Who is Training the Next Generation of Commercial Lines Insurance Producers?

The Evolution of Insurance Producer Training Programs in the Talent Crisis Era

The massive knowledge transfer gap of the insurance industry’s swelling talent crisis is being referred to as the “silver tsunami.” Reports are saying that up to 50% of the industry’s workforce will be cashing out their equity, stock options, and books of business for the greener pastures of retirement. While fear sells, we see the “crisis” differently — as a “golden wave of opportunity” for those who can capitalize on it. The great land grab of the future is over the land between the ears, in the young minds of the industry.

Whoever develops the greatest minds will undoubtedly own the future of commercial lines insurance. But dominating the golden age of opportunity demands an evolution in training and developing the next generation of insurance producers, away from traditional old-school training models, and through employment of best-in-class, modern learning science.

Four Trends Making Traditional, Old-School Insurance Producer Schools a Relic of the Past

The traditional old-school producer training models revolve around two-week-long mini schools. We’ve previously addressed the over-reliance on ineffective mini schools here. TLDR versions is The Law of Forgetting Curve says 90% of the information taught will be forgotten in two weeks and these traditional programs carry high out-of-pocket tuition and travel costs (ex: Hartford $3,995 plus travel). They survive on the size of their brand name and because they live in an industry that still esteems the fax machine.

Besides the high costs, traditional training models fail at addressing the four rising trends in training and development science:

1. Superiority of Microlearning

As attention spans dwindle and the demand for flexible learning solutions intensifies, microlearning has emerged as a pivotal trend in insurance training programs. The microlearning approach, characterized by short, focused learning modules, allows employees to acquire new skills and knowledge in a manner that is both efficient and manageable. It's been measured to increase focus and retention by as much as 80%, increase engagement and completion by 4X, and increase speed of delivery by 300%. It connects the information they need with their current circumstance and need (think “how to analyze an Emod worksheet” for a new prospective client with Emod issues).

Recently, I had a small mechanical issue with my truck. I pulled up YouTube, watched a 15-minute video on how to fix it, bought a $100 part for it, and was able to complete the fix in a few hours. I didn’t need two weeks of classroom time to learn how to build an entire truck. I needed the solution to my critical issue.

Microlearning aligns perfectly with the fast-paced nature of the insurance industry, where professionals are often required to assimilate vast amounts of information in a short period. Producers need access to elite content when they need it on their schedule, in micro-doses of information so they can immediately apply to their business.

ECLIPS Academy has been at the vanguard of the microlearning movement, developing bite-sized training modules that cater to the unique needs of the commercial insurance sales sector. These modules, which can be accessed on-demand, empower employees to learn at their own pace, thereby fostering a culture of continuous learning. The efficacy of this approach is evidenced by a study that revealed, employees who engage in microlearning are 17% more efficient and 50% more likely to apply the knowledge in real-world scenarios compared to those who undergo traditional training programs. Through application and repetition, both abundant in a microlearning environment, retention and internalization of the knowledge increases. Elite training can take only minutes, not hours or days, and can be implemented into existing insurance agent development initiatives as an ongoing habit, not a once every two-year CE requirement.

2. Importance of Sales Focus & Soft Skills Development

While technical proficiency remains a cornerstone of success in the insurance industry, the importance of teaching sales and soft skills cannot be overstated. As automation and AI take over routine tasks, the ability to communicate effectively, think critically, and manage complex relationships will become increasingly valuable. Insurance training programs must, therefore, place a greater emphasis on the development of these skills, ensuring that producers are not only technically competent but also emotionally intelligent. A technically proficient producer who cannot sell is an underwriter on the wrong side of the table and will inevitably fail in the big leagues of commercial insurance sales.

The ECLIPS Academy program has built a sales focus and soft skills training into every module. These modules, which cover areas such as leadership, communication, effective questioning, navigating difficult conversations, handling change anxiety, and emotional intelligence, are delivered not as separate “topics” but integrated within the technical knowledge for a comprehensive approach to sales development and soft skills refining. Every concept is taught from a sales perspective, not just knowing the complex risk finance solutions, but being able to adequately communicate them in a way that creates and wins new opportunities.

3. Rise of Mobile Learning

Like all other industries, mobile devices have given rise to a new trend in insurance training: mobile learning. This approach, which allows employees to access training content on their smartphones or tablets, offers unparalleled flexibility and convenience. As the workforce becomes increasingly mobile, the ability to learn on the go will become a key differentiator for insurance agencies that wish to attract and retain top talent.

