Empowering MGAs Through Modern Broker Portals

In Canada’s evolving insurance landscape, portals more than digital conveniences –they’re strategic differentiators. As carriers raise the bar for technological capability, managing general agents (MGAs) must respond with platforms that are not only functional but agile, data-driven, and broker-friendly. 

Recent industry commentary at the National Insurance Conference of Canada (NICC), underscores this shift. Experts emphasize that portals must be dynamic, responsive to broker feedback, and powered by robust data. As Tammy Parris at HSB Canada noted, carriers expect MGAs to bring a foundational tech stack such as policy management system before even being considered for partnerships. 

This is where modern MGA core insurance systems like Modular Solutions shine. Designed with configurability, integration, agility, and user experience in mind, it doesn’t just meet carrier expectations; Modular Solutions elevates the entire underwriting experience and offers an exceptional broker portal experience. 

The Broker Portal as a Strategic Asset for MGAs

Portals are operational tools but they are also strategic assets that define how MGAs deliver value. As the industry shifts towards digital-first interactions, the portal is essential to underwriting efficiency, broker engagement, and carrier confidence. A well-built portal can help MGAs write business, enable broker partners to manage policies, provide value, and assist with claims, compliance, and reporting.  

When I was a broker, portals were sometimes a headache. If not designed well, they can hinder productivity and cause frustration. That’s why we designed the Modular Solutions portal (Gateway Module) to be intuitive and check all the functionality requirements.” Explained Courtney Hamm, Chief Product Officer at Modular Solutions. “Portals also need to collect and leverage data. Our platform seamlessly integrates data, meaning you can leverage it for product rating and underwriting guidelines.

The Modular Solutions Gateway Module offers a white-labelled, intuitive experience for broker partners, where they can: 

• Prepare, present, retrieve, review, and issue quotes.  
• Bind and issuance of new business.  
• Real-time endorsements and policy changes. 
• Submit to underwriters for review (manually or based on configured rules).  
• Configurability to automate renewals or review-by-underwriter renewals. 
• Request cancellations and reinstatements, with options for prorating, short rating, retained premiums, financing, configurable fees, and registered letters.  
• Submit claims and receive updates on claim status, payments, and assigned adjusters.  
• Manage balances and payments.  
• Manage their broker users, roles, permissions, and activities.  
• Drag and drop attachments.  
• Download and view documents. 
• Use guided coverage selection, with helpful tips before choosing optional coverage.  
• Recognize errors easily with smart error highlighting.  

The portal is built with everything broker partners need to manage and sell personal, commercial, farm, and specialty insurance products efficiently. The Gateway Module seamlessly integrates with all other modules, ensuring your claims and policy information is up to date across the system.  

For MGAs, investing in a robust portal isn’t about checking a box. It can be a differentiator and result in better business and partnerships. It should empower broker partners, satisfy expectations, and position the MGA as a forward-thinking partner.  

Configurability & Agility for MGA Broker Portals

Historically, broker portals have been rigid, slow to evolve, and costly to maintain. Product updates often require outsourcing to third-party developers, resulting in long lead times and limited responsiveness to market shifts. This lack of agility has been a persistent pain point for MGAs.  

Modular Solutions was built to change that. Our platform is designed for configurability and agility, empowering MGAs to respond quickly to market demands and broker feedback without relying on external developers or writing a single line of code. 

With Modular Solutions, MGAs can: 

• Configure portal branding to reflect their unique identity 
• Set broker roles and permissions for tailored access 
• Use our end-to-end product designer to manage rates, rules, underwriting guidelines, and policy documents 
• Empower broker partners to manage the full policy lifecycle  
• Real-time automated document issuance, certificates, pink cards, and more 
• Enable automated renewals 
• … and much more 

This level of control is both convenient and a strategic advantage.   

Configurability and agility are essential. MGAs must be able to launch and update products quickly, adapt to evolving risks, and meet carrier expectations for speed and precision. An insurance system that enables this configurability and agility becomes a true enabler of growth and innovation. 

