One national relationship.
One Hedge relationship for eligible difficult commercial risks across the U.S.
Three-way company evaluation
CRC Group vs RPS vs Hedge
CRC Group and RPS both operate national wholesale brokerage, binding, and underwriting or program lanes. CRC is an independent specialty distributor; RPS is Gallagher's wholesale platform. Hedge is a smaller brokerage. The useful comparison is the exact CRC desk, exact RPS lane, and named Hedge team for one account shape.
National reachResponsive serviceNo Hedge wholesale feeSame four-person team
NationalOne wholesale relationship for eligible difficult commercial risks across the U.S.
Quote supportPrompt review and clear updates as we pursue market quotes
Wholesale feeNo Hedge wholesale fee, no sub-brokering, and no layered commission stacks
Account teamThe same four people through intake, bind, renewal, and service
Why agencies choose Hedge
National reach. Responsive service. No Hedge wholesale fee.
These differences affect the next hard account.
Review by the team that owns the account.
Hedge reviews the file, identifies what is missing, and tells you whether there is a credible next step.
No Hedge wholesale fee.
No sub-brokering and no layered commission stacks. Premium, taxes, and filing charges remain account-specific.
One team owns it.
The same four people stay through intake, quote, bind, renewal, and service.
Recommendation
Choose the team that fits the account.
CRC Wholesale, CRC Binding, CRC Tapco, RPS Brokerage, RPS Binding, and RPS programs do not perform identical work. Compare like with like. Consider Hedge when its named-team service model and current account fit meet the agency’s needs.
Option 01Compare the proposed team
CRC Group
Your retail team has a strong CRC producer relationship for the relevant practice and geography.
Wholesale brokerage plus underwriting and binding units
Option 02Compare the proposed team
Risk Placement Services (RPS)
Your agency needs a broad platform and already knows the RPS specialist who will execute.
Wholesale brokerage, binding authority, and programs
Hedge service model
Option 03Named-team wholesale option
Hedge
A retail agency that wants national reach, a prompt first human read, no Hedge wholesale fee, and one named team that owns the account.
Wholesale specialty insurance brokerage for licensed retail insurance professionals
Agency comparison
What each option actually does for the agency.
Compare role, response, ownership, cost, reach, and authority.
| Decision | CRC Group | Risk Placement Services (RPS) | Hedge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best use | Your retail team has a strong CRC producer relationship for the relevant practice and geography. | Your agency needs a broad platform and already knows the RPS specialist who will execute. | A retail agency that wants national reach, a prompt first human read, no Hedge wholesale fee, and one named team that owns the account. |
| Role in the placement | Wholesale brokerage plus underwriting and binding units | Wholesale brokerage, binding authority, and programs | Wholesale specialty insurance brokerage for licensed retail insurance professionals |
| First useful response | Confirm the response standard for the exact CRC Group team or operating lane. | Confirm the response standard for the exact Risk Placement Services (RPS) team or operating lane. | Prompt review. Clear quote updates. Market terms when available. |
| Who owns the next step | The named professional, desk, division, and product lane determine the working experience. | The named professional, desk, division, and product lane determine the working experience. | The same four-person team through intake, quote, bind, renewal, and service. |
| Brokerage-side cost | Confirm CRC Group's wholesale fees, commissions, and any intermediary layers. | Confirm Risk Placement Services (RPS)'s wholesale fees, commissions, and any intermediary layers. | No Hedge wholesale fee, no sub-brokering, and no layered commission stacks. Premium, taxes, and filing charges remain account-specific. |
| Reach | United States and Canada | National platform | National U.S. wholesale brokerage, subject to current licensing, appointment, product, and account review |
| Release or authority | Confirm when intake becomes an authorized market release and when a market has actually received the file. | Confirm when intake becomes an authorized market release and when a market has actually received the file. | No market sharing until the retail agent authorizes release; receipt and send remain separate states. |
An account to work through
Resolve the workforce and classification first.
Illustrative account example. This is a decision exercise, not a customer placement or a measured comparison of providers.
The situation
A business with employees in several states needs the agent to identify the exact workers-compensation program or brokerage lane on each side.
What would change the choice?
Use a route that can support the actual workforce and state footprint. A program or rater label does not establish current eligibility, and a workers-compensation quote does not close the other requested lines.
Read the related coverage or placement guideWhat to compare on this file
- Use consistent duties, payroll, states of work and subcontractor details for each proposed market review.
- Confirm classification assumptions, owner elections and any information required to clear a referral.
- Compare quoted terms and the servicing process for audits, changes and renewal; identify any separate liability or auto placement.
Example reviewed by Hedge Specialty on . Explore verified account outcomes.
Common questions
Compare roles, costs, ownership, and authority.
Review roles, speed, fees, ownership, authority, and the cases where another route may fit better.
How should an agency compare CRC Group vs RPS?
CRC Group and RPS both operate national wholesale brokerage, binding, and underwriting or program lanes. CRC is an independent specialty distributor; RPS is Gallagher's wholesale platform. Hedge is a smaller brokerage. The useful comparison is the exact CRC desk, exact RPS lane, and named Hedge team for one account shape.
Where does Hedge fit in this comparison?
Hedge is the independent wholesale option for agencies that value a fast first read, the same four-person account team, no Hedge wholesale fee, and explicit release control.
Is the largest company automatically the best choice?
No. Scale can help when an account needs several practices, regions, or facilities. It does not guarantee a faster answer, a lower brokerage cost, a named owner, or better post-bind service. Ask each proposed team how its capabilities address this account. CRC Wholesale, CRC Binding, CRC Tapco, RPS Brokerage, RPS Binding, and RPS programs do not perform identical work. Compare like with like.
Is Hedge the lower-friction cost option?
Hedge charges no wholesale fee, does not sub-broker accounts, and does not add layered commission stacks. Carrier premium, surplus-lines taxes, filing charges, and other account-specific quoted costs still depend on the placement.
Who can quote or bind the account?
That depends on transaction role and actual authority. A carrier or properly delegated underwriting program may quote or bind within its authority. A wholesale broker structures and negotiates placement but does not become the risk-bearing insurer.
Does this page prove current market access or account eligibility?
No. Public company information explains roles and public services. Current appointment, licensing, product activation, state availability, market access, account fit, and authority must be confirmed for the specific transaction.
How should a retail agency make the final choice?
Compare the proposed teams on the account’s class, state, coverage structure, available market route, and service responsibilities. Hedge offers a named four-person team and no Hedge wholesale fee; a relevant specialist or established relationship may be a better fit for a particular account.
How do I evaluate Hedge?
Request an appointment or send Hedge a difficult risk for review. The team will confirm agency fit, account fit, missing information, and next steps without treating an intake confirmation as a quote or market send.
Published and reviewed by Hedge Specialty on · Sources: CRC Group, Risk Placement Services, CB Insights RPS competitors · Research methodPublic information does not confirm appointment, access, fit, terms, or authority for a specific account.
Make Hedge your first call
Bring us the hard account.
Get a file review from the same national team that will own the file through service.