Business Insurance: Why Use A Broker When You’re Buying Insurance?

By Floyd Arthur

These days, buying insurance seems like an easy do-it-yourself job. With so many companies offering customers the option of shopping online, many people think that the way to shop for the best coverage is to get a few online quotes and then pick the company that offers the best rates.

But there is more to buying insurance than meets the eye. To make a truly informed decision, you need to do a side-by-side comparison of more than just rates, and have a good understanding of the complex language of “insurance-speak.” That’s why having a licensed insurance broker as an ally is a great idea.

What An Insurance Broker Does

An insurance broker works for customers, not companies. A typical broker has affiliations with a number of insurers, each of which offers different types of policies at different rates. Insurance brokers are licensed professionals, trained to recognize your specific risk profile and choose policies that provide the appropriate amount of coverage to meet your needs.

An insurance broker can also guide you through the claims process and ensure a fast and fair settlement from your insurer should you experience a covered loss. If the insurance company disputes a claim, the broker acts as your advocate, using his knowledge and expertise to help resolve the issue quickly so you can get on with your life.

Buying Insurance Through An Insurance Broker

Buying insurance through a broker has a number of advantage over a DIY approach. These include:

• Choice -- Insurance brokers have relationships with many different insurance companies. Some of these don’t sell directly to consumers and some don’t have a presence online. Because brokers have no agenda other than to serve their client’s interests, they have no incentive to sell you anything but the best coverage for your individual needs.

• Price -- When you buy insurance through a broker, the insurance company pays him a commission (typically between 2 and 8 percent), so his advice is provided to you free of charge. Additionally, many insurance companies discount policies purchased through a broker, so you, the consumer, often come out ahead.
• Ease --Although the best way to meet with an insurance broker is face-to-face, most offer online contact forms and telephone consultations as well. Furthermore, brokers are far more personal in their approach to customer service than large insurance companies, so you can expect faster and better service if you need to make changes or additions to your your policy later on.
• Trust -- Trust is a hard commodity to measure, but most consumers feel that dealing with a broker offers them a feeling of security that they don’t get when they buy insurance on their own. Brokers are trained to explain options, offer advice, answer questions and guide you to the right choice -- which translates to greater satisfaction later on.

At Carmoon Group, we are experts in providing customized insurance solutions for individuals, families and businesses of all kinds. We work hard to ensure that every one of our clients gets the right coverage at the best possible price. Give us a call at 516-292-3780 to set up an appointment for your insurance review. We’re here Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. No time to call? Just fill out our online form and we will get back to you within one business day.