Benefits of independent insurance agents
Most people differentiate insurance agents by the kind of insurance they specialize in – health insurance agent, auto insurance agent, life insurance agent, and so on. In the insurance industry, however, there is another important way that insurance agents can be classified: captive insurance agents vs. Independent insurance agents. Whether you are a captive insurance agent or an independent insurance agent can have a profound effect on your daily routine, the kind of insurance you sell, and your income potential within the industry. When you choose an independent agent, you are supporting a local business. Independent agents are members of your community - coaches of the local little league team, volunteers, church members - and they are passionate about making a difference. Independent agents are on your side - a neighbor who knows and cares about you. They will be there throughout the many changes in your life - answering questions, handling issues and adjusting your insurance coverage as needed. If you need to file a claim, they will help you navigate the process. Independent agents work with many different insurance carriers and are capable of offering all types of insurance for both residential and commercial customers. Since
read more →15. Ditch Coverage You May Not Need
One thing that will majorly change how much you pay for car insurance is being able to stop paying for full collision and comprehensive coverage. If you drive a car that is completely paid off, it might be time for you to drop that excess coverage. You’ll first want to determine whether you have the funds to replace your car should you be in a major accident and you’ll also want to assess the gap between your deductible and how much your car is worth. A good rule of thumb is that if you car is worth less than twice what your deductible is, it’s likely best to ditch that comprehensive coverage. How to Save on Car Insurance: Smart Ways to Lower Your Rate One of the easiest ways to save money on car insurance is to regularly shop around for lower rates. When you do, make sure to get quotes from multiple sources. You can even save time shopping by allowing. Insurance companies charge different rates for the same coverage. They also treat the factors that go into your rate (driving history, age, credit history, etc. ) differently. Finding the company that is best for
read more →Help Throughout the Claim Process
If you have questions, you may not connect with anyone who understands insurance. You must become your own insurance expert. If you make a mistake, there is no one to look to for help or support. There is no help in filing a claim. Some types of insurance may not be available online. You must be able to understand and navigate through the application process. If you need custom coverage (like coverage for vintage autos, for example), an online program may not apply. You are not doing business with a local company. In many cases, the staff is located in foreign countries. An independent insurance broker is trained to a very high standard of professionalism. They make their money through a commission they get for each insurance product they sell. You are therefore a source of income for them, so they have a strong incentive to keep you happy. They are more than capable of doing that through their considerable experience and extensive range of professional contacts in the industry. Your broker has to be familiar with a very wide range of products from many different providers. Their portfolio will be much broader than that of an insurance
read more →7. Increase Your Deductibles
You can call your insurance company at any time and ask them to raise the deductibles on your home and auto insurance. We have raised our home insurance deductible to $1500 and those on our vehicles to $1000 each. This can add up to some pretty nice premium savings over a couple of years. Just make sure that you always have enough cash on hand to cover the deductibles just in case. We earmark a part of our emergency fund for this purpose. The higher your deductible is, the less that you’ll pay for your premium. For example, going from $250 to $500 could reduce the cost of your collision and comprehensive coverage by up to 30%. And if you go from $500 to $1,000, you could save an additional 31%. But be careful not to make your deductible too high. There are very few scenarios in which you can avoid paying a car insurance deductible, and if you get into an accident, you don’t want to be faced with paying more out of pocket than you can afford. To learn more, check out wallethub’s guide to car insurance deductibles. When you feel that it makes more sense
read more →2. Take advantage of car insurance discounts
Auto insurance premiums are based in part on the car’s price, the cost to repair it, its overall safety record and the likelihood of theft. Many insurers offer discounts for features that reduce the risk of car theft or personal injuries, or for cars that are known to be safe. When you're comparing new or used vehicles to purchase, also research what each will cost to insure. To start, you can check safety rankings for specific models with the insurance institute for highway safety’s (iihs) online top safety pick ratings tool. If you have car insurance with one company, home insurance from another, and boat insurance from still another, you may be paying more than if you had them all with one company. Jimmi lewis from voi insurance solutions agrees: ”bundling your home, auto and other personal insurance coverages presents one of the best premium reduction strategies available. Discounts of approximately 25% on each policy may be available when you bundle your coverages with the same insurance company. ". Every insurance company offers special ways to save on your car insurance premium. To make sure you’re getting all the discounts you’re entitled to, check out your insurer’s discounts
read more →HO-4: Renters insurance policy
Please note: lemonade articles and other editorial content are meant for educational purposes only, and should not be relied upon instead of professional legal, insurance or financial advice. The content of these educational articles does not alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. While we regularly review previously published content to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date, there may be instances in which legal conditions or policy details have changed since publication. Any hypothetical examples used in lemonade editorial content are purely expositional. Hypothetical examples do not alter or bind lemonade to any application of your insurance policy to the particular facts and circumstances of any actual claim. An independent insurance agent can help you tailor a homeowner’s insurance policy to ensure that you have comprehensive protection to meet your unique needs. You can find an agent here. The policy documents on this page are presented for informational purposes only and are not intended to endorse, recommend, advertise, or comment on the quality of any particular insurer’s product in any manner, or to imply that the insurance products identified on this page are the only products
read more →How Much Is Homeowners Insurance?
