# "Agent also means producer"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 28, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agent-also-means-producer/814974 "2018-05-28T15:42:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agent-also-means-producer/814974/1 "2018-05-28T15:42:58Z")
Stuck at work, the radio is playing, and an insurance advert comes on. At the end of the spiel, at a much faster pace, comes the phrase “Agent also means producer”. It sounds like a forced disclaimer, but phrased in such a way as to be clear as mud as to what it actually means. Can someone help translate for me? ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agent-also-means-producer/814974/2 "2018-05-28T17:00:02Z")
Sounds like they’re just covering all their bases. From [here](https://americasprofessor.com/general/insurance-agents-producers-and-brokers-whats-the-difference/): > [@](#): > > In some states, insurance agents are officially called insurance producers. Despite the difference in names, the role they play is exactly the same. Whether someone is called an insurance producer or an insurance agent, it is their job to sell insurance coverage on behalf of an insurance company. Unlike the difference between insurance agents and insurance brokers, the difference between agent and producer is just using a different title for the same job. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agent-also-means-producer/814974/3 "2018-05-28T17:19:15Z")
It’s for spies, in case any double producers are listening. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agent-also-means-producer/814974/4 "2018-05-28T17:46:51Z")
What it means is that the insurance agent’s primary fiduciary duty is to his insurance company, not you. He is not legally required to find the best insurance deal for you, but for his company. So he can legally push you to buy more insurance than you need, or the wrong kind, whenever that makes more money for his company. Which kinda explains why insurance salesmen are known for being so ‘pushy’. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2018, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agent-also-means-producer/814974/5 "2018-05-28T19:12:38Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > What it means is that the insurance agent’s primary fiduciary duty is to his insurance company, not you. He is not legally required to find the best insurance deal for you, but for his company. So he can legally push you to buy more insurance than you need, or the wrong kind, whenever that makes more money for his company. > > Which kinda explains why insurance salesmen are known for being so ‘pushy’. You’re describing “captive” agents–those who represent one particular company. Producers who are brokers owe their fiduciary duty to their clients. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agent-also-means-producer/814974/6 "2018-05-29T16:05:36Z")
> [@DooWahDiddy](#): > > Sounds like they’re just covering all their bases. From [here](https://americasprofessor.com/general/insurance-agents-producers-and-brokers-whats-the-difference/): And it appears that in some states and/or circumstances , “producer” is an umbrella term that covers both “brokers” and “agents”. I remember getting insurance through the assigned risk plan years ago, and the paperwork had space for the agent to list his “producer” number- I assume because even though I was assigned to a different company than the one he represented, he was still entitled to his commission. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agent-also-means-producer/814974/7 "2018-05-29T18:38:34Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > What it means is that the insurance agent’s primary fiduciary duty is to his insurance company, not you. He is not legally required to find the best insurance deal for you, but for his company. So he can legally push you to buy more insurance than you need, or the wrong kind, whenever that makes more money for his company. Nitpick: the agent is still prohibited from churning.