Big I Michigan
Big I Michigan is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1898 that represents independent insurance agents in Michigan through advocacy, professional designation programs (CIC, CISR, TQA), market access, E&O and cyber insurance placement, and flagship industry events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1898
- HeadquartersLansing, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Big I Michigan does
Big I Michigan is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1898 and headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, that operates as the largest industry body representing independent insurance agents in the state. Its core function is to advance and support the independent agency system through three integrated lines of activity: advocacy before Michigan's legislature and regulators (including direct political engagement via AgentPAC), professional development through National Alliance designation programs (CIC, CISR, TQA), and market access to 80+ insurance carriers through the tiered Big I Alliance program (Blue, Gold, Blue Plus) and exclusive E&O and cyber insurance placement through MAIA Insurance Services using Swiss Re and Beazley products.
The organization's product surface is structurally diversified. Member-facing insurance placement covers errors and omissions and cyber liability, with the cyber line increasingly augmented by Coalition's automated risk assessment tooling. Education programs span pre-licensing (via Michigan School of Insurance), the multi-course CIC and nine-module CISR designations, the six-session TQA agency designation launched in 1997 (with 100+ agencies having achieved the designation), and free Ethics and E&O continuing education for members. Operational services include staffing and hiring resources (WAHVE, Ideal Traits, Big I Hires), payments and premium financing (ePayPolicy, Premco), risk management reference tools (E&O Guardian), and consumer-facing marketing support via the Trusted Choice brand. Flagship events (Annual Convention and Trade Show, Sales and Leadership Conference, Great Lakes Automation Day, NextGen Leaders programming, and regional golf outings) drive both revenue and member engagement.
Underlying technology is a HigherLogic-powered member portal (michagent.org) with integrated learning management, event registration, member forums, and authenticated member-only areas. Revenue is generated through four primary streams: recurring membership dues, paid professional development programs, event and sponsorship fees (e.g., Bay Area Golf Outing pricing from $300 cart sponsor to $900 birdie sponsor plus foursome), and referral/commission revenue from E&O and cyber insurance placement via MAIA Insurance Services. Distribution is primarily self-serve through the website, augmented by carrier partner referrals and on-site enrollment at flagship events.
Big I Michigan firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big I Michigan
- Legal name
- Big I Michigan
- Website
- https://michagent.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1898
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Big I Michigan is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1898 that represents independent insurance agents in Michigan through advocacy, professional designation programs (CIC, CISR, TQA), market access, E&O and cyber insurance placement, and flagship industry events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big I Michigan industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Insurance Trade Association Services
- NAICS
- Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)
- SIC
- Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Insurance Program Administration & MGA/MGU Services (FSAEADAK)
Keywords
Where Big I Michigan is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lansing
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Big I Michigan business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from independent insurance agencies and agents in Michigan. Membership provides access to benefits including advocacy, education, market access, and member resources.
- Professional Development Programs: Revenue from education programs including CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) courses at $450 per class, CISR (Certified Insurance Service Representative) at $195 per module, and TQA (Total Quality Agency) program at $3,500 for first registrant.
- Event Registrations: Registration fees for flagship events including Convention & Trade Show, Sales & Leadership Conference, and various golf outings. Golf events range from $300 (cart sponsor) to $900 (birdie sponsor with foursome).
- E&O and Cyber Insurance Placement: Association facilitates placement of Errors & Omissions insurance and Cyber insurance for member agencies through MAIA Insurance Services, generating referral/commission revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | CIC Institute - In-Person/Virtual |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | CIC Graduate Seminar |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | CISR - In-Person/Virtual |
| Other | Multi-year contract | TQA First Agency Registrant |
| Other | Multi-year contract | TQA Additional Registrants |
| Other | Multi-year contract | TQA Out-of-State |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bay Area Golf Outing - Foursome |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bay Area Golf Outing - Birdie Sponsor |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bay Area Golf Outing - Hole Sponsor |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bay Area Golf Outing - Cart Sponsor |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bay Area Golf Outing - Dinner Sponsor |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Ethics Education |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free E&O Education |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Big I Michigan product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big I Michigan is a trade association representing independent insurance agents in Michigan. It offers membership-based services including E&O and cyber insurance placement, market access to 80+ carriers through Big I Alliance, professional development designations (CIC, CISR, TQA), political advocacy via AgentPAC, and operational tools such as Coalition cyber assessments, staffing resources, and Trusted Choice marketing support.
Product overview
Big I Michigan is a trade association representing independent insurance agents in Michigan, offering a portfolio of insurance products and member services rather than a unified software platform. The core product suite includes E&O Insurance and Cyber Insurance placed through MAIA Insurance Services, employee benefits (health, dental, vision) through major carriers, and Big I Alliance Market Access providing tiered market access solutions. Supporting services encompass Agency Operations (including Coalition cyber assessments, ePayPolicy payments, and Premco premium financing), Technology Solutions for workflow modernization, Staffing & Hiring resources (WAHVE, Big I Hires, Ideal Traits), and Sales & Marketing Resources through Trusted Choice. Education offerings include CIC and CISR professional designations, Total Quality Agency (TQA) designation, Pre-Licensing School, and various CE programs (E&O, Ethics, e-Learning). Flagship events include the Annual Convention & Trade Show, Sales & Leadership Conference, Great Lakes Automation Day (GLAD), and NextGen Leaders programming. The organization also manages AgentPAC for political advocacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AgentPAC: State-level Political Action Committee for Big I Michigan members to support political campaigns and legislative fundraising.
