On 2 March 2020 we launched in partnership with the CII the new professional designation for Managing General Agents: Chartered Insurance Underwriting Agents.
Apply NowIn collaboration with valued affiliate member CII, we have developed a new professional designation for MGAs deserving of recognition. We felt that MGAs or individuals working within the sector - despite not fitting the definition of an insurer or a broker - deserve the opportunity to obtain a Chartered title.
By encouraging more MGAs to become professionally qualified and to promote their Chartered status to the public, they raise awareness of professionalism and expertise in the sector. Once awarded, Chartered MGAs will become recognised as being committed to high standards of professional practice and hold a greater pulling power when it comes to acquiring and retaining quality talent.
FAQsCorporate Chartered status is identified as a key instrument in building public trust through our increasingly united profession.
“Our vision is that together, we can achieve ‘parity of esteem’ with the established professions such as medicine, accountancy, law and surveying. A commitment by firms of all sizes – whether insurers, insurance brokers, or financial planners – to the Chartered Ethos, expressed through a shared public declaration to professional standards, is an essential step on this journey.”
Sian Fisher, Chief Executive Officer
Appropriate financial planning and insurance solutions are vital for the long-term well-being of individuals, families and businesses – and are a key driver of financial security and resilience.
Achieving Chartered status delivers benefits to your business, your staff, and your clients. Publicly committing to building consumer trust, putting customers first, and aligning your ethics and values will improve your perception amongst other professionals.
Although difficult to attain, if you are committed to the process you will stand to benefit from:
Individual Chartered Status will place you amongst the top professionals within your field. It is unquestionably difficult to attain, but if you are committed to the process, you will stand to benefit from:
Qualifying criteria for Chartered Insurance Broker/Insurer/Insurance Practitioner/Insurance Risk Manager/Insurance Underwriting Agent
As the professional body for the Insurance and personal finance sector, the CII aims to be as relevant to as many of those working within the profession as possible.
Managing General Agents (MGAs) are an important segment, so the CII alongside the MGAA has worked to develop an accreditation that provides those working within the Delegated Authority sector the opportunity to gain and maintain the expertise and professionalism required.
The CII believes that excluding a growing segment of the market from having a Chartered title because they didn’t fit into the definition of an insurer or a broker, did not fairly represent the whole sector.
By encouraging more individuals and firms to become professionally qualified and to promote their Chartered status to the public, they raise awareness of professionalism in the sector and trust in a united profession.
The Managing General Agents sector continues to grow, and despite being very much part of the insurance profession, and performing vital underwriting services for insurers, it was a business model that hadn’t been envisaged when the original concept of a ‘Chartered Insurer’ was developed.
Having the incredible luxury of having a royal Charter sometimes has its downsides. One of these is that the CII don’t get unilateral control over the titles their members hold. The CII confers its titles on behalf of the Privy Council – advising the sovereign according to well-established protocol and convention. The ability to confer the title ‘Chartered Insurer’ depends on a set of eligibility criteria including employment by an insurance company. Chartered status is all about public perception and transparency, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for someone to hold a title that implies they work for an insurer holding risk when in fact they underwrite on behalf of insurers who do.
So they (CII) had a problem they hadn’t foreseen: those professional underwriters working for MGAs couldn’t strictly call themselves Chartered Insurers.
As the professional body for the whole Insurance and Personal Finance profession, the CII couldn’t allow this unintentional gap to exclude a growing number of professionals, so they developed what became the new Chartered Insurance Underwriting Agent title. It is arguably a bit of a mouthful, and it doesn’t include the words ‘Managing General Agent’, which might seem a simpler and more easily-understood moniker. But what seemed simple and easily-understood when we created ‘Chartered Insurer’ turned out not to cover all future business models. So our hope is that this new title is both relevant and meaningful to those in the MGA sector, and also flexible enough to cover those who underwrite insurance in other (perhaps yet to be invented) business types.
Chartered status is recognised by consumers and businesses as the strongest evidence that a firm is committed to high standards of professional practice. 81% of consumers (84% of HNW consumers) would choose a firm with Chartered status over one without. Holding Chartered status enhances an organisation’s ability to acquire and retain quality talent, by demonstrating a commitment to continuous professional development and ethical values
There are now 6 Chartered titles: Chartered Insurer, Chartered Insurance Broker, Chartered Insurance Risk Manager (individual only), Chartered Financial Planner, Chartered Insurance Practitioner (individual only), and Chartered Insurance Underwriting Agent.
Not at all, the growing MGA sector did not have a relevant title to reflect their importance within the UK insurance sector and this title ensures individuals and businesses within that sector are now part of the united profession. The CII exists to improve public trust in insurance and personal finance. In order to pursue this goal, it needs to develop and promote professional standards across the entirety of the Insurance Profession.
Many people working in the insurance and personal finance sector are not directly customer-facing, but have an impact on customer outcomes. MGAs perform services on behalf of their principal, the capacity provider or insurer and have a meaningful contribution to the customer outcome. In addition, with the burden of regulation and demands on MGAs, the new Chartered title status is a symbol of technical competence and professionalism which in turn demonstrates that MGAs are taking responsibility to deliver a positive outcome for the end customer.
Moreover, an increasing number of MGAs are dealing direct with the consumer and or their businesses.
Hold the Advanced Diploma in Insurance. Hold a membership of the Chartered Insurance Institute. Have at least five years’ sector experience.
At least one member of the Board or appropriate management team must hold the Chartered Insurance Underwriting Agent designation, and all relevant members of that board or management team must be members of the CII. 90% of staff involved in the ‘underwriting’ process and other staff with an impact on the end customer experience must be members of the CII. 3 years’ pre-application trading, or one year with authorisation to trade at Lloyd’s. The organisation must have in place an appropriate Professional Development programme, Core Values, Business Practices, a Diversity and Inclusion policy, and demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility.
This rule applies to all firms who are authorised by Lloyd’s, not just MGAs.
The purpose of the three-year trading experience is to provide reassurance that the firm has some financial stability and standing. As a regulator, Lloyd’s assesses the financial standing of organisations, and to be granted a license provides an equivalent or greater degree of confidence.
Yes. There has been a very enthusiastic interest expressed by our MGA membership and we currently have 6 MGAA members that have achieved the Chartered Insurance Underwriting Agents status.
Details can be found by clicking on the Apply Now button.
Chartered membership currently costs £230 per annum with an one-off admission fee of £37. This admission fee does not apply if the applicant is already a member of the CII and upgrading to Chartered Status.
There is no cost to an individual to convert an existing Chartered title e.g. Chartered Practitioner.
The annual fee for corporate Chartered status is:
£500 for firms with up to 10 employees. £1000 for firms over 10 up 50 employees. £1,500 for firms over 50 up to 250 employees. £2,000 for those with over 250 employees.
The cost of joining up 90% of ‘underwriting’ staff and other staff with an impact on the end customer experience can be provided by emailing info@mgaa.co.uk.