ECLIPS Academy has embraced this trend by developing mobile-optimized training platform. These modules, which can be accessed anytime, anywhere, provide employees with the flexibility they need to balance their professional development with their other responsibilities. The effectiveness of mobile learning is highlighted by a statistic that states, employees who engage in mobile learning are 43% more likely to complete their training programs and 50% more likely to apply the knowledge on the job.

4. Demand for Advanced-Level Expertise & Content

The biggest complaint we get in our one-on-one’s with commercial producers, CSR’s, and agency leaders is how basic and watered-down all content is in traditional training programs. Most insurance sales training programs never teach “real life scenarios.” The insurance industry is dealing with a new pandemic when it comes to training — basic training focused on meeting CE-requirements.

Let’s be honest, nothing you learn in a licensing exam carriers over to the day-to-day responsibilities of being an elite commercial lines sales and service executive. I know this, you know this, agencies know this, carriers know this, licensing education providers know this, state insurance departments know this. Everybody knows this. Yet nothing changes. Almost all commercial lines training and development programs today are designed around emphasizing meeting state insurance licensing CE-requirements.  

Commercial lines producers and account executives are begging for advanced-level content. They need elite expertise that will help them write and keep large accounts, offer real intellectual capital and technical proficiency to clients, and give them the confidence of having a non-B.S. competitive advantage over their competition by possessing superior knowledge. Training programs today need to offer the real stuff.

Information that’s measurably-effective, content rich in depth of knowledge transfer, delivered in consistent microlearning doses, mobile and accessible 24/7 when needed, repeatable for every new associate, and scalable for large growing agencies is the future of training. New producers need elite soft skills, technical mastery, sales grit, and niche expertise — yesterday. Agency owners can’t afford five-year ramps. They can't develop an elite team through watered down ineffective CE courses. They need $500K books, not two-year $15K burnouts.

The Competitive Landscape: 7 Best Training Programs for Commercial Lines Insurance Producers in 2025 and Beyond

So, what’s out there? Who is going to train the next generation of the commercial lines insurance industry’s rising stars?

We’ve been monitoring this field since 2005, have spoken to hundreds of agency owners and sales leaders, and even asked AI, asked again, and asked again (we're relentless) to help us analyze the competition based on their delivery, content, cost, and how each stack up against the crisis’s demands. As a result, we have narrowed the competition down to the seven heavy hitters: ECLIPS Academy, Hartford School of Insurance’s Commercial Lines Producer School, Chubb Agents & Brokers Academy’s Premier Producer Development Program, Sitkins Group’s ProducerFit, MarshBerry’s Producer Academy, National Alliance Producer Path, and Travelers New Producer School. This is our newest version of our previous analysis' of the best training programs for new insurance producers you can read here and here. These are the best commercial lines insurance sales training programs and producer schools for new commercial insurance producers for 2025 and beyond.

Let’s first dig in by analyzing the strength, weakness, and crisis-fit of each. Then we’ll crown the champ. In no particular order, here are the seven best existing commercial lines insurance training programs commonly called “new producer schools.”

1. ECLIPS Academy's Unicorn Program: The Leader & Modern Maverick

Overview: ECLIPS Academy is a digital-first, 30-week juggernaut. Since 2017, they have served over 6,000+ producers and account executives, including associates from 10 of the Top 15 global brokers, and over 100 smaller regional and local agencies. The program is built on technical depth (600+ commercial insurance coverage solutions) combined with tactical sales processes designed around creating value for clients, and focused on real-world application. Think online lessons, downloadable tools, and six months of virtual coaching. Perhaps its greatest strength is its affordability. The entire program costs only $1,000, that’s the revenue of just one small account.

Strengths

• Speed and Scale: Virtual, self-paced, no costly out-of-office travel required. Available on the go, 24/7, on a lunch break, or in the car to and from work, newbies can train while selling, some even hitting $200K in 18 months. Perfect for the crisis’s urgency. 
• Depth of Knowledge Transfer: Distills complex concepts and decades of commercial lines selling wisdom, into bite-sized, easy to grasp, repeatable modules. Content starts at beginner level and gradually increases in complexity and depth throughout each coverage line. Students get access to hundreds of advanced selling solutions, coverage mastery, and downloadable resources that offers them elite-level knowledge transfer on Day 1. Built in to the weekly application assignments are guided role plays that help producers master selling what they just learned.
• Heavy Sales Focus: Out of all the competitors in this category, ECLIPS Academy’s program has the heaviest focus on sales. Every technical coverage concept is taught from the perspective of how to use it to sell and communicate value to a client. The ability to sell complex coverages is what separates great producers from technical underwriters and ECLIPS Academy keeps this front and center throughout the program.
• Microlearning Model: The program’s 30 weeks of deliberate practice through microlearning is significantly superior to out-of-touch, 40-hour week cram sessions. According to modern learning science, repetition sticks, and ECLIPS Academy has embedded it into their program. 
• Cost-Effectiveness: Only $1K per associate. No $5K trips. Agency owners save cash able to be reinvested into growth. In fact, the program just rolled out a monthly subscription model for large agencies starting as low as $5K per month for up to 150 associates, and $10K per month for teams 150+. That’s less than 1/10^th of the costs of traditional programs. Or to put it another way, for the same costs an agency used to shell out for training for just 12 associates in the traditional model, they can now train 150 associates. This is why we love technology! It significantly drives down bloated cost structures.

