Which type of sales agent is not restricted by contracts with a single insurer?

An independent agent is not restricted by contracts with a single insurer, making them distinct in the realm of insurance sales. This type of agent has the flexibility to represent multiple insurance companies and offer various policies from different insurers to their clients. This allows independent agents to provide a broader range of options and tailor their offerings to meet the specific needs and preferences of their clients.

In contrast, an exclusive agent typically has a contract with only one insurer, which limits the products they can sell and prevents them from offering alternatives from other companies. A general agent may work with a specific insurer but often has a wider scope of authority, including managing other agents; however, they are still often tied to the insurer’s policies. A direct writer is an insurance company that sells directly to consumers without agents, further limiting their scope of operation to their own products. Thus, the defining characteristic of an independent agent lies in their ability to act on behalf of multiple insurers, delivering more diversity in insurance products to their clients.