When it comes to choosing insurance policies for your life — home, auto, life, health, and other types of insurance — it’s essential to have an advocate on your side. You want someone who knows the ins and outs of the insurance industry, someone who will go above and beyond to get you the best rates and value for your money.
Unfortunately, many people never find this advocate, and they don’t know that these heroes actually exist. They’re called independent insurance agents, and when you have one on your side, you know you’re doing insurance right.
The Wrong Way and the Right Way to Buy Insurance
Essentially, when it comes to buying insurance for yourself or your family, you have two choices: buying direct or buying with an agent. Let’s go over each of these below.
- Direct from the insurance company
If you purchase your insurance direct from an insurance agency, you’ll be purchasing your insurance yourself by calling the insurance company directly or going online to their website. Most people see several benefits with this route, including saved money and saved time. Insurance companies also like it because they are not dealing with agents as a middleman between them and you, the insurance holder. This brings us to the second way you can purchase insurance …
- From an agent
Insurance agents are local professionals who work directly with the public and act as an interim between them and the insurance companies. Agents own their own businesses and receive commissions from the insurance companies they work with.
There are actually two types of insurance agents, however. And this is important to note because one type will work more in your favor.
The first type of insurance agent is called a captive agent. Captive agents work for a single insurance company. For example, Scottsdale may have a captive agent who works only for American Family Insurance, and there may be another captive agent who works only for State Farm.
The other type of insurance agent is called an independent agent. Independent agents are far and away the best types of agents to work with because they work with many insurance companies — instead of just one, like captive agents. Independent agents offer a number of advantages to the consumer, including the following:
- Because they work for multiple institutions, they don’t have an allegiance to just one insurance company.
- They are able to provide you with multiple quotes.
- They are local, and you can meet face-to-face with them.
- With an independent agent, you can get all of your insurance in one place, including health, auto, home, and life insurance.
- When an emergency or disaster arises, they’ll be your advocate in getting the most out of your insurance policy.
Need New Insurance? Go With an Independent Agent
Everyone needs insurance, from new teen drivers and small business owners to homeowners with children and retirees. How you purchase your insurance is what matters.
It is true that independent agents to earn a commission from the insurance company, but in nearly all cases, the benefits you’ll receive from working with an independent agent will make this added cost obsolete. You’ll end up saving much more by simply choosing to have an independent insurance agent advocate on your side.
Looking for an independent insurance agent in your area? The Don Neeley Agency is here to help you find valuable insurance policies to meet your needs. Stop in to speak with one of our agents today, or give us a call as soon as you’re ready to start insurance shopping!