Tips for saving money on texas homeowners insurance. You may be able to secure a discount if you buy more than one policy through the same insurance company, such as homeowners insurance and auto insurance. This is known as "bundling. " it can mean significant savings, according to experian. Plus it's convenient by having your policies in one place. Ready to buy a new home, or need financial assistance? here are some financial resources for homeowners. Have you ever wondered, "why is my home insurance so high?" while a rate increase on your homeowners policy could be the result of many different factors, affordable home insurance could be right around the corner by taking the following steps:. Over time, the average price of items increases. This can apply to your homeowners insurance, just like any other good or service. Over the past decade, homeowners insurance increased an average of 50% nationally. This happens because, as your home and property gain value, the cost to repair or replace it also increases. Insurance companies must comply with these rising costs and that can be why your premium goes up. By tweaking your policy and making
read more →How to get help with an insurance issue or file a complaint
Every state has an insurance “commissioner” with two basic jobs. The first job is to watch over the finances of insurance companies doing business in their state to make sure they have enough money to pay claims. The second job is to make sure insurers are selling decent products and treating their customers fairly. A commissioner who leans on insurers to treat customers fairly is a big help to disaster survivors. If your insurance company is treating you unfairly and you’ve gone as far as you can with them but can’t solve the problem, your next step should be to file a complaint with the insurance regulatory agency in your state. Do you have enough insurance coverage to pay for home or car repairs? You need to know your insurance coverage for cars, homes, or businesses. If something happens that the policy does not cover, you may pay for it out of pocket. This knowledge will save you money because it will keep you from purchasing insurance that you won’t need. Health emergencies are the primary cause for trip cancellations and interruptions, and they can come with high medical bills as well as
read more →Get a homeowners insurance quote
Pays for medical expenses if someone is injured on your property let us help you protect what matters most; request a no-obligation homeowners insurance quote today. Find the Best Home Insurance An independent insurance agent can help you tailor a homeowner’s insurance policy to ensure that you have comprehensive protection to meet your unique needs. You can find an agent here. ► 10 steps to find the right home insurance : shopping for insurance is like shopping for any major item. It's a good idea to shop around to find the policy that best meets your needs and pocketbook. Do you need renters insurance? (video) do you need renters insurance? your landlord’s insurance will cover damage to a building or home you rent, but what about your personal items? we explain what renters insurance covers. Home policies: replacement cost or actual cash value? most home insurance policies pay to repair or rebuild your home based on current costs. This is called replacement cost coverage. You probably looked at several houses before you found the right fit; why not look at home insurance the same way? goosehead does the looking for you, and finds the policy that
read more →Common questions about homeowners insurance
Homeowners insurance is required for everyone who has a mortgage. It protects you from damage caused by fires or other common disasters. It also may cover the contents of your home and provide personal liability coverage. Get Answers to more home insurance questions You’ve got your questions answered and made the decision on your home insurance. Now what? it’s time to finalize the policy. Here are some essential things to check before you accept the policy: effective date. This could be your closing date if you purchase a new home or the end date of your current home insurance policy. Whichever date you need, make sure it’s correct on the policy before proceeding. Premiums and coverage. Make sure the policy details are correct, including coverages, add-ons and exclusions. Also, check that the premium is the same as what you were quoted. Deductible. Another essential factor to check is that the deductible is the right amount for you. Your insurance policy will outline your deductible (and/or waiver of deductible), and the contact information to file a claim. It also outlines what is covered and what is excluded from coverage. Take pictures of all the damage, losses, and
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