Data-Driven Decision Making: Turning Information into Insight for MGAs

The Modular Solutions platform gives MGAs full access to their data, a rarity among core insurance systems. With an expertly structured data warehouse, you can leverage our suite of pre-built reports for analysis and informed decision-making in the Intelligence Module. Our standard reports and dashboards include: 

• Sales, including premium history.  
• Operations, including workload management, email logging, and accounting logging.  
• Underwriting, including policy details and renewals.  
• Finance including broker aging, broker statements, invoicing, loss ratio, and payments. 
• Claims including loss history and claims payable.  
• Reinsurance such as automated bordereaux reporting.  
• Work-in-progress tracking.  
• Cancellation analytics.  
• And more! 

All data within the Modular Solutions platform can be accessed and analyzed using the Intelligence Module. You can also integrate Snowflake and many reporting tools including PowerBI, Cognos, Tableau, and more. We offer a pre-built connection with Power BI through our Solutions Exchange.  

As highlighted in a recent Clyde & Co. report: 

65% of carriers shared that data and technical expertise are the top factors they seek when evaluating a potential MGA partner.

This underscores a critical truth at MGAs that can harness their data effectively are better positioned to build strong carrier relationships, optimize underwriting, and uncover new growth opportunities. With Modular Solutions, data becomes a driver – not a barrier – to strategic success. 

Broker-Friendly Design: Empowering Brokers While Maintaining Control for MGAs

One of the most common complaints about broker portals is that they’re difficult to use. Clunky interfaces, confusing workflows, and limited functionality often frustrate brokers and slow down business. As Braden Bosch, Founder & CEO of Modular Solutions explains,

There is a love/hate relationship in the industry when it comes to broker portals. However, it is the most efficient way that business is done today for many carriers and brokers.

Modular Solutions addresses these legacy issues head-on in the Gateway Module, and has designed a broker portal that is intuitive, efficient, and fully configurable. 

Based on the permissions you grant to your broker partners, the Gateway Module enables them to write business, manage policies, and access documents with ease. The interface is modern and user-friendly, reducing friction and improving broker satisfaction. 

Modular Solutions empowers brokers while allowing MGAs to maintain full control over underwriting, branding, and access. You can configure: 

• Broker roles and permissions 
• Product access and quoting capabilities 
• Branding and user experience 
• Automated renewals 
• Document visibility and submission workflows 

Having a broker-friendly portal benefits MGAs due to the: 

• Increased broker engagement as a seamless experience encourages brokers to place more business through your portal. 
• Faster turnaround times as brokers can quote and bind without delays, improving service levels. 
• Reduced support burden as an intuitive interface means fewer training and troubleshooting requests. 
• Efficient broker workflows lead to cleaner submissions and better underwriting outcomes. 
• Ability to compete with domestics with the same workflows that broker partners are used to. 
• Reduced operational overhead due to streamlined processes and automation enabled by the portal 

By making the broker experience a priority, MGAs can strengthen their distribution channels, improve operational efficiency, and drive growth. With Modular Solutions, broker-friendly doesn’t mean compromising control; it simply means enabling success. 

A Portal That Delivers on Promise and Performance 

MGAs are under increasing pressure to deliver speed, precision, and transparency in underwriting, and in how they engage brokers and carriers. Portals are no longer optional; they are infrastructure through which MGAs prove their value. 

Modular Solutions was built with this reality in mind. Our platform empowers MGAs with: 

• Configurability and agility to respond to market shifts without costly delays 
• Data access and intelligence to drive smarter underwriting and financial decisions 
• Broker-friendly design that enhances engagement while maintaining control 
• Carrier-ready technology that meets and exceeds partnership expectations 

By combining these capabilities, Modular Solutions transforms the portal from a static tool into a strategic asset. MGAs are empowered to grow, adapt, and thrive in a digital-first insurance ecosystem. 

Interested in getting a demo? Contact our team today.