In the previous article, we discussed the three most common ways to purchase insurance : (1) buying direct from an insurance company, (2) buying from a captive agent, or (3) working with an independent insurance agent. We wrote about some of the benefits and drawbacks for each, and how we are convinced that working with an independent agency such as Homewood Insurance Agency, is probably the best option for most situations, and for a variety of reasons. Take a look below to read five excellent reasons why we believe this is the case.

1 – Offers a Range of Services

Independent insurance agents are professionals who can offer insurance policies to suit all of your coverage needs. While buying direct or through a captive agent may sometime leave you with limited choices, you’ll find that working with an independent insurance agent is quite the opposite. Whatever type of insurance your family or business requires, an independent agent will be able to provide you with a competitive quote. This includes everything from vehicle and homeowners insurance, to health and life insurance. If you’re a business owner, an independent insurance agent is still a great choice as they can provide everything from your basic commercial insurance coverage to workers compensation and employee benefits.

2 – Provides Choices of Insurance Coverage & Cost

Because independent agents work with numerous insurance providers, they can offer you more varied policy options than a captive agent or when buying direct. Think of them as an insurance “broker,” who has relationships with multiple companies, but is not tied to any specific provider. They can provide you with several options for each type of coverage you may need, so you can get the right coverage at a price you can afford.

3 – Supporting the Local Economy

Wherever you may live in the greater Madison area, you can find an independent insurance agent within a few minutes of your home or business. Not only is this convenient, it also means that you’re supporting a local small business. In addition to that, you can be assured that your local independent insurance agent is familiar with Wisconsin insurance law and are aware of state insurance requirements.

4 – Personalized Customer Service

Working with an independent insurance agency such as Homewood Insurance Agency, offers you the opportunity to have a personalized relationship with your agent. Over time, they’ll learn more about you, your lifestyle, and everything else about you that makes your insurance needs unique. This can be quite helpful in determining the full scope of your insurance needs. If something happens in your life that could require alterations to your coverage, such as getting married, having kids, buying a new home, or starting your own business, independent agents are in a unique position to easily help you and make sure you are covered properly. Additionally, in the event that you have to file a claim, your independent insurance agent will provide customized claim service and help you to step through the process.

5 – Independent Agents Work for You

On the topic of filing a claim, it’s a great advantage to work with an independent agent as opposed to buying direct or working with a captive agent. When buying direct, you and your claim could be shuffled around and you’d have to advocate for yourself. When buying through a captive agent, you have someone to step you through the process, but they’re working on behalf of the insurance company and may not always be in a position to represent your best interests. When you work with an independent insurance agent, they can help you through the process without any hesitation or consideration for others involved.

These are just five of the benefits of working with an independent insurance agency. We’re confident that you’ll find what we have to offer at Homewood Insurance Agency is far superior to any other choices you might have, and we promise that you will not be disappointed.

There are many reasons why you need to have insurance. For example, in most states, including Wisconsin, you must have a minimum liability coverage for your vehicle. If you still have a loan on your car, the financial institution that carries your loan will also require physical damage coverage. If you have a mortgage on your home, your loan provider will require you to purchase a certain amount of homeowners’ insurance. Most recently, the passage of the Affordable Care Act requires you to have acceptable health insurance.

Insurance isn’t just a requirement, it’s a good idea in general to protect your assets from misfortune. This article is will show you three distinct ways you can go about buying insurance. How each way could affect what kind of coverage you end up with, and how much it costs. Read on to learn the three major ways to buy insurance.

Directly from the Insurance Company

When you buy insurance policies directly, you won’t have an agent. You select the policies you want to buy and purchase them from the insurance company directly, either through their website over the phone. Because you don’t have an agent, there no one acting on your behalf to advise you on what is available or what types of policies you should buy. When you purchase insurance directly from a carrier, your only options are the policies that particular company offers. Though there are real people doing the underwriting and processing the claims, you likely will never communicate with the same person more than once. Examples of popular direct insurance providers include GEICO and Progressive.

