The Commissions Module equips participants with a practical understanding of how compensation flows across carriers, BGAs, and advisors, and why it is central to advisor retention and firm health. The course covers first-year, renewal, and trail commissions, as well as product-specific differences across life, annuities, hybrids, long-term care, and Medicare products. Learners will explore inforce transactions that impact pay, regulatory considerations in states like New York, and how to resolve commission errors quickly to maintain trust. The module also introduces the role of technology and reporting systems in reconciling payments, managing hierarchies, and ensuring compliance. By the end, participants will be able to interpret statements, anticipate commission impacts, and support accurate, timely compensation across diverse product lines. Lesson Overview: Annuities This lesson provides an overview of annuities and how their commissions differ from life insurance. Learners will explore immediate vs. deferred annuities, qualified vs. non-qualified structures, and fixed, indexed, and variable types. The lesson explains how factors like client age, payment option, and market conditions impact compensation. Learning Objectives Differentiate between immediate and deferred annuities and their commission structures. Explain qualified vs. non-qualified annuities and related tax considerations. Recognize commission differences across fixed, indexed, and variable annuities. Understand how client age and surrender periods affect annuity commissions. COURSE CONTRIBUTORS Leah Mahoney – EVP - Operations  Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Kayla Doherty –  Customer Operations Analyst  Securian Jon Duvall – Director, Commissions and PlanAdmin  Ash Brokerage Lionel Gusti – IT, Commissions Manager Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC  Jason Kidd – Senior Vice President Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC Katie Spinner – Director of Commission Operations Ash Brokerage Jim Tigrak – Commission Analyst Simplicity Los Angeles Jessica Schultz – Licensing & Commission Supervisor   Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Allie Munson – Commission Specialist Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc.   Read more

The Commissions Module equips participants with a practical understanding of how compensation flows across carriers, BGAs, and advisors, and why it is central to advisor retention and firm health. The course covers first-year, renewal, and trail commissions, as well as product-specific differences across life, annuities, hybrids, long-term care, and Medicare products. Learners will explore inforce transactions that impact pay, regulatory considerations in states like New York, and how to resolve commission errors quickly to maintain trust. The module also introduces the role of technology and reporting systems in reconciling payments, managing hierarchies, and ensuring compliance. By the end, participants will be able to interpret statements, anticipate commission impacts, and support accurate, timely compensation across diverse product lines. Lesson Overview: Commission for Hybrids & LTC Products This lesson reviews commissions for hybrid products (life + LTC or annuity + LTC) and traditional long-term care policies. Learners will explore how payment schedules, renewal structures, and product design affect compensation. Emphasis is placed on verifying each carrier’s commission schedule. Learning Objectives Understand how commissions differ between hybrid and traditional LTC products. Recognize how payment options (single pay, 5-pay, 10-pay, etc.) affect payout. Explain why hybrid products often require special review of commission schedules. Identify common carriers and examples of hybrid commission models. COURSE CONTRIBUTORS Leah Mahoney – EVP - Operations  Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Kayla Doherty –  Customer Operations Analyst  Securian Jon Duvall – Director, Commissions and PlanAdmin  Ash Brokerage Lionel Gusti – IT, Commissions Manager Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC  Jason Kidd – Senior Vice President Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC Katie Spinner – Director of Commission Operations Ash Brokerage Jim Tigrak – Commission Analyst Simplicity Los Angeles Jessica Schultz – Licensing & Commission Supervisor   Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Allie Munson – Commission Specialist Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc.   Read more

The Commissions Module equips participants with a practical understanding of how compensation flows across carriers, BGAs, and advisors, and why it is central to advisor retention and firm health. The course covers first-year, renewal, and trail commissions, as well as product-specific differences across life, annuities, hybrids, long-term care, and Medicare products. Learners will explore inforce transactions that impact pay, regulatory considerations in states like New York, and how to resolve commission errors quickly to maintain trust. The module also introduces the role of technology and reporting systems in reconciling payments, managing hierarchies, and ensuring compliance. By the end, participants will be able to interpret statements, anticipate commission impacts, and support accurate, timely compensation across diverse product lines. Lesson Overview: Understanding Commissions in Life Insurance for Independent Advisors and Financial Advisors This lesson focuses on product-specific commission structures for life insurance, including term, whole life, UL/IUL, and VUL. It explores differences between first-year, renewal, and trail commissions, as well as rules in states like New York. Learners will understand how product design impacts advisor pay. Learning Objectives Explain commission structures for term and permanent life insurance. Recognize differences in compensation for UL/IUL and VUL products. Understand New York’s commission limits and their impact. Identify how rolling targets and excess premiums affect pay. COURSE CONTRIBUTORS Leah Mahoney – EVP - Operations  Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Kayla Doherty –  Customer Operations Analyst  Securian Jon Duvall – Director, Commissions and PlanAdmin  Ash Brokerage Lionel Gusti – IT, Commissions Manager Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC  Jason Kidd – Senior Vice President Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC Katie Spinner – Director of Commission Operations Ash Brokerage Jim Tigrak – Commission Analyst Simplicity Los Angeles Jessica Schultz – Licensing & Commission Supervisor   Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Allie Munson – Commission Specialist Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc.   Read more

