Frequently asked questions

You didn't become an independent agent to be a number in someone else's spreadsheet. You did it to build something of your own and to take real care of the people who trust you.That's who we built Advocate Financial for.We're a family-owned, faith-driven brokerage headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We partner with more than 1,000 independent agents across all 50 states and give them access to 100+ national and regional carriers across Medicare, life, annuity, and ancillary products.But carrier access is the easy part. Plenty of FMOs can hand you contracts and a login, then leave you on your own. We call that the Faceless Machine, and we're the opposite of it.We see ourselves as a Growth Maximization Organization. Our job is to help you grow. That means real people who pick up the phone, training that actually moves your business forward, marketing support you can use, and a team that treats your success as its own.We also serve more than 2,000 clients directly through our Retail Division. We know what it takes to sit across the table from a client because we do it every day.And we're not going anywhere. Advocate Financial is family-owned and will never be sold. When you build with us, you're building on a foundation that will still be here next year and ten years from now.Our team feels that way too. In 2026 we earned Great Place To Work Certification™, with 100% of our employees saying Advocate is a great place to work, compared with a 57% U.S. average.Your business. Your clients. Your growth. We're here to help you build all three.

Partnering with Advocate Financial comes at no cost to you. There are no fees, no hidden charges, and no commission splits, and you retain 100% ownership of your book of business. Insurance carriers compensate marketing organizations like Advocate for the training, support, and marketing resources we provide to agents, so our services are fully funded on the carrier side. This is why most licensed agents choose to work with a Field Marketing Organization (FMO) rather than contracting directly with carriers. An FMO provides an additional layer of support that carriers alone typically do not offer, including expert guidance, professional training, and access to marketing opportunities designed to help agents grow their business.

At Advocate, we don't believe in the call center model of buying leads, dialing lists, and moving on. Our most successful agents own their local market. They show up in their community all year long, build real relationships, and earn clients who stay for years and send referrals their way. We'll help you do the same. Advocate coordinates with our carriers to help pay for up to 50% of your lead budget through our co-op program, and we offer a variety of strategic marketing options to help you drive more quality leads in your local market. We also have recommended lead generation software for agents who want it, but we see those tools as support for local presence, not a replacement for it.

In our industry, you'll hear several names for companies like ours: NMO (National Marketing Organization), FMO (Field Marketing Organization), and IMO (Independent Marketing Organization). Each one describes a firm that connects independent agents with insurance carriers, products, and support. At Advocate Financial, we see our role differently. We are a GMO, a Growth Maximization Organization. Contracting and carrier access are only the starting point. Our focus is on actively helping every agent grow a stronger, more profitable, and more sustainable business through hands-on support, professional training, and strategic marketing. That commitment has made Advocate Financial Life & Health Brokerage one of the nation's highest-producing marketing firms in Medicare insurance for the five largest carriers in the country. We are proud to be among a select group of premier national marketing firms in this category, and we remain dedicated to connecting agents with the industry's leading products and carriers and helping them thrive.

Advocate has built its sterling reputation on integrity, unmatched service, fast-track training, 24/7 support, and seasoned expertise. We are proven, loyal to our partners, and committed to our agents - and it GREATLY sets us apart from a sea of other FMOs. Because of this passionate dedication to our agents - agents believe in us and see our relationship as a true, trusted partner helping them grow their business, and winning together. It’s the Advocate Advantage. We are honored to work with our agents. We are your free expert consultant.

At Advocate Financial, we help agents generate quality leads through a grassroots, relationship-driven approach rather than a high-volume call center model. Our experience shows that the most successful agents own their local market. They stay visible and involved in their communities throughout the year, not just during enrollment periods, which leads to stronger client relationships, better retention, and consistent referrals.To support that effort, we offer a variety of strategic marketing options designed to drive quality leads in your local market. We also coordinate with our carrier partners to help fund up to 50% of your lead budget through our co-op program, so your marketing dollars go further.For agents who want to add digital lead generation, we can recommend trusted software partners. We see these tools as a complement to local presence, not a replacement for it. Our team will work with you to build a lead strategy that fits your market, your goals, and the way you want to grow your business.

Yes, according to the Pew Research Foundation! Medicare Insurance is a rapidly-emerging, booming, niche that industry savvy agents are flocking to for real growth and to better serve their client and prospect base. There is a shortage of licensed agents and a surge in senior demand. The service requirements are low, the lifetime renewals are high, and the need is great. Now is the time to get involved, trained, and certified.

AEP is a booming bustling time for certified agents - and they love it. There are over 50 MILLION people on Medicare, and every year they need to review their plans with an agent to make sure they maximize their benefits and have the right fit. The problem is there is a shortage of licensed agents. This means big opportunity for the agents getting into the Medicare arena. During the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 - Dec. 7) seniors can change their insurance plan with the help of a certified agent. It’s a very busy time for licensed agents in the field, and one of huge growth. There are also year round selling windows, and that’s what makes this such a big opportunity for new revenue with great lifetime renewals. Seniors need your help.

We work with over 50 of the nation’s very best, top, industry-leading insurance carriers in the areas of Medicare Insurance, Life Insurance, Annuities and Ancillary Products. And the list grows every year as we are constantly evaluating markets and product environments. There are hundreds of carriers in the industry, but we don’t need them all - only the best ones. You’ll see that with our offering - reputable, reliable, with robust service & support units, agent friendly, and growth focused for you.

No. Working with Advocate you are 100% independent. We are just an extension of the insurance company helping you grow your business. You can pick and choose what carriers make sense with Advocate, and which don’t. We strive to earn all of your business, but it’s not a requirement.

By speaking with one of our team members we can determine how to setup your e-contracting. We work with agents across the country and every year they do this with tremendous success, since they have so many clients over 65, and they already have an established relationship. Whether a large or small agency, we have the resources, team members, and path to help make your new contract a great success.

We are available 24/7/365 via phone and live chat. A huge, distinct advantage. And our support and expertise set us apart even further. We always have marketers on standby to help you help your clients and make sales. Where other FMOs take days or weeks to respond, we work in minutes or seconds. And we love agents! We see our relationship as a true partnership. We are in it for the long haul. Our goal is a lifelong relationship, and our actions show it. Give us a call or attend one of our upcoming local agent trainings and you’ll see why more agents are choosing Advocate. We are truly an agent’s #1 Advocate. We only succeed when you do. Our top goal is growing your business as your free expert consultants.

99% of the time you are contracted and paid direct from the company. That’s how we prefer it. We don’t want to be in the accounting business if we don’t have to be. A select few smaller carriers require us to pay out commissions, but it’s rare.

You do, 100%. That’s not always the case with other FMOs. Again, working with Advocate is 100% free. We are your expert consultants at no cost to the agent. The insurance company compensates us for our time, based on results. You are 100% independent! It is a win-win. Some industry FMOs do not operate this way, and actually own your book of business. With Advocate, only you own your book of business, and you own the renewals, and you contract directly with the carriers. You also get paid direct. Our goal is to build you up and give you full control. There is no downside to working with an independent FMO. That’s why 9/10 agents do. It’s important to know this!