Second-order thinking for faster binds

MGAs that cut quote-to-bind time in half do not just work faster. They redesign the flow, measure precisely, and eliminate handoffs that do not add underwriting value.

Set a baseline and target

Start with facts, not anecdotes. Define a starting point, then choose a 50 percent reduction goal by line of business and segment.

Track:

• Median and 90th percentile quote-to-bind time
• Touch count per submission and rework rate before bind
• Time in state for intake, underwriting, approval, and bind
• Approval turnaround and referral rate
• First-pass binder accuracy and document completeness
• SLA attainment by broker and team

Most of these metrics are available when the process is run inside a single system of record.

Tighten intake and qualification

Slow cycles often start with messy submissions. Standardize what you need up front and screen earlier.

• Use appetite and eligibility questions to route or decline quickly
• Prefill from ACORD, broker portals, and prior policies to reduce keystrokes
• Require documents contextually so underwriters stop chasing missing items

If you manage intake in Expert Insured, the new business flow centralizes documents, data, and tasks. See how it handles new business and submissions to keep work moving.

Accelerate quoting

Quotes stall when data lives in email threads or versions get lost. Consolidate quoting steps and make changes fast.

• Centralize all quote versions with audit, so brokers see updates in one place
• Apply templates and rating rules to generate consistent terms in minutes
• Expose underwriting notes alongside pricing to reduce back-and-forth
• Enable side-by-side comparisons to pick the final quote without rework

Expert Insured supports creating and requesting quotes with controlled templates, collaboration, and tracking that shortens cycle time.

Remove bind friction

The last mile should be predictable. Create a clean handoff from quote to binder.

• Convert an accepted quote into a binder package with one action
• Auto-populate binder terms from the bound quote to avoid discrepancies
• Offer e-sign and document assembly so brokers bind without delays
• Validate limits, forms, and conditions before issuance to reduce corrections

Expert Insured streamlines quote and binder generation so underwriters do not rebuild documents or chase signatures.

Cut approval lag

Approvals are essential, but wait time should not be. Make routing rules explicit and track service levels.

• Route by authority level, peril, or exception reason
• Escalate automatically when SLAs are at risk
• Allow parallel approvals when risks hit multiple rules
• Maintain an audit trail that satisfies compliance without email hunts

Expert Insured provides approvals and authorization with configurable rules, timers, and visibility, which removes idle time between decisions.

Run it like an operating cadence

Treat cycle time as a program, not a project.

• Hold weekly reviews on cycle-time trend, queue health, and stuck items
• Publish team-level SLAs and recognize consistent performance
• Triage the longest 10 percent of submissions and fix root causes
• Refresh templates and rules quarterly to reflect market changes

With disciplined metrics, clean intake, streamlined quoting, fast approvals, and reliable bind execution, a 50 percent reduction is realistic and repeatable.