The Commissions Module equips participants with a practical understanding of how compensation flows across carriers, BGAs, and advisors, and why it is central to advisor retention and firm health. The course covers first-year, renewal, and trail commissions, as well as product-specific differences across life, annuities, hybrids, long-term care, and Medicare products. Learners will explore inforce transactions that impact pay, regulatory considerations in states like New York, and how to resolve commission errors quickly to maintain trust. The module also introduces the role of technology and reporting systems in reconciling payments, managing hierarchies, and ensuring compliance. By the end, participants will be able to interpret statements, anticipate commission impacts, and support accurate, timely compensation across diverse product lines. Lesson Overview: Technology This lesson examines how technology transforms commission management, replacing manual spreadsheets with automation, dashboards, and integrations. It introduces platforms like Greenwave, SmartOffice, and Agency Integrator, as well as industry systems like DTCC. Learners will see how technology improves accuracy, compliance, and producer trust. Learning Objectives Explain why technology is essential in commission management. Recognize how automation reduces errors and delays. Identify features of common commission platforms. Understand how integration improves reporting and compliance. COURSE CONTRIBUTORS Leah Mahoney – EVP - Operations  Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Kayla Doherty –  Customer Operations Analyst  Securian Jon Duvall – Director, Commissions and PlanAdmin  Ash Brokerage Lionel Gusti – IT, Commissions Manager Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC  Jason Kidd – Senior Vice President Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC Katie Spinner – Director of Commission Operations Ash Brokerage Jim Tigrak – Commission Analyst Simplicity Los Angeles Jessica Schultz – Licensing & Commission Supervisor   Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Allie Munson – Commission Specialist Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc.   Read more

The Commissions Module equips participants with a practical understanding of how compensation flows across carriers, BGAs, and advisors, and why it is central to advisor retention and firm health. The course covers first-year, renewal, and trail commissions, as well as product-specific differences across life, annuities, hybrids, long-term care, and Medicare products. Learners will explore inforce transactions that impact pay, regulatory considerations in states like New York, and how to resolve commission errors quickly to maintain trust. The module also introduces the role of technology and reporting systems in reconciling payments, managing hierarchies, and ensuring compliance. By the end, participants will be able to interpret statements, anticipate commission impacts, and support accurate, timely compensation across diverse product lines. Lesson Overview: Statements & Reports This lesson introduces commission statements and reports as key tools for validating pay and managing business performance. Learners will explore how statements provide transaction-level detail while reports offer broader analysis. The lesson also addresses best practices for reconciling statements and preventing errors. Learning Objectives Understand the purpose and structure of commission statements. Recognize how reports support business oversight and forecasting. Identify key data fields found in statements and reports. Explain best practices for reconciling payments and splits. COURSE CONTRIBUTORS Leah Mahoney – EVP - Operations  Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Kayla Doherty –  Customer Operations Analyst  Securian Jon Duvall – Director, Commissions and PlanAdmin  Ash Brokerage Lionel Gusti – IT, Commissions Manager Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC  Jason Kidd – Senior Vice President Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC Katie Spinner – Director of Commission Operations Ash Brokerage Jim Tigrak – Commission Analyst Simplicity Los Angeles Jessica Schultz – Licensing & Commission Supervisor   Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Allie Munson – Commission Specialist Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc.   Read more

The Commissions Module equips participants with a practical understanding of how compensation flows across carriers, BGAs, and advisors, and why it is central to advisor retention and firm health. The course covers first-year, renewal, and trail commissions, as well as product-specific differences across life, annuities, hybrids, long-term care, and Medicare products. Learners will explore inforce transactions that impact pay, regulatory considerations in states like New York, and how to resolve commission errors quickly to maintain trust. The module also introduces the role of technology and reporting systems in reconciling payments, managing hierarchies, and ensuring compliance. By the end, participants will be able to interpret statements, anticipate commission impacts, and support accurate, timely compensation across diverse product lines. Lesson Overview: Commission Hierarchy This lesson explains commission hierarchies, how compensation flows through multiple levels, from writing advisor to BGA to IMO. It covers how hierarchies determine overrides, reporting access, and production credit. Learners will understand how hierarchies impact compensation fairness and transparency. Learning Objectives Define commission hierarchy and its role in distribution. Recognize the levels within a hierarchy (advisor, manager, BGA, IMO). Explain how overrides and production credit are allocated. Identify how hierarchies affect reporting and bonus eligibility. COURSE CONTRIBUTORS Leah Mahoney – EVP - Operations  Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Kayla Doherty –  Customer Operations Analyst  Securian Jon Duvall – Director, Commissions and PlanAdmin  Ash Brokerage Lionel Gusti – IT, Commissions Manager Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC  Jason Kidd – Senior Vice President Innovative Solutions Insurance Services, LLC Katie Spinner – Director of Commission Operations Ash Brokerage Jim Tigrak – Commission Analyst Simplicity Los Angeles Jessica Schultz – Licensing & Commission Supervisor   Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. Allie Munson – Commission Specialist Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc.   Read more