RT Specialty review for retail agents: programs, access and binding authority
RT Specialty is the wholesale arm of Ryan Specialty. It brokers open-market E&S risks, meaning risks admitted carriers won't take that go to carriers not licensed in your state. It also binds small and mid-size accounts in house and runs RT Connector, an online quote and bind site.
It suits agencies that send both large specialty accounts and a steady flow of small commercial. Connector opens once you're appointed with RT.
- Best for
- Agencies that want open-market E&S brokerage plus fast online binding for small commercial accounts
- Type
- Wholesale broker and binding authority, part of Ryan Specialty
- Lines
- Property, casualty, professional, cyber, workers comp, transportation, personal lines and industry programs
- Access
- Apply online for an RT appointment with $1 million E&O. RT Connector opens once you're appointed
- Authority
- RT underwriters bind small and mid-size E&S in house. RT Connector binds online once you and the insured e-sign
- States
- All 50 states and DC, though eligible risks vary by line
Our take
RT is a national E&S wholesaler with brokers grouped by product and industry, from aviation to sports. RT is part of Ryan Specialty, a group with 129 offices worldwide.
RT Connector is the draw for small accounts. You fill in one application, compare bindable quotes and bind online, and anything Connector won't take goes to an RT underwriter.
Under the producer agreement, your expirations stay yours. It does put surplus lines filings and renewal notices on you unless RT agrees otherwise.
Pros
- RT Connector binds online with e-signature
- Risks Connector won't take route to an underwriter on their own
- No loss runs needed for Connector binds
- You keep your expirations
- In-house claims team helps with disputes
Cons
- Connector opens only after an RT appointment
- Surplus lines filings can fall to you
- 3.25% fee on Connector card payments
- No automatic E&S renewals
Who they work with
- Who can submit
- Licensed retail agencies appointed with RT
- How to get access
- Apply at welcome.ryanspecialty.com, then register for RT Connector after you're appointed
- Requirements
- Your E&O certificate, tax details that match IRS records, a principal to sign the RT agreement and admin and accounting contacts
- E&O minimum
- $1,000,000 per occurrence, from an insurer rated A- VII or better
Apply online
Start the appointment at welcome.ryanspecialty.com.
Add your paperwork
Upload E&O proof and enter the agency's legal name and tax ID.
Sign the agreement
Name the principal who signs and your admin and accounting contacts.
Register for RT Connector
Set up your login once the appointment is done.
Programs and what they write
| Program | Type | Lines | States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wholesale brokerageOpen-market placements through RT brokers | Wholesale broker | Property, casualty, professional, cyber, comp, marine, surety and private client | All 50 states |
| RT Binding AuthoritySmall and mid-size E&S accounts | MGA | GL, property, construction, umbrella, garage, comp, trucking and personal lines | Nationwide |
| RT ConnectorOnline quote and bind for small commercial | Online platform | GL, property, excess, comp, cyber, trucking and personal lines | All 50 states and DC |
| National programsIndustry packages from Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers | Program | Package, comp, umbrella, professional and cyber | Nationwide |
Workers comp in RT Binding skips New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. Connector trucking skips Hawaii, Massachusetts and New York.
| Connector coverage | Limit |
|---|---|
| General liability | $1M / $2M |
| Excess for contractors | Up to $5M |
| Property | Up to $5.8M total insured value |
| Cyber | $3M, for revenue up to $100M |
| Trucking | 1 to 10 power units |
What Connector won't write on property
- Structural renovations or prior damage
- Buildings vacant over 3 years or set for demolition
- More than 3 claims or $25,000 incurred in 3 years
- Mobile homes
- Aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring and fuses
National programs
- Alarm, fire and pest control
- Janitorial and staffing
- Private investigators
- Self-storage and real estate investors
- Auto dealers and government contractors
How to submit
- How it works
- Pick a broker or underwriter with the Find a Broker tool, or fill in one Connector application and compare bindable quotes
- Submit by
- An RT broker or underwriter, RT Connector or programs@ryansg.com
- Documents needed
- No loss runs or supplementals for Connector binds. Programs want a supplemental and current loss runs
- Speed
- RT says Connector quotes come back in a matter of minutes, depending on the line
- Risks Connector won't take
- Connector hands the risk to an RT underwriter or broker on its own
- Quote life
- 30 days on Connector
Quote and bind authority
"Takes your submission" means you send the risk to the firm, and "Underwrites" means its own staff set the terms. Binds "In house" means the firm commits the carrier on its own, with no second sign-off. Where a cell is blank, the firm publishes nothing on that step.
| Program | Takes your submission | Quotes | Underwrites | Binds | Issues the policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wholesale brokerage | |||||
| RT Binding Authority | In house | ||||
| RT Connector | In house | ||||
| National programs | In house |
Connector binds once your licensed producer and the insured both e-sign the DocuSign package. Comp and trucking binds go through your RT producer instead.