Weaknesses

• Self-Directed: While the program does lay out a 30 week roadmap, with weekly progress reports, learning objectives, and application guides, there’s no hand-holding. Producers must employ a self-initiative and tenacity for personal development. Not a program for those with a lazy nature. A sales manager or learning development leader can help hold agents accountable if that is a concern.
• No In-Person Vibe: The program does offer customized virtual sessions and live in-person trainings as additional options for teams that want it, but those who love the live buzz of bland hotel conference rooms and lukewarm coffee may feel a bit of nostalgia.

Crisis Fit: Overall, ECLIPS Academy is tailor-made for knowledge transfer mess. It scales easily to thousands, transfers elite-level knowledge fast, delivers a beautiful, consistent 30-week microlearning model, and builds niche experts in a tech-driven world. It’s a real bridge from 50% retirement rates to $50K new business clients.

2. Hartford School of Insurance: Commercial Lines Producer School

Overview: Hartford’s program is the old dog in the commercial lines new producer development game. The coined the phrase “new producer school.” The program is a three-phase classic: self-study, two-week in-person “mini-school,” and on-demand webinars. Aimed at new producers, it’s heavy on technical “Insurance 101” basics around Property, WC, and GL. Hartford has by far the highest tuition costs at $3,995 plus travel (~$5K-$6K total). It’s a legacy name with polish.

Strengths

• Technical Foundation: Program dives into core coverages such as Property, WC and GL, great for rookies needing basics. For those focusing on small commercial accounts only, this may be all they need.
• Interactive: Two weeks of case studies and role-plays provides hands-on learning. However, the retention can be poor as the days drag on and focus falters.
• Reputation: Hartford’s size and name credibility draws in the big legacy agencies “who’ve always done it this way.” Four-star reviews aren’t bad.

Weaknesses

• Time Sink: Two weeks off the field and out of the office. Lots of time waste for little gain. Producers like the agency-paid mini-vacation they get out of it, but being able to afford to take themselves on vacation from their new business success is the real flex.
• Cost: $4K per head plus travel is by the far the highest tuition on the market. Steep for small agencies and larger agencies at scale. Retention’s shaky too. 90% forgotten in a week without follow-up (Law of Forgetting Curve).
• Basic Focus: Stops at “Insurance 101.” Little-to-no advanced-level technical depth or real-world sales training knowledge transfer. Major coverage lines are given just 4 or 8-hour segments taught primarily by underwriters who’ve never built a book of business or experienced sales success themselves. Fine for starters, weak for those with high-level goals.

Crisis Fit: Hartford’s solid for technical grounding but too slow and shallow to bridge the gap fully. It’s old-school in a crisis needing new solutions. $200K books after a few years, maybe. But yet to meet a producer who credits it for setting them up on a path for success.

3. Chubb Agents & Brokers Academy: Premier Producer Development Program 

Overview: Chubb’s Premier Producer program mirrors Hartford. Three phases, two-week in-person classroom setting is at its core. Target market is producers under two years of experience. The below shows a sample weekly agenda focusing on the very basics plus Chubb-specific products. No significant elite-level knowledge transfer whatsoever.

Strengths

• Affordable: $1,800 is cheaper than Hartford, easier for small shops. Cornerstone discount’s saves 50%. 
• Carrier Tie-In: Chubb products are baked into the program which is great if you’re a Chubb aligned agency. Some graduates can build a decent book just selling Chubb products.
• Hands-On: Two-week mini school with exercises helps builds confidence for newbies.

Weaknesses

• Narrow Scope: Chubb-heavy content limits versatility. Having all eggs in one basket is never a great idea. Weak for independents or multi-carrier shops.
• Time Lag: Two weeks off. Same downtime hit as Hartford. Crisis demands instant action and repeatable ongoing progress, not two-week agency-paid vacations. Tons of inefficient use of time.
• Basic Again: No advanced niches or sales system knowledge transfer. Retention’s a crapshoot post-cramming. No depth.