- Big I Alliance
- Total Quality Agency (TQA)
Products and services
- E&O Insurance
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 100 agencies have achieved TQA designation
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Big I Michigan
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Big I Michigan technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Big I Michigan partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Trusted Choice (Big 'I' National)coreBig I Michigan membership includes membership in the national Big 'I' association. Trusted Choice is the national marketing brand for Big 'I' members, providing consumer awareness, local marketing support, and national advertising resources.
- National Alliance for Insurance Education & ResearchcoreBig I Michigan is the sole provider of National Alliance in-class programming in Michigan, offering CIC, CISR, and other designation programs. The association coordinates course delivery, exams, and continuing education credits.
- Michigan School of InsurancecorePreferred provider for pre-licensing classes (Property/Casualty and Life/Health). Offers in-person, live-online, and self-study options. Big I Michigan provides exclusive member discount codes.
- MAIA Insurance ServicescoreExclusive provider of E&O insurance and cyber insurance placement for member agencies. Offers Swiss Re E&O product specifically designed for insurance agencies and Beazley Breach Response cyber coverage.
- CoalitionmajorPartnership through Big I Markets for cyber and technology E&O insurance. Includes automated risk assessment during quoting and ongoing monitoring for policyholders. Coalition provides online chat support through sales and underwriting process.
- Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM)minorFree SBAM membership automatically included with Big I Michigan membership. Provides additional resources and networking for member agencies.
- WAHVE (Work At Home Vintage Experts)minorRemote staffing solution providing contract insurance professionals for member agencies. WAHVE matches experienced vintage insurance professionals with agencies needing staffing. Special member rates available.
- Ideal TraitsminorComplete hiring solution for independent agents offering job posting exposure, candidate tracking, assessments, and one-way interviewing tools.
- Big I HiresminorNational association tool allowing members to post jobs to multiple boards, receive resumes, send assessments, and hire. Created by Big 'I' national association.
- Selective InsuranceminorFlood insurance coverage through Selective Insurance, endorsed flood carrier by IIABA. Provides personalized service, dedicated underwriting teams, and state-of-the-art tools.
- RLIminorPersonal umbrella and home business insurance coverage. RLI PUP allows clients to maintain existing auto/home coverage while adding umbrella protection. Special pricing through Arlington/Roe.
- Anderson & MurisonminorAlternative market umbrella liability insurance up to $10 million. Ideal for risks with multiple violations, high-profile individuals, and complex exposures.
- PremcominorPremium financing services for insureds. No credit checks, simple application process, enhances cash flow without tapping existing credit. Super Platinum Partner status.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Big I Michigan competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT): Texas state affiliate of the Big I national federation. Directly comparable as a state-level trade association for independent insurance agents offering advocacy, professional development, carrier market access, and E&O programs.
- Big I New York (IIABNY): New York state affiliate of the Big I national federation. Directly comparable as a state-level trade association for independent insurance agents delivering education, advocacy, and member benefits within a single U.S. state.
- Professional Insurance Agents (PIA): National trade association serving independent insurance agents with advocacy, education, E&O coverage, and carrier market access. Directly comparable to Big I Michigan as a competing association model, though PIA operates a national network of state and regional affiliates.
Others
- Trusted Choice: National consumer marketing brand for Big I member agencies. Comparable as a member benefit and branding program Big I Michigan extends to its members, though administered nationally rather than at the state level.
- National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC): Trade association representing mutual insurance companies. Comparable as an industry trade association in the insurance ecosystem providing advocacy and education, though NAMIC represents carriers rather than independent agents.
- National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research: Provider of CIC, CISR, and other insurance designations that Big I Michigan delivers in Michigan. Comparable as the underlying educational content authority and a key partnership dependency, though it operates nationally rather than at a state level.
Broad incumbents
- Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big I National / IIABA): National federation of independent insurance agents and the parent organization of Big I Michigan. Comparable as the umbrella trade association delivering advocacy, education, and Trusted Choice branding, but operating nationally across all U.S. states rather than at a state level.
- Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB): Trade association representing commercial insurance agents and brokers. Comparable as an advocacy and education-focused trade body for the insurance intermediary channel, though CIAB's primary focus is larger commercial brokers rather than small independent agents.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Big I Michigan financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big I Michigan leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Big I Michigan funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big I Michigan M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big I Michigan
What does Big I Michigan do?
Big I Michigan is a trade association representing independent insurance agents in Michigan. It offers membership-based services including E&O and cyber insurance placement, market access to 80+ carriers through Big I Alliance, professional development designations (CIC, CISR, TQA), political advocacy via AgentPAC, and operational tools such as Coalition cyber assessments, staffing resources, and Trusted Choice marketing support.
Is Big I Michigan a public or private company?
Big I Michigan is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Big I Michigan founded?
Big I Michigan was founded in 1898. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Big I Michigan based?
Big I Michigan is headquartered in Lansing, United States, in the North America region.
How does Big I Michigan make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are professional Development Programs, event Registrations and E&O and Cyber Insurance Placement.
Who are Big I Michigan's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT), Big I New York (IIABNY) and Professional Insurance Agents (PIA). Others are Trusted Choice, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) and National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research. Broad incumbents are Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big I National / IIABA) and Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB).
Does Big I Michigan have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big I Michigan.
What industry is Big I Michigan in?
Big I Michigan's product category is Insurance Trade Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEADAK, Insurance Program Administration & MGA/MGU Services. Its NAICS code is 524210 and its SIC code is 6411.