Insurance 101: What is an Independent Agent?
Like it or not insurance has become a necessity in life. The most common reason is it is usually required by law, however it could also be because there is an unwritten rule of being a responsible adult that owns things.
Either way, insurance is a fact of life.
So how do you know the best way to go about getting insurance? There are a couple different avenues that you can take.
You can go online, or you can walk into an insurance office.
Then comes the question, do you use a captive agent or an independent agent? What is the difference?
Life is full of questions and hard choices, but insurance doesn’t have to be. If you have found yourself asking any of these questions, this blog post is for you!
LET’S START AT THE BEGINNING: What is an Independent Agent?
Commonwealth Insurance Services is a great example of an Independent Agent!
Basically, an independent agent is a trained and licensed professional that tailor’s coverage to meet our client’s needs.
We can provide several options to fit your insurance needs because we work with multiple insurance carriers, rather than just one.
This may come as a surprise, but an independent agent is basically a small business owner. Our agents are not an employee of the insurance companies whose product we offer. Our office has 11 licensed agents, 6 licensed customer service representatives, and 3 administrative staff members and this is how our agency can continue to grow and serve our community. We work for you to ensure you are covered for multiple types of losses.
A common misconception concerning an Independent Agency is that we sell our own product, which is not the case. We work on your behalf to find and obtain the best policy for you from other companies.
NEXT QUESTION: What is the difference between a Captive Agent & an Independent Agent?
The main difference is that an independent agent can provide more choices than a captive agent. Captive agents only offer one company products, meaning they can only place your policy with that one company they work for.
Independent agents on the other hand have options. We can place your policy with multiple companies depending on your needs. Having multiple comes to choose from gives us the ability to take your unique needs and insure they are met.
So, the difference is, and Independent Insurance Agent helps you find coverage using multiple carries and a Captive Insurance Agent helps find you coverage with the one company they work with at their agency.
FINAL QUESTION (WE ARE GETTING THERE): How do I know the way to buy insurance?
If you ask us, we will tell you to go with an independent agent! We even have a few reasons why we feel this way!
- An Independent Agent is like a one-stop shop for all your insurance needs.
We offer a variety of insurance products from several common named companies. This means instead of going to multiple different business around town, you can have all your insurance needs covered in one place. Most independent agencies offer auto, home, life, health, and business coverage. This means you may only have one contact for all your insurance needs.
2.You have the same point of contact even if you want to switch companies.
When you use an independent agency, you don’t have to start over when you are interested in changing companies. You can call the agency and we can coordinate the switch for you. This means you can continue to work with the same agent that you’ve built a relationship with and who knows your needs.
- Support from someone who knows you in your time of need.
No body wants to face an insurance loss, but sometimes it happens. Having an independent agent when you are stranded on the side of the road or have sustained a loss on your home means you will have someone who knows you helping guide you when you need it the most.
- Life is not a one-size-fits-all thing, so why should insurance be?
When you work with an independent agent, we will work with you to review several options for your insurance needs. Because we work with several different companies, we can focus on finding a policy that fits your needs instead of fitting your needs into what one company offers.
WRAPPING IT UP: What you can expect from us as an independent agency
Insurance is a fact of life, and our staff is here to make it as enjoyable as possible. We have agents, a licensed service staff, and administrative staff here to help you.
We ensure that when you call our office you will not have to wait on hold for long periods of time. Our staff is available to answer any question you have and to help find the best solution for all of your insurance needs.
