We live in a day and age of great risk and extreme costs for things like medical bills, final expenses, pet emergency surgeries, auto or motorcycle collisions, rebuilding after a home fire, a lawsuit against your small business, and a host of other things you really don’t like to think about.
What do all of these things have in common? They can all be covered by some form of insurance. Many people would be unable to handle the financial impact of various events that can be covered by insurance but are quite able to handle a reasonable monthly premium.
In today’s world, it can make a lot of sense to invest in various forms of insurance – but to get the best possible deal, you need to talk to someone you can trust like an experienced insurance broker. Here are 7 key qualities to look for in your insurance broker.
1. Knowledgable About Many Insurance Types
Look for an insurance broker who possesses a deep and detailed knowledge of various insurance types. Or, if a single individual isn’t familiar with every type you are interested in, you at least want to know that the same brokerage organization can help you across the board.
It is far more convenient if you can call just one phone number, chat at one online brokerage website, or visit a single insurance brokerage office to meet all of your insurance needs.
And, of course, you want both knowledge and experience. Only when you put those two together can “skill” (wisdom) develop as a result.
2. Can Easily Be Contacted & Consulted With
Another key factor in choosing the best insurance broker in your area is finding someone who can easily be contacted and consulted at a time that is convenient for you.
Let’s say you want to talk to an insurance broker about auto insurance – and you need car insurance within a matter of days. You need to know you can call and talk to the right person quickly and that he or she will get right to the point and help you at your point of need.
3. Can Get You Discounts & Save You Money
Your insurance broker should be all about finding ways to save you as much as possible on insurance while still getting you the insurance product you are after.
Many times, you can get special discounts based on your age, sex, where you live, having few claims in the past, or having a good credit score. Or, you may be able to save money by bundling your homeowner’s insurance and your life insurance policy or by getting a group-rate discount on a dental/vision policy.
It would be a shame if you paid too much per month because you were simply unaware of discounts and ways to save that were there the whole time. A good broker can help make sure that will not happen!
4. A Good Broker Will Work To Customize Your Plan
Everyone’s needs and wants are different. There is no one size fits all insurance plan, which is why good brokers are willing to put some time and energy into customizing a plan that is perfect for you.
The process may involve listening to you, asking pertinent questions, running different scenarios to see how much you would pay on various insurances, suggesting different coverage levels, and seeing if you are interested in various insurance policy riders.
Of course, the broker will take the position of helping you customize your own policy, never pressuring but always bringing the relevant information to the table.
5. Availability of Business Insurance
If you run your own small business, you may need to get general liability insurance. You may also want to consider options like professional liability coverage, commercial auto, or worker’s compensation plans.
Business insurance is different in important ways from “regular” insurance, and so, you need an insurance broker with deep knowledge of the details involved – since those details could impact you in a big way.
6. Helpful With Seasonal Or Specialized Coverages
Not all insurance companies will be up to snuff on seasonal or specialized areas of coverage. Your broker should be able to direct you to these types of policies as well.
For example, in Florida, many only need motorcycle insurance for half to three-quarters of the year. Others may only use a boat insurance policy part of the year and want boat storage coverage for the times when their boat is not actually being used.
Specialized coverage types like pet insurance can be tricky and aren’t offered by many insurers, so talk to a broker who can find you the best policy.
7. Friendly, Helpful Customer Service
When looking for a new insurance policy of some kind, you will have to interact with one or more brokers, be it over the phone, in-person, or via online chat sessions.
You type insurance broker near me into the search engine, do some initial online research, and end up talking with an agent. You want it to be a pleasant experience. A good broker will be patient, understanding, not “pushy,” as quick to listen as to talk, and willing to walk you through each insurance type step by step so you can understand how to choose the policy you’ll be most satisfied with.
These are some of the qualities to look for in a quality insurance broker. It really matters whom you talk with and which policy you buy.
To speak with a helpful, friendly insurance broker offering a wide range of excellent insurance products, contact Flagler County (FL) Insurance Agency today for a free, no-obligation consultation!