The days when insurance was only available through a secret cartel of licensed agents are long gone. Now you can make a call or go online and buy any policy you want. This is incredibly convenient, right? And it sure is, especially if you already know what you want and there is no need for a third party to process your transaction. It can often be cheaper as well, because you are cutting out “the middle man.”
But despite this trend, many people still prefer human contact. For example, the 2013 study by LIMRA and The Life Foundation has found that 50 percent of respondents preferred face-to-face interaction when purchasing life insurance. What is it that they are getting out of having an agent that they can’t get online? Here are a few thoughts.
Get your Questions Answered
Depending on what kind of insurance you are buying, you might have concerns that need to be resolved before you make your final decision. Health insurance, for example, can be really confusing with all the co-pays, deductibles and prescription costs. At the same time, life insurance and car insurance are pretty straightforward.
But let’s say you have an unusual situation or specific requirement for your insurance policy. Most of the time, you won’t find your specific questions answered in the provider’s FAQ. Of course, you can talk to a company representative, but each time you call with a question, you are talking to a different person and have to explain your situation all over again. Your own Carroll County insurance agent, on the other hand, will get to know you and might be able to better address your concerns.
Build a relationship
As you grow older, your insurance needs change. You start with the car insurance and gradually build out your portfolio to include homeowner’s, life, disability, and many other types of insurance policies. You don’t have to purchase all of them from the same provider, but it’s convenient to have the same friendly agent help you with every new policy. This way you don’t have to keep mental notes of 10 different accounts—just call your insurance agent and they will help you change your policy, update your information or switch providers. It can’t get any easier!
Get the best deal
There are dozens of insurance providers out there and the ones you see on TV are not always the best or might not fit your needs and budget. An independent insurance agency has connections with many major and local insurance providers, so working with an agent opens many options you might not have considered before. Based on your requirements, budget and their industry knowledge, your Carroll County insurance agent can find a policy that is right for you. You could do this on your own, but it would require an extensive research that might take hours if not days. An agent, on the other hand, has all the information you need and can help you compare different policies without overwhelming you with a pile of printouts.
Give Freedom Insurance Agency a call if you decide to enlist an agent to help you shop for insurance. We serve many areas in Carroll county and Howard County and have helped many customers simplify the insurance buying process.
