When it comes to insurance agencies, there are hundreds of options available to you but choosing the right one can be a challenge. You also have the option of buying an insurance policy online or by calling a toll-free number, but you should buy an insurance policy on your own only if you have simple requirements and you clearly understand the pros and cons of different types of policy covers.

Experts suggest hiring the services of an experienced and reliable life insurance agency in case you are buying slightly complicated insurance product including home insurance, business insurance, disability insurance, long-term care insurance or life insurance among other things. A good life insurance agency will not only help you choose the right type of insurance coverage, but they will also help you get it at the right price and you can also ask for their help when you need to make a claim. Here is a list of some of the important factors you need to look at in order to choose the right insurance agency.

Types of Insurance Agents

First and foremost, you need to understand that there are many different types of insurance agents. One of the main types is the online or phone agents that are employed directly by the insurance company. Another type of insurance agent is a captive agent who is authorized to sell only a particular company’s insurance products. These captive agents cannot sell insurance products of any other companies.

Then, there is the independent agents and brokers that are allowed to sell insurance products from a variety of companies and offer customers a wide range of options. They have appointments with insurance companies that authorize these agents to sell insurance products from many different companies. The biggest advantage of using an independent insurance agency or an agent is that you should be able to compare prices and coverage options from a number of companies and get the coverage you need at the right price.

It is important for you to know that there are small business insurance companies Florida, in all these three categories. The online or phone agents are a good choice for buying personal insurance that does not involve too much complexity but buying complex insurance products should not be done through call centers or online process. Keep in mind that when you need to file a claim, they won’t be an insurance agent who will work on your behalf and help you get the money.

The advantage of using a captive agent is that they can advise you on choosing the right type of coverage keeping all your concerns in mind. They are a great option for a variety of personal insurance products including your home insurance, life insurance and auto insurance as well as some types of business products. However, these agents typically sell products from only a single insurance company which means you will need to look for a fresh start in case you do not like the type of coverage offered by that company or the renewal price. Also, you won’t be able to shop the market when you work with a captive agent.

The biggest advantage of working with an independent agent is that they represent multiple insurance carriers and are not employed by any insurance carrier. They are likely to give you the right advice to get the right coverage at the best value. Also, an independent insurance agency usually has multiple agents that specialize in particular areas and work in tandem which means an independent insurance agency is likely to meet all your insurance requirements. Also, an independent agent is more likely to work on your behalf when you need to make a claim.

Experience

The best way to check the experience of a life insurance agent is to ask for their licensing. It will tell you the level of professional insurance experience they have. Needless to say, you want to work with someone who has been working in the industry for several years and is aware of various options to help you choose the right combination of insurance products based on your needs.

Specialty

Some insurance agencies specialize in a particular type of insurance products. A specialized insurance agency makes for a great choice if you want only a particular type of insurance that is sold by the agency, but most people have varied insurance needs (personal and business). Therefore, it is recommended to work with an agency that handles various types of insurance you might need. It will make it easy for you to get all your needs fulfilled at one place.

Personality Match

Needless to say, if you do not like an insurance agent, you are not likely to get optimum results. It is important that the insurance agent you are working with takes time to understand your goals, your needs as well as your objectives for buying insurance. An agent that tries to hard sell certain products usually does not have your best interests in mind and you do not want to work with such agents. So, make sure you like them.

With time, your insurance agent is likely to become your trusted advisor. It is important to develop a professional and comfortable relationship with your insurance agent to get straightforward and informative responses to your queries as your insurance requirements will change with time. Therefore, you need to ensure that the chosen insurance agent is someone who matches your personality and you feel comfortable discussing things with them.

Customer Service

A professional insurance agent is someone who help their clients choose the right insurance products in order to provide them all the coverage they need, at the right price. Also, they help their customers with the claims process. Professional insurance agents are always available for their clients. They also continuously review the insurance portfolio of their clients to ensure proper coverage.

The best way to get an idea of the customer service of an insurance agency is to check their reviews on various discussion portals and review websites. Read the positive and negative reviews to get an idea of the value of their insurance advice as well as their assistance during the claims process among other things.

Overall, these are some of the important factors you should consider choosing the right insurance agency that suits your requirements. It is recommended to interview at least 3 to 5 insurance agencies and compare the services provided by them before you choose a particular agency. You should also know that your insurance agent will be earning a broker fee along with a commission and you can always negotiate the broker fees with the agent, but the commission cannot be negotiated as its fixed by the insurance company. You should also ask them how they will assist you in case you need to file a claim.