What Should You Look for in a Full-Service, Independent Insurance Agency?

Shopping for a new insurance plan? It might be time to shop for a new agency as well. That’s because your agency should be able to help you navigate the ins and outs of any sort of insurance need – from personal and commercial insurance to general financial services. A full-service, independent firm has the power to be a one-stop shop for all your insurance requirements. Furthermore, they should be hands-on throughout every step of the process, from policy decisions to claim-filing, meeting your needs with the personalized attention you deserve. What services should your insurance agency provide? Read on.

Personal Insurance

You’ve worked hard to build the life that you have. A full-service agency will provide coverage for all the things that help make it special, from your home, to your car, to your motorcycle, boat or RV. Look for an agency that can write plans for any number of insurance providers and needs, including:

Home Insurance

Your house: You’ve made it your own, made it a home, and filled with priceless memories. But it’s also probably your most significant investment. Quality home insurance plans deliver comprehensive coverage for your property and your assets in the event of theft, accidents, fire, natural disaster or structural failure.

Auto Insurance

We’ve all been there: Stuff happens to cars, more often than we’d like. The right auto plan provides reassurance, protecting you and your vehicle in the event of collision, theft and even the occasional annoying mishap.

Renters Insurance

You may not own your home, but you certainly care about protecting what’s inside it. Renters insurance protects you and your personal property if something happens to – or in – the property you rent from someone else.

Boat, Motorcycle & RV Insurance

We strongly believe that life is better on a boat (there’s a reason our logo is an anchor). Whether a boat, a motorcycle or an RV is the thing that makes your life more fun, appropriate insurance coverage makes it more safe for you to enjoy.

Personal Umbrella Policies

Sometimes you need more coverage. Umbrella policies provide extra liability insurance, protecting you from major claims and lawsuits. A qualified insurance broker can help you determine what kind of umbrella policy you need to cover your specific personal contingencies.

Commercial Insurance

As a family-owned insurance firm; we know firsthand how much time, energy and capital it takes to run a business, especially a smaller one. When you are in need of a new commercial policy, look for a commercial lines coverage specialist who can design a policy that covers the tangible products of all the intangible investments you put into your business. The spectrum of commercial coverage includes:

General Liability

The rewards of business ownership are great, but they so often come at great risk. General liability plans help you make sure the rewards outweigh those risks, protecting you and your company against liability resulting from negligence, property damage and personal injury, including medical expenses.

Commercial Property

If you are a small business owner, your company property is no doubt as important as your personal property. So your commercial property insurance needs are just as critical as your personal insurance requirements. Your insurance provider should recognize those needs and specialize in writing the best policies to protect them.

Commercial Auto

Your corporate fleet is an essential business asset. Protect it with the right commercial auto insurance plan. A full-service agency can help you navigate the ins and outs of commercial auto insurance to get your team on the road in no time.

Workers Compensation

Your workers are the heart of your company. If they get injured on the job, you need to be able to help them meet their medical needs while you continue to run your business. Your agency should work with you to develop a workers compensation policy that strikes this critical balance.

Business Owners Policy

A Business Owners Policy (BOP) protects smaller businesses from a number of different risks, safeguarding against unexpected financial losses. Every business owner’s needs are different, so you want an agent who will work directly with you to analyze your policy requirements and find affordable solutions, including general liability, property insurance and Worker's Compensation.

Financial Services

A full-service agency shouldn’t be just about insurance – they can be your resource for financial services as well. In fact, insurance is a key component of any sound, long-term financial plan, helping you tap the full investment and fiscal protection potential of your insurance policies, to help you live the life you want now. And as your personal situation changes, thanks to marriage, children or job changes, you want an agency that will help you to adjust your insurance and investment plans to suit your new needs, including:

Term Life Insurance

An affordable way to protect your heirs for a specified amount of time, term life guarantees benefits for a period of 10, 20 or 30 years. Your agent should be able to help you navigate your options and decide what length term will meet your family’s needs now and down the line.

Whole Life Insurance

If you’re at a certain point in your life, you might think of life insurance as little more than a needless expense or a morbid afterthought. But the fact is that life insurance can be a powerful investment tool while providing important financial protection for your family in the event of the unexpected. A whole life insurance policy can help you build cash value that is usable during your lifetime, providing equity and ensuring your expenses are covered.

Long-Term Care Coverage

70% of individuals over the age of 65 will need long-term care, and unfortunately the majority of these expenses are not covered by traditional health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. Your agent should help you navigate the options and put together a plan to pay for the help you may need.

Annuities

Annuities are long-term investment products designed to provide you with steady income once you have retired. Your broker should help you weigh the benefits and risks of the three main types of annuity – variable, fixed and equity-indexed – and determine which annuity best suits your retirement needs and your investment strategy.

Everyone Deserves a Full-Service Insurance Approach

For over 60 years, we’ve offered individuals, families and businesses insurance solutions to cover the things that matter most. Our agents are real, local people. We’re happy to talk with you about strategies that wholly cover your lifestyle or business and that plan for your future. We are able to review your current policies (even if they’re not with us), answer your questions and help manage any claims. We know insurance can be confusing and we want to make it simple, transparent and affordable.

Ready to take a new look at your insurance and financial picture? Drop us a line.