In January, the Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA) compiled a list of the state's admitted personal lines carriers and their commission percentages. The commissions ranged from a low of eight percent from several carriers (excluding Citizens Property Insurance Corp. at 6.9 percent) to a high of 17 percent. Of the 77 carriers listed, well over half reported commission percentages of between 10 and 12 percent.

It is probably safe to say that consumers think that is more than enough compensation for placing an insurance policy – "How hard can it be?"

A study conducted by three university professors provides some answers. ("Incentive Compensation and the Use of Contingent Commissions by Smaller Distribution Channel Members," published in September 2006 by James M. Carson, Ph.D., CPCU, CLU, Faculty of Risk Management and Insurance, College of Business, Florida State University; Randy E. Dumm, Ph.D., CLU, Faculty of Risk Management and Insurance, College of Business, Florida State University; and Robert E. Hoyt, Ph.D., CLU, ChFC, Faculty of Risk Management and Insurance, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia.)