Did you know? Independent insurance agents represent many insurance companies.
Did you know? A captive insurance agent represents just one.
Advertisements promising significant savings on your insurance in exchange for just a few minutes of your time may seem like a great deal, but it’s important to question what coverage’s you may be losing for to get the lower insurance premium. How comprehensive is your coverage if it was designed in just a few minutes’ time by a green lizard?
Price represents just one of many important factors in purchasing an insurance policy. In fact, finding the right coverage for your needs often involves research, but you don’t need to conduct this research alone. Instead, you can choose to work with an independent insurance agent. An independent insurance agent will review many different insurance companies’ rates and coverage options to determine the best fit for you.
You can try to save 15 percent on your insurance in 15 minutes, but here are 6 excellent reasons to consider working with an independent insurance agent instead:
Competitive – Independent agents want to find you the best coverage at the best price regardless of which insurance company it is. A captive agent can only sell you products and services from his or her company because they only represent one insurance company. So Jake from State Farm is only going to offer coverage and services offered by State Farm. An independent agent can provide an unlimited number of options to meet your insurance needs. Independent insurance agent’s rock!
Knowledge– When you require legal advice, you contact a lawyer, and when a health issue arises, you visit your doctor, so when you need assistance with your insurance coverage, why not rely on an industry expert? In addition to having many years of experience in the industry, independent insurance agents have also worked with many different insurance companies and are knowledgeable about their individual strengths. Although one insurance company may provide unmatched claims service, another may offer more competitive rates. Based on what’s most important to you, whether it is a company’s service, rates, financial stability or a combination of all three factors, an independent agent will find the best match for you.
Understanding – Independent insurance agents understand that insurance can seem complicated and confusing, especially when you don’t deal with it on a daily basis. For this reason, your insurance agent will work to ensure that you fully understand your coverage, from what is and is not included, to the deductibles and limits you should carry. After you purchase your policies, an independent agent’s work isn’t over – instead, he/she is available year-round to help answer your questions, update your policy and make coverage recommendations.
One Stop Shopping – Independent insurance agencies can take care of all your insurance needs, limiting the number of different companies you deal with and helping you stay organized. For example, if you own a small business, you can likely secure commercial insurance coverage from the same agency that insures your car and home. If you’re looking for health insurance, life insurance, or dental insurance, whether for your family or business, most independent agencies can help you as well.
Reputation – Reputation plays a crucial role in finding a company you can trust, and many independent agencies take pride in the years, if not decades, they have spent serving their local communities. Not only can a company’s many years of service speak to its well-established reputation in the community, but it can also help you feel confident about its financial stability. Although there are many different ways to obtain insurance, would you rather obtain a quote from a startup Internet-based insurance provider that advertised on television, or call a local agent who your friends, co-workers and neighbors could recommend?
The Right Protection with Peace of Mind – Above all, working with an independent insurance agent will provide you with peace of mind, knowing that when you save money on your insurance, it won’t come at the expense of comprehensive coverage. When it comes to protecting your home, family, business and other invaluable assets, relying on an independent agent you can trust is a great place to start.
Conclusion
Independent insurance agents rock! It’s one of the most common sense decisions you can make regarding your personal or business finances. It’s one of the only cases where you actually pay less to get better service!
When it comes to buying home insurance, auto insurance or business insurance you should choose an independent insurance agent to represent you.
Need an independent insurance agent? Call us at Allied Insurance Managers (248) 853-0930
Each year, millions of people are involved in car accidents. Some accidents are unavoidable. But there are several things you can do to reduce the likelihood that you’ll cause a collision with another vehicle:
Avoid eating, texting or talking on your phone while driving. It is tempting to answer your phone or take a sip of coffee while behind the wheel. We often forget that driving takes a lot of concentration. We all know that texting while driving is dangerous. Yet studies show that many accidents are caused by talking on the phone — even with a hands-free device. In other cases, eating and drinking can cause just enough distraction to cause a collision.
