Sikich and KASE Insurex Consulting have jointly unveiled MGA Compass, a dedicated advisory and insurtech framework designed to support managing general agents (MGAs) in launching, operating, and scaling their insurance businesses. The service offers operational, technological, and compliance guidance tailored to both emerging and established MGAs.
The managing general agent (MGA) market continues to expand at a rapid pace, fueled by carriers seeking specialized distribution models and innovative underwriting approaches. Yet despite this growth, new MGA founders and scaling teams often face complex challenges—ranging from regulatory compliance and operational readiness to technology infrastructure and carrier onboarding. Recognizing this need for clarity, structure, and execution support, Sikich and KASE Insurex Consulting have jointly launched MGA Compass, a purpose-built advisory and insurtech framework crafted to guide MGAs from inception to long-term growth.
MGA Compass is designed as a strategic companion for MGA startups, emerging insurtechs, and established underwriting entities looking to modernize their operations. This new solution combines operational expertise, technological evaluation, and regulatory guidance across every phase of an MGA’s lifecycle. More importantly, it delivers a customized engagement model that adjusts to each MGA’s growth stage, level of sophistication, and strategic goals—making it a truly holistic support ecosystem for the MGA space.
A Full-Lifecycle Support System for MGAs
The MGA journey typically unfolds in three phases: launch, operation, and scale. Each stage presents its own challenges, from designing a business plan to achieving carrier trust to building a compliant tech-enabled underwriting environment. MGA Compass is carefully structured to address each of these phases through a set of strategic and tactical services.
At its core, MGA Compass provides support in four critical areas:
1. Business Planning & Go-to-Market Strategy
Sikich and KASE collaborate closely with MGA founders to define their business model, value proposition, underwriting appetite, and operational blueprint. This includes detailed planning around financial projections, operational roadmaps, and distribution strategies to create a foundation that is both credible to carriers and competitive in the market.
2. Carrier Readiness & Partnership Preparation
One of the biggest hurdles for new MGAs is gaining carrier confidence. MGA Compass helps teams prepare the documentation, operational structure, data strategy, and regulatory insights needed to present themselves as trustworthy and market-ready partners. This includes designing compliance frameworks that align with carrier expectations.
3. Insurtech Evaluation & System Implementation
With the insurtech market expanding rapidly, MGA leaders often struggle to identify the right platforms for quoting, binding, underwriting, policy administration, and compliance. MGA Compass provides a structured evaluation of technology options and assists with system implementation to ensure operational efficiency and scalability.
4. Customizable Engagement Model
Rather than forcing MGAs into a pre-defined mold, MGA Compass adapts to the unique needs of each organization. Whether the requirement is end-to-end support or selective advisory services, the framework is engineered for flexibility and long-term alignment.
Through this full-spectrum approach, MGA Compass aims to remove common bottlenecks and reduce the time it takes for MGAs to achieve carrier readiness and operational maturity.
Expertise Powering MGA Compass
The strength of MGA Compass lies in the complementary capabilities of its two creators—Sikich and KASE Insurex Consulting.
Sikich: Technology-Led Professional Services
Sikich is known for its deep expertise in digital transformation, enterprise technology advisory, and regulatory industry consulting. With extensive experience supporting financial services organizations and insurance firms, Sikich brings the technological and strategic rigor necessary for modern MGA operations. Their teams contribute insights into process optimization, system design, risk management, and implementation execution.
KASE Insurex Consulting: MGA Strategy, Compliance, and Operational Mastery
KASE Insurex Consulting complements Sikich with its specialized knowledge of the MGA domain. Run by insurance experts with decades of experience in MGA operations, KASE contributes deep expertise in licensing, regulatory strategy, underwriting frameworks, carrier relations, and operational design.
Leadership Perspectives
Rahul Bhatia, Principal of Insurtech at Sikich, describes MGA Compass as a “proven framework to accelerate success in the increasingly sophisticated MGA ecosystem.” His emphasis reflects the solution’s purpose: to demystify the MGA build-out process and provide founders with a structured path toward market readiness.
Similarly, Kevin Powers, Founder & CEO of KASE, highlights that MGA Compass provides founders with clarity around compliance, technology, operational design, and carrier partnerships—areas where many MGAs face early obstacles.
