In Rhode Island, who is authorized to transact insurance sales for an insurance company?

In Rhode Island, appointed producers are individuals who have been officially designated by an insurance company to act on its behalf in selling and servicing its insurance products. This appointment process involves a formal agreement that grants these producers the authority to solicit applications, bind coverage, and provide advice to clients representing that specific insurance company.

While independent agents and brokers can also sell insurance, they typically operate under different arrangements. Independent agents may represent multiple insurance companies without being bound to a single one, while brokers often work on behalf of clients to find the best coverage across different insurers, but do not represent the insurance companies themselves.

Insurance company employees can sell products, but their authority is limited to what their position allows and they often work under the company's direct supervision. Therefore, only appointed producers have the specific and formal authority needed to transact insurance sales on behalf of a company.