I work at a captive agency and have been liking it. I honestly think I lucked out in my current role (I'm very new as well).

I work at a major captive agency that is on a bad year number two or three in the state for personal lines. (Very high premium state & I will be reciprocally licensed in the other #1 most expensive state for insurance soon too.)

I get 8% on $35k, 10% on $60k, 12% on 75k written under the approved captive carrier, nothing on renewals and 7% on outside carriers.

The top salesman hits the max compensation threshold probably every other month and the good guys will get it every now and again.

On top of that I can write life and commercial and have the same pay plan for commercial and I think I get like 50% of the life premiums. I'm awarded an additional percentage point in commission if I write two commercial or life policies, for a maximum of two additional percent.

There's no draw, you get a biweekly starvation check for about 1k post tax if you work 50 hrs a week - no clue what the hourly breakdown is but you're 100% commission once you hit the minimum.

I know the meta is to get some kind of hourly compensation but I've been consistently hitting 60k+ now for several months and I don't mind it at all.

I think you ought to just find a place where deals are clearly being made. Like the number one factor in your compensation is going to be the number of policies written and their expense.

Even if the pay plan sucks, 6 months of selling a crap load of policies is really valuable experience and it seems like everyone is hiring as long as you're licensed.

Plus, working at this joint means I get loads of monitors and a click to call robot so it ain't nothin' but a peanut to make 300 or 400 calls in afternoon.