What to look for in an insurance agent

Why an agent is important

Having an agent adds value to your life in many ways. By working with an agency, you gain the combined experience of thousands of insurance transactions and the expertise to answer your questions and assist you through your purchasing decisions, but it doesn't stop there. Once you have purchased the insurance policy or plan, the agency can be involved with the ongoing service needs and can help you know that your interactions with the insurance company are being handled fairly. Regular policy reviews with your agent can help stay on top of your changing needs.

How to choose an agent

There are a lot of factors that you can use to evaluate an agency. Ultimately there are a few key characteristics that you should look at when selecting an agent:

ABILITY

Competency: Every state has guidelines and a regulatory body that governs the insurance industry and grants licenses for agents and brokers to do business in that state. The ability to qualify for an insurance agent or broker license may suffice for a state insurance department, but it is only one step in developing the competency required to adequately solve problems. Look for someone who has demonstrated their ability through years of experience.

Specialization: It can be helpful if your agent has solved similar problems to the ones you are facing. Some agents make it their priority to continuously learn and grow so they are better positioned to handle an ever-changing industry.

SHARED VALUES

Trustworthiness/Integrity - You need to know that the agent will do everything in his or her power to conduct business in an ethical manner and to do what is right.

Ease of Doing Business: While it's common to do business locally, some agents give a level of service unmatched by others and merit a long-distance relationship.

RELATIONSHIP

Many agents have built a legacy in the insurance industry and provide a consistently high level of service to their clients. They earn the repeat business of their clients through genuine life-long relationships that endure the test of time. All insurance companies experience periods of competitiveness and times when they are not so competitive. We at the Steele Agency have chosen to be an independent insurance agency because we appreciate that it gives us the opportunity to build those enduring relationships with our clients. Our ability to service clients with a variety of insurance carriers allows us to find competitive rates during periods of time when rates go up for everyone. As the insurance industry continues to evolve and more techniques are developed by insurers to be competitively priced for the best policyholders, it is beneficial to be able to offer clients multiple options. In such instances, clients can have the peace of mind that they are paying a fair premium. Products from different insurers are not all created equally.