Through a Captive Insurance Agent

A captive insurance agent will provide professional advice on your coverage needs and options, but you are still limited to only those policies that are offered through the specific company he or she represents. Captive agents can give you customized service for your needs, but they don’t always represent your interests, but rather the interests of a single insurance provider – hence the name “captive”. If you want or need coverage options that aren’t available through the company they represent, or if they can’t provide coverage due to an underwriting rule, you will have to seek out another provider to get the coverage you need. Though captive agents may offer competitive prices on some policies, that could change if your insurance needs change, such as if you get married or divorced, add a new driver to your policy or have to file a claim.

Through an Independent Agent

Independent insurance agents also provide personalized service to help you get the coverage you need, but they are not “captive” to just one company. Independent agents represent numerous insurance companies and can act like a broker, offering you a range of coverage options to suit your individual needs. They offer several price quotes for each type of insurance you require, giving you the chance to buy the most coverage for your budget.

Benefits of Buying Through an Independent Insurance Agent

After reading the three descriptions above, you could probably see that working with an independent agent is probably the best option for buying insurance for most people. The personalized service helps you get just what you need, compared to buying direct or through a captive agent. You will also likely find an independent agent very near to where you live, including right here in Madison, Wisconsin.

Independent agents will help you to discover potential liabilities that could put you at risk should something unexpected happen, explain how to cover them, and recommend suitable coverage amounts. Because they have developed relationships with a range of insurance providers, they can review numerous policies and costs to reveal the best one to fit your coverage needs and price points. For this reason, when you buy from an independent insurance agent, you’ll likely save money compared to a captive agent or buying direct. Most significantly, an independent agent isn’t obligated to any one insurance company – they’re there to work for you, and fight for your best interests.

Additionally, when you work an independent insurance agent, they likely offer policies that can fulfill all of your needs. This is because they work with so many different insurance companies, they can provide a greater range of policy options. That includes personal insurance from auto, home and life insurance; to business insurance such as workers compensation and disability. As your life changes and insurance needs evolve, such as when getting a dog, getting married, having a child, or buying a home; they can help you adjust for the additional coverage you’ll need.

Though there are more ways than one to purchase insurance, some are clearly better than others. Instant online quotes are convenient, but it isn’t nearly the same as the personalized advice and service that independent insurance agencies can provide. You don’t need to spend a lot on insurance, you can get the coverage you need at a reasonable price. That’s what you can expect when you work with an independent insurance agent.

Thanksgiving Day is coming up. It’s the national holiday when we give thanks for the blessing in our lives. Though you might think of it as a quintessentially American holiday, similar celebrations are observed in communities throughout the world, including Canada. It’s also celebrated on different days of the year in other countries, though we here in the U.S. observe it on the fourth Thursday of November.

Though pretty much everyone has heard the original Thanksgiving story with the Native Americans and the Pilgrims, the holiday actually has its historical roots in religious, secular and cultural traditions, some of which probably date back to when humans first learned how to grow their own crops. Though we call it Thanksgiving in the United States now, it’s had many names throughout history, as it originally started as a harvest celebration that was typically occurred after the crop had been harvested to give thanks for a plentiful yield.

Living in the United States, it can be easy to take for granted the bountiful blessings that we should be celebrating this holiday. Many of us have new cars and big homes – not all of us, of course but even the poorest American citizen is richer than 70% of the people living throughout the world, and that’s saying a lot. When you factor in your job, your family, your friends and your health, you start feeling utterly wealthy.

With such wonderful people and things in your life, it is only natural that you want to protect what you have. With that in mind, the best thing you can do for yourself, your family, and your possessions, is to safeguard them with insurance. Depending on your situation, that may include homeowner’s, renters, auto, business insurance, and other types of coverage. You may also want to consider an umbrella policy for an extra layer of protection. Health insurance, disability insurance, and life insurance to protect yourself and your family should be at the top of your list as well.

It’s hard to contemplate bad things happening to you or your loved ones. It can be particularly difficult to think about it in the midst of the holiday season. There’s no need to over-think it, but it’s vital to consider. If you’re covered properly, it won’t necessarily remove the fear of the unknown, but it can help you feel better knowing that if the unthinkable happens, your loved ones and property would be protected and taken care of.

Have a happy Thanksgiving; eat some turkey and pie and enjoy time with your loved ones. Enjoy the good things in your life