Fifty Years of Supporting Independent Agents: What Longevity Means

When Cristin Hopkin Bishop accepted the Legends and Luminaries Award at this year's NAILBA Conference, she represented more than a company milestone. She represented a family legacy that began in 1976, when her parents, Ross and Cheryl Hopkin, set out to support independent insurance agents.

Today, The Brokerage Inc. remains family-owned, serving approximately 30,000 agents through relationships with more than 75 carriers across Life, Health, and Medicare. The industry has changed considerably since the company's founding, and so have the ways it supports agents.

But what does 50 years of experience actually mean when you're choosing an FMO or IMO?

Longevity is one part of the picture. The resources a company offers, the relationships it builds, and how its approach to agent support evolves matter, too. The story behind The Brokerage Inc.'s recognition offers a closer look at how those pieces come together.