Eight States Targeted For Smart Choice® Expansion

Greensboro, North Carolina – The Smart Choice® Agents Program, which currently serves more than 2,100 independent agencies in 18 states, has announced plans to expand the program in eight states this year.

According to President and CEO Douglas S. Witcher, the program is being introduced in Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Utah. “We are excited about the opportunity to bring The Freedom to Succeed to even more independent agents,” he says. “Our expansion into the states allows us to offer even more independent agents the opportunity to have access to nationally-known, top-rated insurance carriers and benefit from Smart Choice’s training, education and planning assistance.”

The expansion effort is being led by Smart Choice Executive Vice President Paul Taylor, an industry veteran who has been instrumental in the growth of the Smart Choice program. “This is an exciting time for Smart Choice,” Taylor explains. “We have had great encouragement and support from our company partners for this expansion, and look forward to opening up new opportunities for agents in these states.”

The Smart Choice Agents Program, founded in 1994, provides access to personal and commercial lines property and casualty markets for agents who could not meet the production requirements of those companies. “We negotiate low volume commitments for our agents, who are directly appointed with each of the carriers,” Witcher explains. “This levels the playing field for hometown agencies. It also allows agents to provide their customers with product choice, ensuring that they are getting the best product for their needs.”

The hallmark of the Smart Choice Agents Program is that agents retain 100 percent ownership of their agencies and their customers. There are no start-up or monthly program fees, and agents can receive 100 percent commissions once they reach a fair, attainable commission cap. Smart Choice agents also benefit from the training and support of Smart Choice and insurance company staff; assistance with business planning; and help in determining how and when to perpetuate their agencies.

The Smart Choice Agents Program is a wholly-owned program of Worldwide Insurance Network, Inc., headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Smart Choice Agents Program currently operates in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas, New York, Connecticut, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Georgia and is expanding in eight new states in 2006. For more information, visit www.smartchoiceagents.com.

For More Information, Contact: Mary Beth Yates, 336-217-4650, ext. 3005