Can people buy insurance directly over the internet? Certainly! But there are many aspects to insurance policies that people don't know about. They would have to go to multiple companies to compare quotes. And if they have to make a claim, they would have to deal with the insurance company on their own. Independent insurance agents make insurance shopping much easier for customers by providing quotes from several companies. Most people have questions about insurance and may prefer to talk to someone about their concerns. The Allen Thomas Group Insurance Agency . Independent agents build relationships with their customers and use technology to serve them in a variety of ways. There are some benefits to starting your own independent insurance agency from scratch. However, there are several possible drawbacks. When starting any type of business, you'll need to have plenty of capital up front to keep yourself afloat. It might take quite a while, sometimes up to several years, for your independent agency to eventually start turning a profit or break even with your initial investment. Calculate how much you need to pay your living expenses apart from running the agency.
As an independent agency we can select the best coverage from many different carriers to better meet the individual needs of our clients. Give us a call or click on the quote form button above to find out more about our insurance solutions. We look forward to hearing from you! You’re here because you’re looking for a new insurance policy and don’t know where to start. Begin and end with us! Our agency works with many different insurance companies to ensure that you are being provided the best coverage for the most value.
This can allow you to build a relationship with your independent insurance agent no matter what company you choose for your insurance policies. While captive agents can also provide personalized customer service, independent insurance agents may be more motivated to work hard to keep your business so you do not go to another agency. This means answering questions about rates, coverages and claims or filing claims on your behalf. If there is an issue with your coverage, you can call on your independent insurance agent to help resolve your problem.
A good rule of thumb when selecting an insurance agency is researching potential agencies' reviews online before committing. Insurance agencies provide a variety of services related to insurance policies, and agents play a critical role in making these services available to clients. These services range from helping clients understand the types of coverage available and providing advice on selecting policies that meet their needs, to processing claims and handling policy renewals. Agents are highly trained professionals who have a deep understanding of the various types of insurance available, as well as how to match clients with the best possible coverage options based on their unique needs. For example, an auto insurance agent might assess a client's driving record and make recommendations for coverage that is designed to protect them in case of accidents or other unexpected events on the road. Anecdotal evidence can be helpful in illustrating how agents provide these types of services.
All insurance agencies also have a fiduciary responsibility towards their clients to act in their best interests. To help simplify the process, many insurance agencies employ licensed agents who work on behalf of the client to negotiate rates, set up payment schedules, handle claims filing, and answer any questions or concerns. These agents are responsible for providing clients with clear information about policy features, benefits, exclusions and answering any question they may have about their insurance policy. An important feature of most good insurance agencies is their ability to assess risk accurately. This means analyzing various perils that could potentially occur and making predictions based on statistics and data available. The agency will then be able to recommend the right level of protection based on these assessments. For example, if you're purchasing home insurance in a flood-prone area, your insurance agent would likely recommend flood insurance coverage as it might not be included in your standard homeowner's policy.
Choosing the right insurance policy is similar to building a customized vehicle - it involves making choices about which features and components will best suit your individual needs and preferences. Just as two people might choose different car models based on their commuting habits, personality traits, and overall lifestyle needs, two people might also select different policies based on their unique circumstances. When it comes to insurance policies, there are numerous options available depending on your needs. Understanding the different types of insurance coverage can help you make an informed decision when selecting an insurance agency. Broadly speaking, there are four main types of insurance coverage: life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, and property insurance.
For individual life and disability insurance, insurance companies typically pay a larger commission in the first year. Smaller commissions follow in later years. It's important to maintain an ongoing customer relationship for additional sales, referrals from your customers' friends and relatives, and the opportunity to sell additional policies like home and car insurance to your life and health insurance customers. For a startup insurance agency, being licensed to offer life insurance along with property/casualty insurance can help provide more up-front commission revenue. Even if you want to focus on property/casualty insurance, getting licensed for life/health insurance means you can share commissions if you refer business to a life/health insurance agent. What about the cost for the required courses to study for your licenses? They're not expensive.
That will be invaluable as you grow as an independent agent. Many independent agents join service organizations or nonprofit boards, as this helps their growth. Businesses and personal lines customers typically wait until their annual policy renewal to consider switching agents, unless there is an issue with service delivery. Insurance license requirements depend on your state. Before beginning planning for your independent agency, make sure you know what licenses will be necessary in your state and their individual requirements. Understand which types of licenses will be necessary before diving in too deeply to the planning process. Without proper licenses, your agency might not be able to sell insurance to families and business clients. At first, most of your efforts will likely go toward finding new customers; over time though, make sure you can continue servicing existing ones effectively. Retention in the insurance industry refers to holding onto customers.
Whether you're an Akron native or a resident of any other state in the U.S., we're here to provide you with insurance solutions that make sense for your locale. FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered What is an independent insurance agency? An independent insurance agency is not tied to a single insurance provider. Instead, it has the flexibility to work with multiple insurance companies to find the best coverage options and rates for its clients. This independence ensures that the agency can act in the client's best interest rather than being limited to the offerings of one insurer.
Building relationships with independent insurance agents allows you to establish trusting relationships regardless of which insurance policy provider you select for yourself or your family. Independent insurance agents may be more committed to maintaining your business by answering any queries about rates, coverages or claims as well as filing them on your behalf. This could involve anything from providing personalized customer service through answering questions about coverages to filing claims on your behalf. If there's an issue with your coverage, reaching out to an independent agent for help can be invaluable.
As with any business venture, when starting an independent agency you will require enough funds up front to keep going until eventually it turns a profit or breaks even with its initial investment. This may take many months - sometimes several - before profits start flowing or your initial investment has paid back its cost. Calculate how much money is necessary for you to cover both living expenses and running an agency. Joining an insurance trade association will help you understand what steps are required, providing resources that will allow you to launch from shore. Not just knowledge in insurance matters! Learn about the available insurance technology solutions to assist in meeting your insurance needs.
Insurance offers many career options. Do you enjoy being in charge, setting your own schedule, and having satisfying, well-paying work? If that appeals to you, consider opening your own independent insurance agency. Here's more info on starting an independent agency and why starting one may be right for you. Insurance agents come in two varieties; exclusive agents represent one insurance provider while independent ones can represent multiple policies. Independent insurance agencies operate independently from the companies they represent, giving them the freedom to offer policies from multiple carriers that meet customers' individual needs best. Marketing and sales are important, but an agency's ability to meet customers' changing requirements or address claims quickly is equally vital.
An independent agent is an insurance broker who represents various carriers rather than selling policies from just one. An independent agent acts as an intermediary, connecting buyers and sellers in order to facilitate transactions. Independent agents receive commissions for selling policies they sell without being considered employees of any particular insurance company. A captive agent, by comparison, may only sell the products of the insurance provider they work for. Independent insurance agents, like independent financial advisors, tend to offer their clients more choices when it comes to insurance products. Insurance agents take into account their clients' diverse coverage needs when selecting an affordable policy that offers appropriate protection. An agent that sells policies from only one insurance provider, known as a captive agent.
The parent company will usually provide resources, training and support to captive agents, whereas independent agencies will have to use their own interpretation of companies’ materials to run their business, which could affect the quality of their work. While some large insurance companies will work with independent agents, some do not. So, while you will likely see a greater breadth of quotes from an independent agent, it’s possible that you might miss out on better coverage options or rates from a company that does not work with independent agents. If you don’t want to work with an independent agent or agency, there are other ways to purchase insurance:
Why should I choose an independent insurance agency over a direct insurer? Independent insurance agencies like The Allen Thomas Group offer a distinct advantage. We have access to a wide range of insurance providers, allowing us to compare policies and find the best fit for your needs. Our personalized service and ability to tailor policies make us an ideal choice for those seeking comprehensive coverage.
Mission of NAACB: to offer support for independent agents and brokers by offering membership benefits such as educational tools, informative publications, networking events and networking resources. These associations also act as advocates for independent insurance agents by working closely with insurers, state insurance departments, the federal government and other stakeholders to maintain a stable and profitable marketplace. Independent agencies benefit greatly from the combined efforts of the Big "I". When starting up an independent agency, membership of the Big "I" can offer many advantages; here are just a few benefits for startup independent agencies. Independent agents are essential partners in finding quality and affordable coverage; similarly, independent agencies have in The Big "I" as an ally when it comes to running an efficient operation. Signing up in your state is simple! Simply complete the online form to begin, with pricing varying by state, agency size, and revenue. Should any issues arise or if any questions arise, The Big "I" will always be there to assist.
Independent Insurance Center, Inc. is the owner of any information collected via this Web site and thus responsible for its security. We do not sell, disseminate, disclose, trade, transmit, transfer, share, lease or rent your personally identifiable data to any unauthorized third parties without receiving explicit authorization from you first. At The Allen Thomas Group, we pride ourselves on building long-term relationships with independent agents. Once appointed with The Allen Thomas Group, we'll deliver exactly what is needed on time - because your agency is unique to us! Allen Thomas Group's cutting-edge telematics programs can easily adapt to meet the needs of your customers while saving them money. We have simplified our process so that an appointment decision can be reached as quickly as possible (we typically communicate back within five business days with next steps).
The Allen Thomas Group's car insurance solutions are tailored to your unique driving habits and needs. Here's what sets our car insurance apart: 1. Coverage That Adapts to You Whether you're a daily commuter, a weekend road-tripper, or a parent chauffeuring kids to school, our car insurance coverage can be tailored to suit your lifestyle. We understand that each driver is different, and we take pride in creating policies that reflect that diversity. 2. Protection Against the Unexpected Accidents happen, and when they do, you want to be prepared. Our car insurance covers you in case of collisions, theft, vandalism, and more. You can drive with confidence knowing you have a safety net in place. 3. Affordable Premiums We believe that quality car insurance should be accessible to all. Our agents work diligently to find you the best rates without compromising on coverage. You can trust us to provide you with a policy that fits your budget. 4. Additional Benefits Beyond the basics, our car insurance policies may include additional perks like roadside assistance, rental car coverage, and more. We go the extra mile to ensure you're protected in every scenario.
Founded in 2003, The Allen Thomas Group has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Our insurance team is composed of agents and skilleddata analysts. They focus on the points consumers care about most — price, customer service, policy features and savings opportunities — so you can feel confident about which provider is right for you. You have insurance questions. ATG has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your risk management for over two decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
Why Choose The Allen Thomas Group Independent Insurance Agency? At The Allen Thomas Group, we understand that insurance is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Our seasoned insurance agents are committed to finding the perfect fit for your needs, be it car insurance, home insurance, or comprehensive business insurance.
Here are some tips for finding the right insurance agency for your needs: 1. Research and compare: Do your homework on different insurance agencies and their policies. Compare coverage options, prices, and customer reviews to find the best fit for you. 2. Check their credentials: Look for an agency that has proper licensing and credentials. This gives you peace of mind knowing that you are working with professionals who are qualified to provide you with the coverage you need. 3. Customer service: Choose an agency that offers excellent customer service. You want to work with someone who is responsive, helpful, and knowledgeable. Good customer service ensures that your questions get answered promptly and accurately. 4. Financial stability: It's important to choose an insurance agency that has financial stability. This means they have a strong rating from independent rating agencies like A.M Best or Standard & Poor's, indicating their ability to pay out claims if needed. 5. Personalized approach: Find an agency that offers customized solutions based on your specific needs. What works for one person may not work for another, so it's important to work with someone who takes the time to understand your unique situation.
Understand which types of licenses you'll need to operate your independent agency before you get too far in the planning process. Without the proper licenses, your agency might not be able to sell insurance to families or business clients. Initially, most of your time will be spent on finding new customers. Over time, be sure your firm can service its existing customers. In the insurance industry, holding onto customers is known as “retention." Successful insurance agencies have a retention rate of 90% or more. For property/casualty insurance agencies, retention is a meaningful goal because the commissions are recurring. Of course, new sales are important to allow the agency to flourish.
While price shouldn't be the only consideration when selecting an insurance agency, understanding the financial implications involved in selecting a company is essential to making an informed decision. It's always wise to balance coverage with costs so that you won't find yourself overpaying for coverage. Some may argue that they don't see the point in paying for an expensive policy if they have never had an incident which required them to file a claim. However, peace of mind is priceless; you could end up paying much more in damages than the amount spent on premiums. Selecting an insurance agency should be approached like building a portfolio given that both require investments made with long-term goals in mind.
Their focus lies on what consumers care most about - price, customer service, policy features and savings opportunities - so you can feel confident choosing which provider best meets your needs. ATG has answers. Over two decades, our experts have been helping consumers successfully manage risk. We strive to equip consumers with expert advice and tools needed to navigate life's financial journey successfully. We strive to be open about how we're able to provide high-quality content, competitive rates and useful tools at reasonable costs by outlining how we make money. Finding car insurance may seem complicated; one way people can simplify this process is through speaking with an independent insurance agent. Independent agents are licensed to sell insurance from multiple companies rather than being direct employees of only one.
Agents represent multiple carriers and can provide you with quotes from different providers, giving you the best possible chance of finding affordable coverage that meets your needs. According to a survey conducted by JD Power, customers who worked with agents were found to be more satisfied with their overall experience than those who purchased insurance online (JD Power Auto Insurance Study). In conclusion, while purchasing insurance online may seem like a quick and easy option, working with an insurance agency provides many benefits that cannot be matched. Personalized service, expert advice, and the ability to compare multiple options make it an excellent choice for anyone looking for quality coverage.
Is The Allen Thomas Group only available in Akron, Ohio, or can I access your services from other states? While our roots are in Akron, Ohio, our services are available across the United States. No matter where you're located, you can benefit from our expertise and commitment to exceptional service. Conclusion: Your Journey to Peace of Mind Begins Here The path to financial security and peace of mind often starts with a simple choice – the choice of a trusted insurance agency. The Allen Thomas Group, an independent insurance agency based in Akron, Ohio, stands as your unwavering partner in this journey. With us, you're not just another client; you're family.
Home and business policies offer similar commission levels. Independent insurance agents often attempt to bundle both car and home policies under one insurance company to maximize savings for customers, giving everyone involved a win-win solution. Bundling policies is mutually beneficial - customers receive significant discounts while agents also benefit. Successful independent insurance agents can make a comfortable living while serving their communities. The Big "I" is a national trade insurance federation consisting of over 50 independent state associations as well as the national association.
People needing cover would need to go to multiple providers in order to compare quotes, while when making claims they will likely need to deal directly with the insurer themselves. Independent insurance agents make shopping for insurance easier by providing quotes from multiple providers. Most people have questions or may prefer speaking to someone in person about their issues and concerns about coverage. Independent agents develop relationships with their customers while employing technology to better serve them in various ways. There can be benefits in starting your own independent insurance agency from scratch; however, there may also be drawbacks.
Your auto insurance rates are influenced by both factors that you can influence, like where you live, what type of vehicle you drive, and how much you purchase, and those that you cannot, like inflation or your age. In many states, accidents and DUI convictions can raise your rate significantly.
Insurance agents help insurance companies to generate new business through contacting customers and selling a variety of policies. They guide clients in choosing the best policy for their needs by explaining various policies.
A good driving record is one of the best ways you can keep your auto insurance rates down. Compare prices. Compare insurance rates before you purchase a vehicle. ... Ask for higher deductibles. Reduce the coverage for older vehicles. Purchase both your auto and homeowners coverage with the same insurance company. ... Keep a high credit score.
Paying your auto insurance premiums annually instead of monthly is generally the most cost-effective option. If you pay in monthly installments, providers incur processing fees. These costs are then added to your monthly payment. Insurers offer discounts if you pay your premiums in full. This helps them keep their costs low.
Local agents get to know their clients and can learn about changes they have experienced over the years. They offer advice, and they learn which companies provided satisfactory service to you in the past. Local insurance agents also have knowledge of specific risks in the area.
Insurance agents represent one or more insurance companies, and they sell their policies for a commission. An insurance agent will first work with you to determine your insurance needs and budget.