Crisis Fit: Chubb’s a budget-friendly starter, but it’s too carrier-centric and basic to tackle the knowledge transfer tsunami. Maybe beneficial to use as a steppingstone, not your crisis averter.

4. Sitkins Group: ProducerFit Program

Overview: Sitkins Group’s ProducerFit, founded by Roger Sitkins (35+ years in the biz), is a motivational powerhouse for commercial producers. Virtual program is competitively price but is essentially 8 2-hr Q&A sessions. Live sessions are a mix of coaching and sales tactics that run about $1,950 per producer, ~$4K with travel. Think mindset, process, and “be the best” vibes. The “hoorah” industry vets love this stuff.

Strengths

• Sales Focus: Heavy on growing books and its core activities such as prospecting, closing, time management. I’ve seen Sitkins graduates hit $300K book levels with grit and process. 
• Motivation: Roger and his team are firestarters. Producers leave pumped and ready to run through the proverbial wall. The Kool-Aid flows abundantly and can be a refreshing change from the carrier-sponsored programs of Hartford, Travelers, and Chubb.
• Niche Fit: Commercial-specific, sales-heavy focus aligns with crisis needs.

Weaknesses

• Light on Tech: Sales-first, not coverage-deep. Misses out on the hundreds of solutions ECLIPS Academy offers. The technical selling edge that can create real value gets shortchanged.
• Cost and Time: $1,497 virtual, $4K plus travel for multiple live sessions gets quite pricey. Not scalable for big teams and almost not feasible for smaller agencies.
• Spotty Structure: Motivation’s great but lacks ECLIPS Academy’s A-to-Z roadmap. The hype wears off in a few days and then it comes down to execution.

Crisis Fit: Sitkins nails the sales hustle which can be vital in a talent crunch but skimps on technical transfer and scale. It’s a booster shot of Monster Energy, not a full cure. 

5. MarshBerry: Producer Academy

Overview: MarshBerry’s Producer Academy targets new and seasoned producers with a mix of live training, industry best practices, and sales strategies. Cost varies by team size, focusing on validation, i.e. getting producers paying for themselves fast.

Strengths

• Validation Goal: Aims for profitable producers quick which is always a great goal. Agency owners are always fond of the ROI focus.
• Industry Cred: MarshBerry’s advisors are gray hairs with lots of institutionalized experience. I respect their hands-on vibe.
• Tailored: Customizable for teams. Big agencies get more bang for buck.

Weaknesses

• Pricey: $2,499 is really steep for small firms. Travel adds pain and limits scale. The talent gap crisis demands leaner, more scalable options.
• Broad Brush: Sales and management mix. No real niche technical depth.
• Retention Risk: Live-heavy that needs lots of follow-up to stick. No 30-week consistent pace like ECLIPS Academy.

Crisis Fit: MarshBerry’s strong for validation and big agencies but lacks the technical punch and scalability to fully bridge the gap. It’s a contender, not the king.

6. The National Alliance: Producer "Path"

Overview: 2.5-day (20-hour) live courses, virtual or in-person, offered by The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research. It’s $500-$700 per course (22 courses total), targeting new producers with a mix of sales process and commercial basics. CE credits in most states sweeten the deal. Program offers a pretty basic Sales Blueprint for prospecting, qualifying, closing, tailored to insurance. It also provides commercial-lite versions of property, WC, and GL, enough to start. Goal is to get you to progress through their “Producer Path” and rack up designations CISR, CIC, CRM and CPCU, and costs (about $11K plus another $20K in travel is a small degree)!

Strengths: 

• Balanced: Sales plus a taste of technical. Newbies get both legs running. 
• Credibility: 50+ years of industry credibility makes them a “trusted source.” CE credits are a favorite of compliance-minded HR managers.

Weaknesses:

• Short Burst: 2.5 days is a sprint. Forgetting Curve kicks in and much is forgotten
• Cost Creep: Travel bumps it to $1,500+ for in-person. Big bucks, little bang. Mulitply that 22 times over. Ouch.
• Surface-Level Content: If you’re looking for technical and sales depth, it’s not here.

Crisis Fit: Useful as a starter or for CE-credits but lacks the model and content to efficiently and effectively develop a producer or bridge the knowledge transfer gap fully. They’ve mastered the business plan of “lifelong learning” to get you to keep paying year after year. Takes 20 years to obtain the knowledge you need. Hard to tell if that’s from experience or actual education at that point.