Carrier paper and admitted status
| Line | Markets |
|---|---|
| Admitted small commercial | Hiscox NOW and USLI |
| Cyber | At-Bay, CFC, Coalition, Corvus, Tokio Marine and Converge, all surplus lines |
| Coastal property | VAVE |
| Workers comp | AmTrust, biBerk and Employers through iBynd, plus PIE and GUARD |
Brokerage places with admitted and surplus lines carriers, while RT Binding Authority writes surplus lines only.
Commission, fees and billing
- Who bills
- Connector emails your agency an invoice at bind. Direct bill is open only for Connector workers comp
- Commission
- Shown on the invoice or a separate written agreement. RT can also send a gross invoice for the insured and pay your commission after
- Card fee
- 3.25% on Connector card payments. ACH is the other option
- Premium finance
- Through Stetson Insurance Funding, except Connector comp and cyber
Surplus lines taxes and filings
- Who files
- It varies. The producer agreement puts filings, taxes and fees on you unless RT agrees otherwise, while Connector handles its own due diligence forms
- Diligent search
- You file and keep admitted declinations. Connector asks for them before binding where the state requires it
Endorsements, audits and claims
- Endorsements
- Policy Actions in Connector, or through your RT broker or underwriter
- Renewals
- Connector sends renewal quotes on eligible GL, property and excess. E&S policies don't renew on their own, and the notices are your job
- Claims handled by
- The carrier or its TPA. Report to the RT office that placed it, and RT's claims team helps with disputes and settlements
- Loss runs
- Ask the RT broker or office that placed the account
Who owns the account
- Who owns the client
- You own your records and expirations, during the agreement and after a 30-day termination
- If you owe money
- Expirations pass to Ryan only as far as needed to recover unpaid undisputed amounts
- If the relationship ends
- Either side can leave with 30 days written notice. You keep servicing in-force policies to expiration
Portal and integrations
- Portal
- RT Connector
- Online quoting
- Yes. One application, several bindable quotes and a Compare All view
What you can do in RT Connector
- Upload ACORD forms
- Compare and bind quotes with e-signature
- Download binders, invoices and policies
- Pay by card or ACH
- Request endorsements and cancellations
- Bind renewals
QuickHome, Simple Rates and CARL still run personal lines until they move into Connector.
Support for retail agents
- Hours
- Connector support weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT
- Contact
- Connector (833) 774-2628 or chat. Customer solutions 888-867-1124
- Underwriter access
- Find a Broker or Underwriter search by product, location or name
- Training
- Connector walkthrough videos and weekly guided sessions
RT Specialty alternatives
- AmwinsNational wholesaler with Amwins IQ online quoting
- CRC GroupLarge brokerage with binding programs and Quick Quotes
- RPSGallagher wholesaler with admitted and E&S platforms
- PathpointQuote small E&S online before signing an agreement
- Brown & RidingNational wholesaler with its own small E&S binding
See every option in insurance mGAs and wholesalers.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get appointed with RT Specialty?
Apply at welcome.ryanspecialty.com with your E&O certificate and tax details, then sign the RT agreement. You can register for RT Connector afterward.
What is RT Connector?
RT's online site for small commercial quotes. You compare bindable quotes and bind once you and the insured e-sign.
What is the minimum premium on RT Connector?
$500 for GL and property. Contractor GL starts at $500 to $2,500 by class and territory.
Who owns the expirations?
You do, during the agreement and after it ends. Ryan can use them only to recover unpaid undisputed balances.
How we researched this review. We based this review on the terms and product pages published by RT Specialty, reviewed in October 2026, together with our team's experience working with insurance agents and agency owners since 2008.
Corrections
Vendors change their pricing all the time and they don't email us when they do. So if you see a price on here that's gone up, a plan RT Specialty quit selling or a contract term that reads different now, let us know and send the link to the page where RT Specialty has it. Somebody here pulls up that page and checks it before we change anything on ours.