What carriers and products are available in the Bold Penguin Placement Desk?
Click here for a full list of carriers available through the Placement Desk. Additional carriers will be added as the Placement Desk service expands its reach.
Is a carrier appointment required to receive a quote from the Bold Penguin Placement Desk?
No direct or market access appointment is required. The Bold Penguin Placement Specialist will submit the application to the carrier(s) and obtain a quote if available. The Placement Desk will contact you directly if additional underwriting information is required to provide a quote.
Will I have access to the carrier’s portal for a quote submitted through the Placement Desk?
No, you will not have access to the carrier’s portal.
How quickly can I use the Placement Desk once I sign up for the Bold Penguin Terminal?
You don’t have to wait for appointments or integrations. You can start writing business immediately. However, if you bind a policy through the Placement Desk, you must complete the compliance process in order to receive commission.
Is the Bold Penguin Penguin Placement Desk an MGA?
No. The Placement Desk is not an MGA. It does not hold underwriting authority or issue policies on behalf of carriers. All quoting, binding, and policy issuance are handled directly through the carrier.
Does the Bold Penguin Placement Desk have binding authority?
No, the Placement Desk does not have binding authority. All binding decisions are made by the carrier and, therefore, a quote or coverage is not guaranteed. The Placement Desk facilitates submissions and supports the placement process but does not issue policies or bind coverage directly.
What is the difference between the Bold Penguin Placement Desk and a traditional MGA or wholesaler?
Unlike a traditional MGA, we’re more than just a wholesaler. We're a technology platform that offers you multiple paths to better serve your customers through broader access, integrated tools, and efficiency—helping you quote faster and grow your book your way.
Are there any differences in compliance approval for market access appointments vs. the Placement Desk?
No. Agents seeking access to the Placement Desk must complete the same compliance review as those applying for market access appointments. This includes verification of a valid W-9, E&O coverage, and active agency and principal licenses.
What are the requirements to utilize the Bold Penguin Placement Desk?
You must have an active Terminal subscription, and you must also agree to the terms and attestations for each quote you request through the Bold Penguin Placement Desk.
If I don't have a license in a state, can I bind a policy in that state through the Placement Desk?
No. Similar to the market access appointment process, the Placement Desk cannot be used to bind business in states where you are not licensed. Agents must have an active license in the policy state to bind coverage and receive commission.
What if I already have a direct or a market access appointment with a carrier available via the Bold Penguin Placement Desk?
You would want to submit a quote to those carriers first because they provide you with the ability to service policies on your own and provide you with higher commission. If you lose a direct or market access appointment (for example, due to lack of volume), you can still work with the Bold Penguin Placement Desk to find the best coverage for your customer.
Can captive agents use the Placement Desk?
Yes! One of the key benefits of the Placement Desk is that it allows captive agents to access carriers and markets they typically wouldn’t be able to.
Can I apply for a market access appointment or a direct appointment with a carrier after using the Placement Desk?
Yes, but you must first complete the carrier’s market access appointment or direct appointment approval process. Please note that Bold Penguin does not facilitate any direct appointment requests; please contact the carrier directly.
Can I bind through the Placement Desk without a Terminal subscription?
No. An active Terminal subscription is required to access the Placement Desk and bind policies.
How can I contact the Placement Desk to follow up on a quote?
You can reach the Placement Desk at placement.desk@boldpenguin.com. The Bold Penguin Placement Desk is available Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm ET.
How will I know my commission for quotes submitted via the Placement Desk?
Business written via the Placement Desk will be paid out at a 50/50 commission split.
When you choose “Request Placement” on the Placement Desk quote, an additional prompt will appear. You must check the box in the prompt to agree to the terms and conditions shown before you can submit the request.
Agent commissions will appear on your monthly commission statement, alongside any commissions earned from market-access-appointed business. Please review the commission table within the Bold Penguin Terminal for commission rates.
How will I know that a submission was successful?
A green success banner will appear, and the Placement Desk quote tile will have a grayed-out “Request Placement” button. A Placement Specialist will be in touch within 1-2 business days with next steps.
How will I be updated about the status of my quote on the Bold Penguin Terminal? When you submit a quote request through the Bold Penguin Terminal, updates regarding the status of your quote will be sent to you via email. This ensures that you are kept informed throughout the process without needing to manually check for updates.
How and when will I receive quotes and policies from the Placement Desk?
You will receive quote proposals, if available, and policy documents via email within one to two business days once a policy has been bound. Please note that displayed pricing is subject to change based on underwriting review. Ensure that your email address associated with your account is accurate and regularly monitored to avoid missing important notifications.
Will I receive a proposal to send to my customer?
Yes. Proposals will be emailed to the requesting agent.
How do I bind a policy, and how does my insured pay?
Admitted business: The policy will be bound by the Placement Specialist. The Placement Specialist will then email you payment instructions. Please note that most carriers offer only Direct Bill.
E&S business through North Peak Access: Your insured will choose between full pay and premium financing, and this flow will be supported by a DocuSign agreement process in partnership with FIRST Insurance Funding.
How will I be able to differentiate my commissions earned via the Placement Desk from those earned via market access appointments in my monthly commission details?
The commission statement will include a source column indicating whether the listed policy was bound via Placement Desk or via market access appointment (if applicable).
What is the commission payout schedule for the Placement Desk?
Commissions earned through Placement Desk policies, as well as market access policies, will be paid out monthly.
What information does the Placement Specialist need in order to quote?
If the application was completed in the Terminal and the quote was submitted to the Placement Desk, no additional information is needed upfront. The Placement Specialist will receive the full application automatically. If anything is missing or additional details are required, we’ll contact you directly within one to two business days.
Who is the Broker of Record for polices placed through the Placement Desk?
All policies placed through the Placement Desk are written under Bold Penguin’s direct appointments with the carriers. Bold Penguin Company, LLC serves as the Broker of Record for these policies. Bold Penguin Company, LLC will also appear on the Declarations page.
How are the policies serviced?
Policies will be serviced by the carrier’s service center. Agents should, therefore, contact the carrier service centers directly for any servicing needs (e.g., billing questions, endorsements, etc.).
Are agents notified when a policy placed through the Placement Desk is up for renewal?
Carriers will notify both the insured and Bold Penguin when a Placement Desk policy is up for renewal. Bold Penguin then passes this renewal information along to the agent.
Will I have access to all of my completed Placement Desk quotes?
Applications completed within the Terminal can be retrieved by navigating to the Terminal’s home screen at any time. Quotes received from the Placement Desk will always be sent via email.
How/where can I pull a report of active policies that I have bound through the Placement Desk?
Please reach out to placement.desk@boldpenguin.com.
What happens to my policies placed through the Placement Desk if I cancel my Terminal subscription with Bold Penguin?
As with market access appointments, policies placed through the Placement Desk will remain active unless canceled by the carrier, the insured, or for non-payment. Bold Penguin will continue to pay commission for the life of the policy.
Can I transfer a policy once I receive a direct or market access appointment?
Policies placed through the Placement Desk can be transferred to the agency’s sub-appointment or direct appointment, following the carrier’s BOR guidelines.
How do I disable a Placement Desk enrollment?
To disable a Placement Desk enrollment, navigate to Appointments, find the carrier in the "Active appointments" list, select the three vertical dots within that carrier's row, and click "Disconnect."