Overview

Agency fee configuration allows your team to set default agency fee suggestions at the organization level, based on premium amount. When creating programs, Ascend will automatically suggest the appropriate agency fee based on the total premium.

Key Benefits

• Reduce time spent entering agency fees manually

• Ensure consistent fee application across all users and programs

• Maintain fee structures that align with your business policies

Set Up

1. Navigate to Settings > Rates and fees

2. Select the Agency fees tab

3. You'll see a table for managing your premium ranges and corresponding fees

Creating Fee Ranges

If you haven't configured any fee ranges yet, click Add configurations to get started.

For a single fee that covers all premiums:

• Add one range

• The system will display "All premium ranges"

• Enter your default agency fee amount

For tiered fees based on premium amounts:

1. Click Add range to create multiple tiers

2. For each range, specify:

   • Maximum premium - Where this range ends

   • Agency fee - The fee amount for programs in this range

The minimum premium will be automatically calculated.

Fee Range Rules

• First range will start at $0 - The lowest tier automatically begins at $0

• Ranges cannot overlap - Each premium amount should only match one range

• No gaps between ranges - The next range will automatically start exactly $0.01 above the previous range's maximum

• Last range is unbounded - The final range has no maximum, capturing all higher premiums

• Fee must be $0 or greater - Negative fees are not allowed

• Maximum 10 ranges - You can create up to 10 different premium tiers

Editing Ranges

• Click the max premium field to adjust a range's boundary

• When you update a max, the next range's minimum automatically adjusts

• Use the trash icon to remove a range (the adjacent ranges will adjust automatically)

Saving Changes

Click Save Changes after making updates. Your new fee structure takes effect immediately for new programs.

Important: Updating fee ranges does not affect existing programs. Only programs created after saving will use the new configuration.

How to Apply Agency Fee Suggestion in Program Creation

Single Quote Programs

When you enter or update the premium amount in Quick Create:

1. The system calculates which fee range applies based on your premium

2. A suggestion banner appears showing your organization's default fee

3. Click Apply default to use the suggested fee.

Multiple Quote Programs

For programs with multiple quotes, Ascend calculates the total base premium across all quotes:

1. The suggestion is based on the combined premium of all quotes

2. When you apply the default:

   • The full agency fee is assigned to the quote with the highest premium

   • All other quotes are set to $0 agency fee

   • A message explains how the fee will be distributed

Document Import / Smart Inbox

When importing from a document:

• If the document includes an agency fee, that fee is used (no suggestion shown)

• If no agency fee is found in the document, the system suggests your default based on the premium

AMS Import

When importing from an integrated AMS:

• If transaction data includes agency fee information, that fee is used

• If no fee is present in the imported data, the system suggests your default

Dismissing Suggestions

You can dismiss the suggestion banner by clicking the X icon. The banner won't reappear for that program creation session, allowing you to enter custom values without interruption.

Edge Cases

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will this change fees on my existing programs?
A: No. Fee range changes only affect programs created after you save. Existing programs retain their original agency fees.

Q: Can I have different fees for different carriers?
A: Not currently. Agency fee defaults are set at the organization level and apply regardless of carrier.

Q: What if I don't want to use the suggested fee?
A: Simply enter your preferred amount in the agency fee field. The suggestion is just a convenience—you can always override it.

Q: How is the premium range determined for multi-quote programs?
A: The system adds up the base premium from all quotes in the program to determine which range applies.

Q: Can I configure agency fees for endorsements?
A: No. Default agency fees only apply to new program creation. Endorsements are handled separately.

Q: What happens if I delete all my fee ranges?
A: The system returns to the original behavior with no suggestions—you'll manually enter agency fees as before.

Q: Why is the minimum premium field disabled?
A: The minimum is automatically calculated based on the previous range's maximum (plus $0.01). This ensures no gaps between ranges.

Contact Us

Need more help? Contact us at [email protected] for more help.