A January commission triage checklist helps you catch payout problems before agents see them. After AEP and OEP, commission data arrives late, changes often, and rarely matches expectations on the first pass. If you skip triage, you pay the price in delays, disputes, and lost trust..
January is not the time to rush payouts. It is the time to verify them.
This checklist shows you exactly what operators review before commissions go out the door.
Why January commissions break
January exposes issues that stayed hidden during enrollment.
Common causes:
- Carrier statements arrive incomplete or corrected
- Plan changes trigger retro adjustments
- Chargebacks hit all at once
- Agent hierarchies changed mid-season
- Old rate tables stayed active too long
None of these show up during selling.
All of them show up during payout.
The January commission triage checklist
1. Confirm you have the right carrier statements
Before you look at totals, confirm the files.
Check:
- Statement month and coverage period
- Original vs corrected vs retro files
- File naming and version control
- Missing carriers or products
If you process the wrong file, every number after that is wrong.
2. Validate commission rate tables
Rates drift quietly.
Review:
- New-year rates vs prior-year rates
- Product-specific changes
- Overrides and admin fees
- Special AEP incentives that expired
Do not assume last year’s rates still apply.
3. Review agent hierarchies and assignments
January is when hierarchy mistakes surface.
Confirm:
- New agents added correctly
- Upline changes reflected before payout
- Terminated agents handled properly
- Split rules applied as agreed
One hierarchy error can affect dozens of payouts.
4. Identify chargebacks early
Chargebacks hit harder in January.
Look for:
- AEP plan switches
- Enrollment cancellations
- Product-specific clawbacks
- Timing mismatches between sales and reversals
Flag chargebacks before agents see negative numbers without context.
5. Check debit balances
Debit balances cause the most confusion and frustration.
Verify:
- Existing balances carried forward
- New negative balances created in January
- Agency rules for repayment
- Communication notes for agents
Agents accept debit balances faster when you explain them clearly.
6. Scan for duplicates and missing policies
High volume creates bad data.
Watch for:
- Duplicate policy records
- Missing policies that sold but did not pay
- Policies tied to the wrong agent
- Incorrect effective dates
Duplicates inflate payouts. Missing records erode trust.
7. Run exception and variance reports
Totals alone hide problems.
Run reports that show:
- Month-over-month payout changes
- Unexpected drops or spikes
- Zero-dollar payouts
- Policies with unusual commission amounts
Exceptions point you to issues faster than manual review.
8. Confirm payout timing and approvals
January delays compound fast.
Confirm:
- Payout calendar
- Approval checkpoints
- Lock dates for changes
- Who signs off and when
Clear timing reduces panic emails from agents.
9. Prepare agent-facing explanations
Silence creates suspicion.
Prepare:
- Simple explanations for delays
- Chargeback and debit balance language
- What will be paid now vs later
- When updates will be shared
Transparency matters more than speed.
What happens if you skip triage
Agencies that skip a January commission triage checklist often see:
- Delayed payouts
- Incorrect payments
- Agent disputes
- Manual rework
- Loss of trust
Most of these problems are avoidable.
FAQs: January commission triage
Why do commission totals change in January?
Carrier statements update, retro changes apply, and chargebacks post after enrollment ends.
Should agencies wait for all carrier statements before paying agents?
No. Agencies should triage what they have, flag exceptions, and communicate clearly about what is pending.
What causes the most January commission disputes?
Unexpected chargebacks, hierarchy errors, and missing context around debit balances.
How Comissio supports January commission triage
- Track statement versions
- Apply accurate rate tables
- Manage hierarchies and splits
- Flag chargebacks and debit balances
- Review exceptions before payout
The goal is not faster payouts.
The goal is cleaner ones.
January commissions reward preparation, not speed
January commissions reveal how strong your process really is.
A January commission triage checklist gives you control before problems turn into disputes. Comissio helps agencies review carrier statements, apply accurate rate tables, manage hierarchies, and flag exceptions before payouts go out. Agencies that treat January as a review phase, not a rush, start the year with fewer errors and stronger agent trust.
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