Pick whats best for you.

2/5/2015 (Permalink)

When picking out an insurance agent, it is always a good idea to do some homework!  Go with some personal recommendations, ask co workers. Ask friends. Asking a perfect stranger is better than relying on ads or the yellow pages.  People tend to refer people with whom they have had a positve experience.  Ask what their experience was in dealing with the agent.  Yelp, Linkedln, Facebook and other social media tools can help you gauge good service and quality businesses.  These sites can be helpful, but a face-to-face with an agent is one of the best ways of figuring out if they will take good care of you.  Every state has an agency (or "department") that keeps track of insurance companies doing business in the state. You will find your states insurance department website link in the State by State Assistance section of www.uphelp.org.

Questions to ask?

1. How long have you been in business?
2. Are you "captive" agent?
3. If I  cancel the policy mid-term will there be an "earned mimimum premium"?
4. If I have a loss and need to file a claim, how will you assist me?

The bottom line is the "right company"  for you is the one that provides you with appropriate recommendations, products and prices, has a record of outstanding customer service, and the financial capacity to meet its financial obligations to you and your beneficiaries when they come due.