3 Uplifting Stories About Insurance Agents

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3 Uplifting Stories About Insurance Agents

Teen Driver Behind The Wheel? An Insurance Agent Tells You Why Full Car Insurance Is Essential

I suppose it happens to every parent. Their teen becomes old enough to drive. Yikes! The moment I saw her jump behind the wheel of our vehicle and back into the house planter while scaring the dog biscuits out of Miss Daisy, the neighbor’s pet Doberman, I knew it was time to get in touch with my insurance agent.

I wanted to make sure we had the most comprehensive auto insurance to protect my family and other drivers on the road in our Brentwood, Southern California, neighborhood. Our agent is great. Not only did he make sure we had collision and liability insurance, but he explained how important it was to have uninsured motorist bodily injury and uninsured motorist property damage insurance. I never even heard of this coverage before.

According to the California Department of Insurance, uninsured motorist bodily injury and uninsured motorist property damage coverage protects my family when injured and my vehicle when damaged by a driver who doesn’t have insurance.

The next time my daughter asks for the car keys to meet her friends at Topanga State Park, I won’t hesitate to let her go. Thanks to my insurance agent, I am more at ease when my daughter gets into the driver’s seat.

An Insurance Agent Who Treats New Homeowners With Respect

I am now a homeowner of a small bungalow in Brentwood Glen. I’ve been doing the happy dance for the past six days as I moved my things from my cold, wet New Engl and home and rode out to sunny California. As I sashayed my boxes up to the house, I almost did a head-slap moment. Or rather, a dead branch from the juniper tree bounced off my roof shingles and hit the grass only feet away, causing little damage to my new home.

Homeowner’s insurance. I forgot to get homeowner’s insurance.

Yeah, it wasn’t the brightest moment in my life. I definitely felt like putting on my “I’m with Stupid” tee shirt with the arrow pointing up at me. But at least I figured it out before something serious happened to my home. Being new to California, I wanted to make sure I had the right residential insurance, as stated by the California Department of Insurance. The agent I found explained the entire policy to me while indicating what would be best to get, such as earthquake coverage, which I never had to deal with for my New Engl and home. Despite my boneheaded moments, the insurance agent treated me with respect and underst anding. I am so glad to have met him.

My Superhero Insurance Agent Saved The Day

I feel like marrying my insurance agent. At the very least, I want to make her a superhero costume with large “IA” letters stenciled on the front, because she sure saved the day for me.

My ex-spouse didn’t inform me when she canceled the insurance policy on my car. I received a suspension notice from the California Department of Motor Vehicles about how they didn’t receive a replacement policy in the specified 45-day period, as explained on the California Department of Motor Vehicles website.

I contacted my insurance agent immediately and explained the situation. She worked fast to get everything squared away with my insurance policy and make sure I submitted the right reinstatement forms and fees so that I won’t be driving illegally. Now, I have my up-to-date vehicle registration with the required insurance policy.

I’ll never leave my superhero agent. Boy, they are really there at all hours when you need them.

Stories like these are the stories that we strive for at Susman Insurance Agency.  Let us earn your business and become your superhero!

Karl Susman

Should You Use an Insurance Agent or Broker?

The options when you are shopping for insurance can seem overwhelming. Do you want a captive agent or an independent broker? What is the difference? While one option may seem equal to another, the coverage you get and the price you pay can wind up being quite different depending on the path you take. Lets look at the two major options when you are shopping for insurance:

In many ways, insurance agents and independent insurance brokers are similar to one another. Both are required to be licensed in the state where they work. Neither position requires special education or degrees  and although most brokers and agents will take classes to increase their level of knowledge. Both insurance agents and independent brokers can help you assess your personal insurance needs to help you find a policy with the right benefits. Both put together insurance policies and help people settle claims. Both typically work on a commission basis. However, there are significant differences between the two, as well.

Insurance agents works for an insurance company. Their primary allegiance is to that company, rather than to you, the buyer. This is particularly true for a captive agent, also known as an exclusive agent, think State Farm or Allstate.  A captive insurance agent works exclusively for one insurer. In return, they receive benefits from that company like health and life insurance, paid vacation, an allowance to cover their office costs, and other benefits. They are almost always not allowed to sell insurance policies from other companies. This means they can only offer you policies that are available from the insurer they work for. If the insurer they represent does not have a policy that fits your needs, they are usually not allowed to refer you to someone who can help. If the need to make a claim against your insurance policy ever arises, you insurance agent merely acts as a liaison between you and the insurance company.

By contrast, an insurance broker works directly for the buyer. A broker is an independent agent who can work on your behalf to get the best coverage. They can work with a range of different types of insurance products, or choose to specialize in a single one, such as life insurance or home owners insurance. Independent brokers are not contractually bound to offer just one insurance company’s products. They are able to sell insurance policies from many different companies, which means that they are often able to get you the best deal for your personal situation. If you need a type of insurance policy that is outside the range of what they offer, they are in a position to refer you to another broker who can sell you the policy you need.

If you ever need to make a claim, an independent insurance broker is in a position to be of more help to you. In addition to preparing claim forms for you, they are able to advocate on your behalf. While not all insurance brokers offer this service, it is one they are in a far better position to provide.

When comparing your options for purchasing an insurance policy, it just makes sense to pick someone who, by definition, works for you and is on your side. Adequate insurance and successful claims can sometimes make the difference between a quick recovery from an incident and suffering serious financial problems after the fact. Pick the person who can sell you the product that is best for you and who can advocate for your interests to help ensure your best peace of mind.

Pick a fully independent insurance broker that works for you, say, like us, at Susman Insurance Agency!

Karl Susman