What is a managing general agent (MGA)?
A practical guide to the authority, economics and operating responsibilities behind the MGA model.
A managing general agent is an insurance intermediary granted underwriting or other delegated authority by an insurer. The precise authority varies by agreement and jurisdiction; it can include quoting, binding, policy issuance, premium administration and aspects of claims oversight.
Why insurers delegate
Delegation can give insurers access to specialist underwriting judgment, focused distribution and operational capabilities without building each niche internally. The insurer still bears the risk defined by the arrangement and therefore governs authority, reporting and performance.
What distinguishes an MGA
The defining feature is delegated authority, not company size or branding. A wholesale broker may place business without binding it; an MGA ordinarily exercises authority specified by a carrier or syndicate agreement.
What leaders should examine
The durable questions concern appetite, authority, data, claims feedback, controls and renewal alignment. Premium growth alone does not establish underwriting quality or partnership resilience.
Use the structure to ask better questions.
The label is only a starting point. Authority, economics, risk ownership, data rights and governance determine how an arrangement works in practice. Decision-makers should test the underlying evidence and contract rather than infer quality from terminology alone.
This guide provides a high-level educational overview. Market terminology and legal obligations vary by jurisdiction and agreement. MGA Index updates reference pages when material market practice changes.
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