7. Travelers New Producer School

Overview: Modeled after Hartford and Chubb, Travelers also employs the three-phase program model consisting of self-study, two-week in-person, and follow-up webinars. $3,500 tuition + $2K travel (~$5,500 total), focused on Travelers’ products and basic commercial lines. Less hyped than Hartford/Chubb but about equivalent in content and value. 

Strengths:

• Structured: Phased approach builds confidence that lets newbies wade in the shallow end for a bit. 
• Carrier Edge: Travelers aligned agencies can benefit from the relationship capital of sending producers through the program.
• Hands-On: See Hartford & Chubb. Same vacation-like benefits.

Weaknesses:

• Carrier Bias: Travelers-first approach limits independent flexibility.
• Time Hit: See examples above. 
• Shallow: Basics only. Once again, no advanced technical depth, niche expertise, or elite sales systems.

Crisis Fit: Decent for small commercial agencies focused on selling BOP’s. Not the best for option middle market and large account focused agencies. 

Head-to-Head: The Comparison

Delivery:

• ECLIPS Academy: Virtual, self-paced, 30 weeks of consistent microlearning modules. Scales to hundreds with no downtime. Crisis-ready. 
• Hartford/Chubb/Travelers: Two-week in-person. Fun but slow, costly, unscalable. Old-school lag. No microlearning.
• Sitkins/MarshBerry: Live sessions, motivating, tailored, but travel and time hurt. Limited reach.
• National Alliance: Similar to Hartford, Chubb and Travelers, but only two days. Not really in the running. Can take years to finish all the courses.

Winner: ECLIPS Academy — modern, fast, ongoing and consistent, microlearning modules.

Content: 

• ECLIPS Academy: 600+ advanced technical solutions, niche expertise, unique real-world sales tools, downloadable resources, soft skills, sales focus, business building and pipeline building knowledge transfer with elite-level expertise and content depth. 
• Hartford/Chubb/Travelers/National Alliance: Basics (property, WC, GL, auto) solid start, no elite edge. No real sales focus, taught by underwriters.
• Sitkins: Sales tactics, mindset, grit over geekery. No technical depth. 2-hour virtual webinars in form of Q&A lack form and structure.
• MarshBerry: Focus on validation, broad, not deep. 1.5 day seminar offers little benefit.

Winner: ECLIPS Academy. Transfers the most expert level knowledge, tactical sales and technical.

Cost:

• ECLIPS Academy: $1K lifetime per associate, no extras. ROI king. Subscription model drives costs down even further for large agencies.
• Hartford: $3,995 plus with travel — steep, low knowledge retention. 
• Chubb: $1,800 plus travel — cheap for some, narrow scope. 
• Sitkins: $1,497 virtual or $4,000 live — fair, but travel bumps it. 
• MarshBerry: $2,499 — big spend for 1.5 day seminar.
• Travelers: $3,500 plus travel. See Hartford.
• National Alliance: $10K-11K all in. Expensive. Could take 10+ years to finish all the courses.

Winner: ECLIPS Academy — Capitalizes on technology to drive down bloated delivery costs. 1/10^th the investment of traditional programs for 10X the results. Train 150 producers for what it used to cost to train 12. No brainer!

Crisis Fit:

• ECLIPS: Built for speed, delivery, depth, ongoing training, and scale.
• Hartford/Chubb/Travelers: Basic, ineffective, not enough transfer or deliberate practice. 
• Sitkins: Sales boost is only half the equation. 
• MarshBerry: Validation focus. Doesn’t really address the sales or technical knowledge gap need.
• National Alliance: Designation focus. High costs. Could take 10+ years to complete.

Overall Winner: ECLIPS Academy. 

Why ECLIPS Academy Reigns Supreme for New Producer Training

ECLIPS Academy isn’t just another program for training commercial lines producers and account executives, it’s your antidote and bridge through the talent crisis. Hartford, Chubb and Travelers lay foundations great for small commercial producers, but falter on sales focus, delivery, consistent development, and content depth. Sitkins fires you up but offers little to no technical expertise. MarshBerry is not really in the same league as the others. National Alliance is about compliance, CE-credits, acquiring useless designations for a high cost.

ECLIPS Academy is the full package: 30 weeks of veteran-distilled mastery, virtual microlearning platform, scalability, with high performing results. Graduates are rising in the ranks in their respective markets. In a talent-starved 2025, with 400,000 workers exiting the industry, and niches of expertise exploding, ECLIPS Academy turns rookies into rainmakers fast. Sales leaders and agency owners have taken note as producers from 10 of the 15 largest brokers in the world work with ECLIPS Academy.