross and Cheryl Hopkin, the company has spent five decades building relationships and supporting independent agents through a changing industry.
Presented by Ron Alexander, CEO of Paperclip, the award recognized The Brokerage Inc.’s long-standing service and industry relationships. For Cristin, who now serves as the company’s Chief Operating Officer, the moment connected the legacy her parents established with the work of leading the organization forward today.
A Family Business Built Around Agents
As an independent insurance agent, Ross Hopkin understood the importance of having support while navigating changing products, carrier relationships, and business needs. In 1976, he and his wife, Cheryl, founded The Brokerage Inc. with a commitment to serving independent agents.
The company has grown into a national Field Marketing Organization, Independent Marketing Organization, and Brokerage General Agency serving agents across Life, Health, and Medicare. Its reach and resources have expanded, along with its relationships across the industry, while independent agents remain central to its work.
What Long-Term Support Looks Like Today
As your business develops, the information you need and the challenges you encounter can change. Access to education, resources, and opportunities to connect with industry partners can help you navigate those changes while continuing to serve your clients.
Today, The Brokerage Inc. offers opportunities for education, training, and networking across its Life, Health, and Medicare teams. Recent examples include in-person Kick-Off events in Florida and Texas, the Health team’s Virtual Health Summit, and the Life department’s webinar series. Podcasts, recorded training, and other virtual events provide additional ways to learn, connect with carrier partners, and stay informed throughout the year.
These opportunities reflect how agent support has expanded since 1976. The formats and resources may look different today, but they continue to provide ways for independent agents to build their knowledge and strengthen their businesses.
Choosing a Partner for the Long Term
Choosing an FMO or IMO involves more than comparing carrier contracts. The relationship can influence the resources available as your business grows, the support you can turn to when market conditions change, and the opportunities available throughout your career.
When evaluating a potential partner, consider what support is available beyond initial contracting. A few questions worth asking include:
- How does the organization approach agent relationships? Consider the accessibility and ongoing support you can expect.
- What resources are available as your business evolves? Look at the education, tools, and guidance you can draw on over time.
- Does its approach align with your business goals? Consider whether the organization’s philosophy fits the way you want to build your agency.
A company’s history can provide useful context for those questions, particularly when considered alongside the support it offers today. The Brokerage Inc.’s 50 years in the industry offer one example of how a company’s founding purpose can continue to shape its approach as its business evolves.
For more guidance on evaluating your options, read How to Find the Best Insurance FMO.
A Partnership That Evolves With the Industry
Long-standing industry relationships can also create opportunities to improve the way business gets done. Paperclip has worked with The Brokerage Inc. since 2009, and that partnership has expanded to address evolving needs within the company’s Medicare business.
During the award presentation, Paperclip CEO Ron Alexander reflected on the relationship’s longevity and continued development:
“You’ve been a customer since 2009 through an acquisition, and then we’ve been able to really build on that partnership.”
That growth has included efforts to streamline application filing and agent data processes. The work includes automating Sunfire application filing through The Brokerage Inc.’s agency management system, incorporating voice signatures, and comparing agency data with carrier ready-to-sell reports. These processes help reduce manual steps and simplify administrative work.
As Alexander noted in his remarks, the partnership has also revealed opportunities to build on existing solutions and find additional ways to improve efficiency.
For agents, improvements behind the scenes can make a difference in the day-to-day work of running a business. The Paperclip partnership offers a concrete example of how an established relationship can continue to evolve alongside changing operational needs.
Fifty Years, With the Next Generation in Mind
The Brokerage Inc.’s vision, Your Success is Our Success, reflects the philosophy that has guided the company since its founding. Fifty years later, that purpose continues to inform its work with independent agents as the industry changes.
The Legends and Luminaries Award marks an important milestone, but the company’s story extends beyond the recognition itself. It is a story of a family-owned business that has grown while continuing to focus on the people it was founded to support.
As you consider the relationships and resources that will support your business in the years ahead, understanding a potential partner’s approach to agent success is an important part of finding the right fit.
Learn more about partnering with The Brokerage Inc.
