3 Reasons Why You Should Use an

Independent Agent

June 29, 2017 by Chad Harrison People like coffee. People really like free coffee. So, when we recently made a video for our Facebook page sking people for “questions they have about insurance”, which in turn would enter them into a drawing for a gift certificate for such a prize, the people responded. We received many great questions, and we look forward to addressing all in the weeks ahead, but one question seemed like the perfect place to begin, that question went a little bit like this…

“Why should I use an agent for my insurance

when I can just do it myself online?”

Great question, glad you asked, you ask, we answer. Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering the same thing as our world is growing more and more digital every day. Like I said, pretty great question to start with. So, without further delay, here are 3 reasons why we think you should use a local, independent agent to serve your insurance needs.

#1) Time and Convenience

Can we all agree that time is the most valuable asset that any of us own? Great, glad we settled that. Now, raise your hand if you are bubbling with excitement at the prospect of plowing through your insurance coverage options in that fleeting space some call “free time”. As a father of 3 boys I question the actual existence of this “free time” you speak of but I’ll take your word on it being an actual thing. An agent will save you time. There is much more to the insurance process after the purchase than most people realize, it is in these moments that an agent will be worth their weight in gold. There is also something to be said about the convenience of getting all of your insurance needs met under one roof. Need health insurance? No problem. Looking to get home and auto insurance? Come on down. Starting a business and have questions about worker’s compensation coverage? You’re in the right place. Just had a baby and realize that life insurance is a good idea? All under one roof. In addition to having access to all the insurance you might need, an independent agent also has the ability to quote to multiple carriers at once. In our agency, we have 9 personal lines companies (many of which you can’t access yourself online) and can quote them all at one time using computer software. What we can do in minutes could take you hours to complete. Also, if I did happen to stumble upon some extra time, I can think of many other ways to use my time other than trying to make sense of certain coverage options, questioning myself if I’m doing this correctly, or heaven forbid, what do I need to do if I have an accident or need to file a claim. When you use an agent, you are transferring those jobs to a professional, someone whose sole purpose is to do insurance things all day. One of my favorite things about our agency is that we believe the first contact you have should be with a person, whether on the phone or when you walk in, not usually the case when you go digital. I know the frustration of waiting on hold for what feels like hours or trying to navigate through a phone tree…total time sucker; not easy, not convenient, not cool. The easiest way to avoid being on hold is to allow your agent to be on hold for you as your advocate. Boom…time freed up for something more awesome, plus your head won’t explode from trying to figure out some of the complicated things in the world of insurance. Which leads to #2.

#2) Agents Are State Licensed Professionals

Before I became an agent I had to complete a set amount of coursework and then pass the State administered test(s) in my field(s). When I first started the coursework I was thinking, “how hard could this be”? it didn’t take me long into the process to realize that insurance is way more complicated than I thought. Insurance is also highly regulated by the States (there is a reason you get a large, thick packet of paper with each new policy you take out). After passing the State exams an agent is required by law to continue their education every two years to maintain the license and stay current with State legislation. With an agent you get the benefit of someone that is highly trained and educated to understand all those moving pieces. When you choose to use an agent you also transfer the risk to the professional and ensure that your policy is properly formed. When you choose to go it alone the safety net is removed. Agents are also highly connected to the other professionals in the field. Many people I advise are most concerned with “how much does it cost” when I first meet them. I have to remind our clients all the time that they are not buying a price tag, but rather you’re purchasing time, coverage and connection. An agent has connections to all the Claim Representatives, Underwriters, Billing Clerks of the carriers they work with. An agent has regular contact with most of these individuals and will be able to get information that you probably would have a hard time getting on your own. If you have ever been late on a payment this connection may have saved you a lot of money and heartache.

#3) Options Make the World a Better Place

I recently took my 3 boys to the local ice cream shop. When we walked in there were over 30 flavors waiting for us. All we had to do was walk the aisles, press our noses up to the glass showing us the goods, and pick the one that looked the tastiest. Options lead to awesome. As an independent agent we have access to multiple carriers. All you have to do is give us your information, be honest and upfront, press your nose up to the figurative glass, and choose the option that is the tastiest. When it comes to coverages there is definitely a wide variety. Every carrier covers things a little differently, they also charge differently based on multiple factors. When you use your agent as a trusted advisor they will guide you to the promise land of proper coverage by making sure that your needs are a good fit for the company insuring you. P.S. that isn’t always with the company with the lowest cost either. You probably have also noticed that occasionally, through no fault of your own, your premium goes up. This happens for a variety of reasons also, reasons that probably deserves its own post, but when it happens an independent agent will be ready. As an agent, one of our jobs is to review your policy annually with you. We want to make sure that you are getting the proper coverage at a cost that fits your budget as life changes from year to year. Like we said, options leads to awesome and with an independent agent you’ll find out how easy awesome can be found. There you have it. Three reasons why an independent agent serving as your trusted advisor is a great option. Contact us today to see what we can do to serve you and your insurance needs. Did you know that there are 3 ways that you can purchase insurance? Do you know the difference between a Captive Writer, Direct Writer, and Independent Writer? If you don’t quite know the difference but are curious look for our next post coming out soon that discusses the differences between the 3.