Planning For The New Year? 7 Reasons Why You Need an Independent Insurance Agent

Posted on Nov 25, 2019
7 Reasons Why You Need an Independent Insurance Agent

Shopping for insurance can be overwhelming, complicated, and confusing. Not only do you want to save as much money as you can on your personal insurance or business insurance policy, but you also want to ensure you’re getting the optimal coverage you, your family, or your business.

In order to make the proper choice for your insurance needs, it’s essential you choose the right insurance agent to work closely with you. Many individuals decide to take their business and personal insurance needs to an independent insurance agent, and here are seven reasons why.

1. They Provide More Coverage Options

A primary reason why you want to work with an independent insurance agent is they can provide you with better quotes and more insurance options. This is because they work with a variety of insurance companies, which means they can offer you more choices of insurance products that will best meet your needs.

On average, an insurance agent could potentially work with five to eight (or more) different insurance providers at one time. This will allow you not to have to jump on board the first quote you receive. With their knowledge and connections, insurance agents can usually find better value for the money you invest in insurance than if you were to search on your own. They’ll do the insurance shopping for you. They’ll find the right mix of:

  • Coverage
  • Cost
  • Service

You just sit back and save money while they do the leg work.

2. They’re Locally Involved

While a national insurance company can still provide you with great coverage, it’s often difficult for their customer service agents to focus on your location exclusively when they have so many other insurance prospects.

When the independent insurance agency is local, however, they’ll be familiar with your current location and neighborhood.

3. They’ll Advocate for You

The reason why your independent insurance agency is referred to as “independent” is because they work for you, not an insurance company. They do work “with” several insurance companies to find you the best service and price, but ultimately, they work “for” you. And, this means they’re not limited to only one company’s policies and plans.

If your insurance and lifestyle needs mean this or that particular insurance company isn’t the right option for you, they’ll conduct additional research and recommend another company. 

4. They’ll Provide You With Expertise and Knowledge

When you have an insurance industry expert by your side, it means you’re provided with easier and accurate explanations related to insurance complexities and more information, helping you to make more educated and informed decisions. 

An independent insurance agent has vast knowledge and expertise in the insurance industry. They’re experts because they don’t work with one single company. They know the ins and outs of a variety of different insurance companies, providing you with numerous options.

Along with knowledge about an assortment of different insurance companies, they also know their strengths and weaknesses. They stay updated with industry trends, so you’ll receive the most up-to-date advice. The knowledge an independent insurance agent has is unmatched when it comes to comparison shopping and finding you with the best possible coverage.

5.  They’re Your One-Stop Insurance Shopping Solution

With most independent insurance agencies, all of your insurance coverage needs can be taken care of all at once, which limits how many different providers you have to deal with, and this helps you stay organized.

For instance, if you’re a small business owner and are looking for commercial insurance coverage, you can use the same independent insurance agency to insure your business that you use to protect your:

  • Health
  • Home
  • Car

If you’re seeking dental or life insurance, regardless if it’s for your business or family, you can likely receive help from the same insurance agent as well.

Plus, since independent agents provide more savings and choices, you don’t have to spend hours (or days) shopping, comparing, and filling out forms. 

And, if a policy sounds a little “too good to be true” to you, it could very well be, and your independent insurance agent will be able to spot this type of thing and advise you to take a different direction.

They know that just because the price is good, that doesn’t necessarily mean the coverage is as well. They’ll not only help you with affordable pricing, but they’ll also make sure you’re covered properly for all your needs.

6. They’ll Provide You With Consultations

Insurance is a complex subject. It’s an independent insurance agent’s business to:

  • Have intricate knowledge about it
  • Understand it thoroughly
  • Communicate clearly about it with you

They’ll work closely with you to ensure you understand your coverage and policy entirely from what’s included or not included, any limits you need to consider, and your deductibles.

And, after you purchase your policy, their work isn’t done. They’re available year-round to help with things like:

  • Updating your policy
  • Answering your questions
  • Making coverage recommendations

For instance, if you’re doing some research on the steps of getting your will in order, you’d probably seek the guidance of a lawyer to make sure the document is drawn up properly, right? Probably. So, why wouldn’t you seek a licensed independent insurance agent’s advice to ensure your business, home, and vehicle are correctly insured? 

7. They’ll Save You Money

Hiring an independent insurance agent can help save you both time and money. They take on the inconvenience and hassle of insurance shopping and comparing, saving you a considerable amount of energy and time you could be using elsewhere.

They know how to find discounts and savings. Often, insurance companies don’t publicize their savings and discounts, but an independent insurance agent is well versed in the different offers companies provide.

They also have already established a working relationship with many insurance providers, which means they could use their personal connections to help save you even more money.

Contact Otterstedt Insurance Agency for Your 2020 Insurance Needs

Obtaining the right insurance coverage, whether personal or business, is extremely important; however, just as important is choosing the right insurance agency to service your needs.

By choosing an independent insurance agent, like Otterstedt Insurance Agency, to work closely with you, it’s typically not a one-time transaction. 

Here at Otterstedt Insurance Agency, we establish a year-round working relationship with you to ensure you not only find the right coverage but maintain the right coverage.

Complete our online form or call us at 201-227-1800 to speak to one of our licensed independent insurance agents.

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