Have you ever noticed how many insurance companies are out there? Tons! There are literally insurance companies everywhere. From small insurance agencies in strip malls to Fortune 500 companies, they come in all shapes and sizes. Inevitably, they all claim to have the lowest rates and the best service, but they can’t all be the best, right? With so many options, where do you begin?
The single question we get asked the most is, “Why should I go with an independent agent like you instead of one of the other thousands of companies out there?” This is a great question and it’s one that is easily answered. Here are four reasons.
Cost
We’ve all watched insurance commercials on sporting events and the nightly news since we were young. They are consistently some of the funniest and most creative commercials on television. The problem is this: Who is paying for the commercials? The answer is not what you want to hear: You are. That talking animal or clever skit is extremely expensive to produce, not to mention run on air. Consider this, in 1967 the average Super Bowl commercial cost as little as $37,500. This past year the average price was well over $5 million. The next time you see your insurance company running a commercial for the fifth time, remember who is paying for it.
Independent
Independent insurance agencies have a HUGE advantage over other captive agencies and standalone companies. Independent agents are just that: independent. We are able to get to know your specific needs and shop those needs with dozens of insurance companies to find the right policy for you. Captive agents, unfortunately, don’t have this luxury. Since they only have one company to shop from, they force your unique circumstances into existing policies they sell. These policies can be hundreds or thousands of dollars more than comparable ones and may not even have proper coverages.
Claim
If you are like most Americans, you’ve filed a claim with your insurance company. It’s an annoying, painful process that consumes an inordinate amount of time and attention. You are forced to speak with some random person in a cube farm somewhere between Indiana and India. They don’t care about you and are just trying to do a job and get it done as quickly as possible. Our process is different. If you get in an accident or need to file a claim, we walk you through every step of the process. Our door is always open and our first question won't be about insurance, it will be about you and making sure you are ok.
Personalized
Every single client we have has a unique set of needs. Each one of them has a specific set of assets that need to be protected. Instead of forcing clients into a generic box, we work closely with them to understand their needs and how to protect them in the longterm. We’ve found that if we go the extra mile to understand the client and make sure they have the proper coverage for their unique situation at the right price, that client will be loyal to us for years if not decades to come. It’s why we’re blessed to have so many clients that have been with us for decades and have increased and decreased their policies as their life circumstances change. Relationships matter and this is central to our culture.
Independent agencies like Roland, Abbott, & DeZoort are in the people business at the end of the day. We put people over making a quick sale. If you have any further questions, we would be honored to have a conversation with you about them. We can be reached at (478) 745-7200.