When you leave an insurance sales position, it’s always best practice to request a release letter from your upline. This will ensure you have the ability to be appointed again in the event you want to work at another insurance company or broker. Even if you have not made a sale in the position with a particular carrier, you may have still been appointed with that carrier. When requesting a release letter, the following is required:
Letter must be on company letterhead
Must include your name
Must include the effective date of release from upline
Letter must be signed by your top of hierarchy
If possible, we prefer to have the carrier names included in the letter, otherwise please provide these to the licensing team when you turn in your release.
You can obtain these by emailing or calling your HR representative or contacting the Licensing department through a License & Appointment Support ticket. They will inform you if there are any requirements to obtain the letter.
There are 3 carriers that require additional documentation to be filled out in lieu of a release letter. They are as follows:
Aetna Medicare Advantage & Prescription Drug - Notice of Intent - Transfer Release Form
Mutual of Omaha/United of Omaha - Mutual of Omaha and Affiliates Transfer Form
Americo - Compensation Hierarchy Schedule
All forms will require that you fill out any personal and identifying agent information (national producer number, TIN, SSN, etc) then have your upline fill out and sign their information. This will require that you reach out to your upline in order to complete the forms so make sure to do this early so you can get it completed for training!
Once you have obtained your release, you will give them to your agent success coordinator or licensing specialist. Please know they may ask additional questions and/or have additional instructions for you. If you are obtaining a release from SelectQuote, you must submit your completed reciprocal release agreement to the Licensing Department. Submission must be made by logging a License & Appointment support ticket through https://sqsupport.com/
What to do if I Cannot get a Release from my Upline?
In the event that your upline cannot or will not grant you a release to work with another company, you do have another option. Many carriers offer delayed release options for this reason. Delayed releases can be obtained by reaching out to the carrier you need a release from and requesting a direct release from them without a signature from your previous upline. You can inform them that your upline refuses to release you and you need to move to another upline for a new role. Your agent success coordinator or licensing specialist will provide you with the needed carrier contact information.
The timeframe for getting these releases can vary by carrier but they typically range from 3-6 months so it’s important to make sure you have exhausted all efforts in obtaining a release from your upline directly first.
Once you have received confirmation of a release from the carrier, please inform your licensing specialist or agent success coordinator of any release timelines given by the carrier.
What if my Upline or the Carrier says that I have no Active Contracts/Appointments?
This will likely mean that you’re ready to be contracted by SelectQuote. As best practice, it is important to get some kind of written proof of no release needed from either your upline or the carrier directly. This can be a letter or email from either entity. This will show us that you are clear for any releases and are 100% ready to be contracted by SelectQuote.
However, if you have been notified by the Licensing team or your Agent Success Coordinator that you still need a release from that carrier then you should reach out to the carrier directly to see what options are available or verify with the carrier that you are free to reappoint under any upline. Having terminated appointments does not automatically mean a release will not be needed.
What if my Upline has Closed or is no Longer Available to get a Release From?
In this instance, it is best practice to reach out to the carrier and notify them of the situation. Most carriers will grant you an immediate release if your upline has closed and your contracts with them are terminated. If you need carrier contact information, reach out to your Licensing Specialist or Agent Success Coordinator.