General Finance
What/How/When Spark services are billed to agents (includes how to pay invoice)?
What/How/When Spark services are billed to agents (includes how to pay invoice)?
Birthday Cards: Spark sends birthday cards to members via Handwritten for agents enrolled in our Client Retention Program. Spark fronts the costs and bills agents quarterly.
Marketing Requests: Custom marketing requests, including Marq Marketing Center Accounts, are billed to agents monthly.
Additional Support Requests: Agents can purchase these via our form. We'll add your requests within 3 business days and invoice you monthly.
Billing Process Overview: For marketing-related requests and birthday cards, Spark primarily contacts the Agency Principal (AP) at the top of the hierarchy for billing preferences.
Billing Options for APs:
Deduction from the AP's co-op balance, if available.
Direct invoicing to the AP.
Direct invoicing to the downline agent.
Future Billing Method: Once a billing method is confirmed with the AP, Spark will consistently apply this method for all such future requests.
Here is a walkthrough on how to pay your invoice:
How do I update my banking information for direct deposit of commissions or co-op paid by Spark directly?
How do I update my banking information for direct deposit of commissions or co-op paid by Spark directly?
To update your banking information for direct deposit of commissions or co-op paid by Spark directly, please login to your Tipalti Supplier’s Portal.
What do I do if I don't know my password to Tipalti or need an invite to Tipalti?
What do I do if I don't know my password to Tipalti or need an invite to Tipalti?
You can reset your password by clicking on the Forgot Password? button on the Tipalti Supplier’s Portal.
The Finance team will send you an invite to Tipalti when they’re getting to pay you. If you do not receive an invite to Tipalti, please reach out to the finance team at [email protected]
When and how will I receive my 1099 form for tax purposes?
When and how will I receive my 1099 form for tax purposes?
If you've been paid $600 or more in commissions or co-op directly by Spark, Spark will issue you a 1099-NEC by January 31st of every year via email if you are a 1099-eligible entity.
Please note that for payments by carriers directly, you should reach out to the carriers regarding any questions related to 1099s.
Exceptions:
The IRS does not require businesses to issue a Form 1099-NEC for payments made to C-Corporations and S-Corporations, except for payments for legal services.
If you are classified as a C-Corporation and S-Corporation for tax purposes, Spark will not send you a 1099-NEC by default.
In such instances, you are advised to keep detailed records of all transactions and payments received throughout the year for tax purposes. This includes bank statements and payment receipts, which can all serve as proof of income.
If you still require a 1099-NEC, please email [email protected] and we'll get back within 2 days.
Commissions
What types of commission can agents view on the Spark platform?
What types of commission can agents view on the Spark platform?
Agents can view commissions for the carriers paid by Spark directly.
A complete list of carriers and their payment terms can be found here.
Are all plans commissionable?
Are all plans commissionable?
No; not all plans are commissionable. For a list by carrier, view this sheet.
When does Spark pay out commissions?
When does Spark pay out commissions?
Spark processes commission payments to agencies and agents within five business days of the end of each month.
Please note that commission payments may be delayed if Spark is awaiting commission payments or commission statements from the carriers.
How can agents view their commissions on the Spark platform?
How can agents view their commissions on the Spark platform?
Here is a walkthrough on how you can view your commissions directly on the Spark platform:
Where can I find commission schedules for MAPD and PDP plans?
Where can I find commission schedules for MAPD and PDP plans?
Please refer to this document for override and street commission rates for MAPD and PDP plans.
How do I submit a commission inquiry?
How do I submit a commission inquiry?
To submit a commission inquiry, please complete this form. Our finance team will respond within 3 days.
I am not getting paid renewals on old policies that I wrote under old upline. What can I do?
I am not getting paid renewals on old policies that I wrote under old upline. What can I do?
Spark’s contracting team works diligently to ensure that your agency structure is set up correctly from the start so you don’t run into issues tracking down your book of business and commissions. Unfortunately, we have no visibility into your agency’s structure prior to moving to Spark.