Drive the speed limit. The higher your speed, the less time you have to react. Drive the speed limit. Be aware of how fast you are going, and plan ahead as best you can to ensure you don’t have to rush.
Keep a safe distance behind other vehicles. We all hate it when someone is right behind us, so why do it to others? Driving too closely to the car in front of you delays your reaction time. A sudden object in the road or bad road conditions can cause a major pile-up if other drivers are following too closely as well.
Be careful in parking lots. Many accidents and small fender benders are due to distracted driving or speeding in parking lots. We might think the parking lot is a safe place to speed to an exit, but traffic rules still need to be observed.
When you get a home, you should make sure that you have adequate homeowners insurance. If you have a mortgage, your lender is going to require that you spend $500 to $1,000 to make sure that you can fix any damage that happens to the home. It will also provide you with financial protection in the event that anyone is injured while on your property. Continue reading…
Business insurance offers many benefits to you, such as providing you with liability coverage, loss of income coverage and more. However, the premium is a regular expense in your budget, and you may be looking for an effective way to reduce the cost of your premium so that you can enjoy lower overhead in the months and years to come. There are a few helpful tips you can follow that could yield a lower premium. Continue reading…
Business insurance is a necessity, but buying insurance can seem confusing at times. For example, you may not know how much coverage you need or even what some of the different insurance lingo means. While you could buy insurance on your own, a better idea is to put the services of a skilled and experienced business insurance brokers to work for you. Your business insurance agent can help you with your new policy in several different and beneficial ways. Continue reading…
If you have a car, you need to have auto insurance. In fact, if you finance your car, you have to have insurance as a matter of getting a loan. Most drivers hope that they never have to use their auto insurance, but it can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in the event that anything happens to your car. Here are some ways that you can save money on your auto insurance. Continue reading…
When driving a car, independence and responsibility go hand in hand.
All your hard work paid off and now you finally have your driver’s license. Hours in the car with Dad gripping his seat and days spent in driver’s ed were worth it because the keys are now in your hands. I remember the feelings of freedom, independence and excitement when I received my license. But with the look in my dad’s eyes as he handed the keys to me, I knew driving came with added responsibility. Here are things to keep in mind to make sure your driving experience is safe and fun.
STAY SAFE ON THE ROAD
Your choices when driving may affect yourself and others.
Never use alcohol or drugs when you know you will be getting behind the wheel of a car.
Make sure every passenger in your car is using a seatbelt. Follow any restrictions your state may have on the number of passengers allowed depending on the driver’s age.
Be aware of other drivers around you, and drive defensively by anticipating the actions of other drivers.
Concentrate on your driving and keep distractions to a minimum. Turn the radio down, don’t use your phone while driving and never text and drive.
Learn what to do in an event of an accident or breakdown. Know who to call and what resources you need. Program emergency numbers and contacts into your phone.
Keep your registration and proof of insurance information in the car.
BEING SAFE SAVES MONEY
Driving responsibly increases your safety and the safety of other motorists. Follow these guidelines to keep your insurance premiums as low as possible:
Obey all traffic laws. Getting a ticket may increase the amount of your insurance payments.
Avoid situations that may lead to accidents. Involvement in just one accident could increase your cost of insurance.
Drive a standard vehicle. Sports cars and high-performance vehicles may be cool, but those vehicles mean higher insurance costs.
CREATE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH YOUR PARENTS
All the above tips may seem like common sense, but they are important to remember and to be reminded of often. One way to have a great driving experience is to create a written agreement with your parents and establish rules. A written agreement can help keep you and your parents on the same page.
How many passengers are permitted in your car?
Can you listen to the radio?
Do you need to be home by a certain time?
You can download a sample contract from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Getting your driver’s license is exciting! But to keep the keys and be a responsible driver, develop good driving habits that will stay with you forever. Have fun and stay safe!
This loss control information is advisory only. The author assumes no responsibility for management or control of loss control activities. Not all exposures are identified in this article.
Each year, millions of people are involved in car accidents. Some accidents are unavoidable. But there are several things you can do to reduce the likelihood that you’ll cause a collision with another vehicle: