Masamuru Ltd.

Any insurance agent will tell you that the world of insurance has changed quite a bit lately, especially with all the television ads that make it sound like it can all be done easily online. They’re right, in certain respects. It is true that you can bypass the local independent insurance agency if you know your know way around the Internet. But what happens when your situation changes?

For example, you could set everything up online without an insurance agent: Auto, Home, Life, or any other type of insurance. But how easy is it to get advice online when you have a life-changing event?

Suppose you added a finished basement, alarm system, or addition to your home. Or maybe you’ve added some new financial responsibilities, or your spouse is out of work. What happens when you need additional life insurance? Will the online “chat” agent at your insurance company know you well enough to offer sound, practical advice? Probably not.

When your kids reach driving age, you either buy a used car or a new car for yourself. All of these require a thorough review of your insurance needs, not just to keep costs down, but to make sure you are well insured where you need to be.

My experience running an independent insurance agency in Des Moines has shown me how important the agent-customer relationship really is. A good agent will act as an advocate for his or her clients with the major insurance providers. They will alert you of any changes in the law, important exclusions in your policies, and any money-saving opportunities.

This kind of personal service cannot be found online. For the best combination of coverage and price, find yourself an independent agency and an agent that takes the time to get to know you personally.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 8:21 pm and is filed under Insurance Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.