We can share a few things you should be aware of and recommendations for how to resolve your situation. What you should be aware of: (1) Whoever pays your street commissions will determine who the agent-of-record is. If the carrier is paying you and your agents directly, you are the agent-of-record and will retain that book of business until that client leaves the plan. If an upline agency is paying you street commissions, they are the actual agent-of-record and will continue to get paid if you leave the agency unless you have an agreement specifying otherwise. (2) Whoever pays your override commissions retains control of the override. Even if a carrier pays your street commission, if you are receiving your override from an upline agency, that upline will control that override. You should have an agreement in place specifying the payment terms.
If you aren’t getting paid street or override renewal commissions, here is what we would recommend doing: (1) Create a list of clients you are not receiving either street or override commissions for. It should include the writing agent for each client and a few client details so the carrier will be able to identify who the client is. Typically you can access these from carrier production reports. (2a) Send that list to Spark by submitting it here; we will submit it to the carrier on your behalf through the right channels. However, we cannot guarantee they will share all of the details with us and might require working with you directly. (2b) At the same time, send that list to your old upline where you wrote the business, and ask them to provide a response. If you have an old agreement specifying their commitment to continue paying commissions, share that with them. (3) Depending on how the carrier responds, we can troubleshoot from there!
As an agency principal (or spouse), what do I do if an agent has stopped renewing their license or passed away?
As an agency principal (or spouse), what do I do if an agent has stopped renewing their license or passed away?
If an agent has passed away, the next-of-kin and/or estate would need to complete book of business transfer forms (alternatively called “Successor Agent” forms) for each carrier where the agent had business to transfer the business to another agent. If you need these forms, email Spark with each carrier you need to transfer. The next-of-kin and/or estate may be asked to provide a death certificate.
If an agent has stopped renewing their license, the agent will lose their commissions. If they’d like to transfer their book to another agent who is still licensed, the agent must complete the same book of business transfer forms.
As an agency principal, what happens to override commissions if a street agent departs my agency? If a solicitor (LOA) agent leaves my agency?
As an agency principal, what happens to override commissions if a street agent departs my agency? If a solicitor (LOA) agent leaves my agency?
If you are an agency principal earning administrative override commissions on a street agent, you will continue to earn renewals even after the agency departs your agency. You will only cease to earn renewals if the client enrolls in another policy with an agent not in your agency.
If you are an agency principal earning street commissions through a solicitor agent, you will continue to earn renewal street and override commissions for the vast majority of carriers even after the agent has left your agency. However, we strongly recommend requiring agents to conduct a book transfer so that you become the writing agent on the policies to avoid instances where the agent lapses their license. This isn’t required for carriers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, but is required for Humana and many regional carriers.
Co-op
As an agency principal, how do I control my co-op?
As an agency principal, how do I control my co-op?
As an agency principal, you have full control over how your co-op gets used. You can use the co-op directly for your agency’s marketing expenses or allocate it to downline agencies or agents.
If you want to redeem the co-op directly, simply submit a marketing reimbursement form. We will pay you via direct deposit and deduct the amount from your balance.
If you want to allocate it to downline agents or agencies, you can either:
Automatically allocate it to a downline agency by signing a 3-way agreement between you, your downline agency, and Spark. Spark will deduct the amount you are giving to your downline agency and place it in that downline agency’s balance, which they will have direct control over. Spark is only able to allocate to downline agencies. Agents are not eligible.
Direct your agents to submit marketing requests. When they submit the form, Spark will get your approval to pay the agent and then deduct the amount from your balance.
Here is a walkthrough on how you can view your co-op directly on the Spark platform:
I am an individual agent (not an agency principal). Can I receive co-op?
I am an individual agent (not an agency principal). Can I receive co-op?
Please speak with your direct upline about how you can receive co-op support.
What counts as a co-op eligible enrollment?
What counts as a co-op eligible enrollment?
New-to-carrier Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollments, but check your partnership agreement with Spark for details.
Where can I see the eligible enrollments for co-op?
Where can I see the eligible enrollments for co-op?
You can find a detailed walkthrough here:
The dashboard table gives you visibility into all co-op eligible enrollments by agent, month, and carrier. If the data looks incomplete, remember to adjust the effective date filter at the top of the Production Dashboard page.
Marketing co-op is calculated separately from commissions/overrides and, therefore, does not include statements with agent—and client-level information.