A cease and desist order issued against an agent serves what purpose?

A cease and desist order issued against an agent serves to prohibit a specific practice that has been identified as harmful, illegal, or unfair. When a regulatory authority, such as the state insurance department, finds that an agent is engaging in conduct that violates laws or regulations, they can issue this order to stop that particular behavior immediately. This is designed to protect consumers and maintain the integrity of the insurance market. The agent must then comply with the order and cease the specified practice until the issue is resolved or the order is lifted.

It is not merely a warning for future actions; it doesn't allow the agent to continue business with certain terms, nor does it necessarily revoke their license immediately. The purpose is focused on directing the agent to stop a specific action that is causing concern.