Abstract: A method is provided for facilitating insurance transactions between prospective insureds and potential insurance underwriters. A distributed communications network is used to effect registering, by a user of the network, through a wholesale intermediary, of a prospective insured. If the prospective insured qualifies, the user is provided with a preliminary application for insurance of a given type. The application as completed by the user is transmitted to wholesale intermediary by e-mail. The wholesale intermediary then forwards the application to underwriters that have been pre-approved by the wholesale intermediary. An underwriting evaluation from each of the underwriters is received, through e-mail, by both the user and the wholesale intermediary so that the latter can assist the user. Each evaluation is maintained in confidence and is not known by the other underwriters.