Together, Sikich and KASE present a partnership that blends technology expertise with insurance domain depth, creating a blueprint for MGA evolution in a rapidly shifting industry.
InsureMEP: The First MGA to Adopt the Compass Framework
The launch of MGA Compass is already validated by its first client—InsureMEP, an innovative hybrid insurtech and proptech MGA focused on commercial real estate risks. InsureMEP aims to redefine how commercial real estate portfolios are underwritten by combining data-driven models with modern technology infrastructure.
By adopting MGA Compass, InsureMEP was able to:
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Establish operational structures aligned with regulatory and carrier expectations
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Build a robust technology roadmap to support their underwriting model
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Accelerate go-to-market readiness
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Strengthen their long-term scalability strategy
Founder & CEO Craig Caryl emphasized that MGA Compass played a transformative role in helping InsureMEP turn a complex vision into a functioning, operational MGA. The engagement provided structure, clarity, and a faster pathway to execution—demonstrating the framework’s real-world impact.
Educational Video Series to Support MGA Founders
To further empower MGA entrepreneurs and industry leaders, Sikich and KASE Insurex are launching a comprehensive video series in partnership with InsureMEP. This initiative is designed to break down the complexities of building and running an MGA.
The series will cover essential topics such as:
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How to design an MGA business plan
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Understanding and preparing for regulatory requirements
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Selecting the right insurtech platforms
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Ensuring operational readiness for carrier onboarding
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Building relationships with insurance carriers
By making this knowledge publicly available, the partners aim to contribute to the broader MGA ecosystem, equipping both new and established MGAs with practical guidance.
Why MGA Compass Is Timely and Important
The MGA landscape is undergoing significant transformation. Several trends are making MGA Compass not only relevant but essential.
Rising Popularity of the MGA Model
Carriers increasingly prefer the MGA structure for its agility, specialization, and ability to reach niche markets. As a result, the number of MGA launches has surged globally.
High Barriers to Entry
Despite growing interest, creating an MGA is far from simple. Startups face challenges such as:
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Complex compliance requirements
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Regulatory ambiguity
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Need for strong carrier partnerships
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Technology overload and confusing vendor marketplaces
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Operational risks during scaling
MGA Compass directly addresses these barriers, guiding founders through what is often an overwhelming landscape.
Scalability Requirements for Established MGAs
Many existing MGAs reach a point where legacy systems, manual processes, and inconsistent compliance frameworks hinder their expansion. MGA Compass supports these organizations with modernization roadmaps that align technology upgrades, process optimization, and regulatory best practices.
Key Considerations Before Engaging MGA Compass
While the MGA Compass framework is designed to accelerate and enhance MGA development, organizations should keep several considerations in mind to ensure a successful engagement.
1. Tailored Engagement Is Essential
Because no two MGAs follow the same path, the framework must be customized to each organization’s needs. MGA leaders should evaluate their current maturity, internal capabilities, and strategic priorities before beginning the engagement.
2. Investment and Resource Planning
Building a carrier-ready MGA requires significant investment in technology, regulatory support, legal infrastructure, and operational talent. MGA Compass can streamline this process, but financial planning remains essential.
3. Execution Is a Critical Success Factor
Advisory insights are only effective when properly executed. MGAs should ensure that internal teams are capable, aligned, and ready to operationalize the guidance provided.
4. Long-Term Partnership Mindset
The MGA industry is constantly evolving. MGAs should view MGA Compass as a partner in long-term operational evolution rather than a one-time consulting engagement.
The Future of Sikich, KASE, and the MGA Ecosystem
The launch of MGA Compass positions Sikich and KASE Insurex at the forefront of MGA enablement and innovation. By combining strategic advisory, technology evaluation, and operational design, they are shaping a framework that may become the industry standard for MGA development in the years ahead.
As more MGA founders enter the market and existing MGAs seek modernization, structured support frameworks like MGA Compass are becoming increasingly valuable. They not only accelerate time-to-market but also reduce operational and regulatory risk—two critical factors in winning carrier trust and achieving sustainable success.
Ultimately, MGA Compass is more than a consulting solution. It is a blueprint for MGA excellence, a roadmap for scalability, and a strategic ally for founders attempting to bring differentiated insurance products into an evolving marketplace.
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