We are calling on Insurance Marketing Organizations (IMOs) and Field Marketing Organizations (FMOs) to provide agents with release upon request. Additionally, we urge Life Insurance Carriers to eliminate the protection currently given to IMOs requiring agents to secure a release before they can submit business through a new IMO/FMO.

Licensed annuity agents are being held hostage by their current IMOs and FMOs, making it impossible for them to operate without consent. We have witnessed first-hand the struggles of our colleagues. One agent was left hanging with a client's check for weeks, unable to get a response from his FMO to write a contract. Another agent was completely alienated by his FMO, who refused to sign a release out of sheer personal dislike. These instances are not uncommon; they reflect an archaic system that treats agents as property rather than independent professionals.

Currently, for an agent to transition from one IMO/FMO to another, the existing IMO/FMO must sign a release, or the agent must have produced no contracts with the carrier for over six months. This system, often supported by Life Insurance Carriers, creates a vice grip with no outlet. If an IMO fails to keep promises, underpays agents, or proves incompatible, agents lack any medium to appeal to a carrier and shift their business towards a more suitable IMO/FMO.

This needs to change. We ask for a review and modification of these policies to empower agents with the freedom to move their business independently. This is about leveling the field, ensuring equitability, and securing a fair choice for the professionals who work relentlessly to support the insurance industry.

Join the Agent Revolution. Let agents decide who they want to work with. Sign the petition to bring about a necessary change in the annuity landscape.