The insurance industry has a reputation for having confusing, small print and elusive agents that disappear once you sign on the dotted line. I’ve heard the complaint many times before, “I was more confused after leaving a meeting with my insurance agent than before I arrived!” Don't let that be you!
Sometimes it seems like people view getting insurance as a check box that once marked, can be forgotten. That is, of course until there is a claim to file. Many consumers avoid asking about their coverage because they are worried that the result will be a higher premium. The perceived notion of “If I don’t think about it, it will go away” is prominent in the minds of today’s policyholders. The key to making insurance work for you – whether it is home, auto, lake, farm, or life, is to ask the right questions, choose an insurance firm and agent that will be your advocate, and stay informed about your coverage.
In today’s blog post, we will cover 4 of the most frequently asked questions we receive at J.R. Schultz Agency. Our promise as your agent is to be transparent and do everything in our power to protect you from the risk of everyday life.
1. How do I find the right agent/agency for me?
When faced with finding a new insurance agency and agent, consumers often feel like they don’t know where to start. What should they look for? Which questions should they ask? There are so many different options, promotions, and entertaining ads, it’s hard to know when you are truly comparing apples to apples. But when you consider what you’re shopping for – protection – don’t you think you’d want to get to know your agent in person?
When faced with finding a new insurance agency and agent, consumers often feel like they don’t know where to start. What should they look for? Which questions should they ask? There are so many different options, promotions, and entertaining ads, it’s hard to know when you are truly comparing apples to apples. But when you consider what you’re shopping for – protection – don’t you think you’d want to get to know your agent in person?
First and foremost, your agent should be willing to sit down with you face to face and discuss your coverage and your individual situation. As uncomfortable as it may be to think about the risks of life, these conversations are vital to selecting the right agency, agent, and coverage. Having these discussions means that you need to be willing to answer the hard questions as well. Yes, these conversations will get personal, but we want to get to know you, to create a customized plan that will protect your family, and to make certain that in the event that something happens, you’re covered.
All in all, you want to find an agency that you believe in, an agent that you trust, and a policy that is in your budget but most importantly, offers you the highest and best protection.
2. What’s the best way to determine how much insurance coverage I need?
This is where those personal, in-depth conversations with your insurance agent come in. Your agent needs to be asking you the right questions in order to create a customized plan for your unique needs. There are critical discussions you need to have with your family and your agent to help minimize your risk. For example, from our experience at J.R. Schultz Agency, the biggest obstacle of life insurance is that everyone understands they need it – it’s simply a matter of whether or not they will take the steps to do something about it, or even more specifically, be willing to think about it.
This is where those personal, in-depth conversations with your insurance agent come in. Your agent needs to be asking you the right questions in order to create a customized plan for your unique needs. There are critical discussions you need to have with your family and your agent to help minimize your risk. For example, from our experience at J.R. Schultz Agency, the biggest obstacle of life insurance is that everyone understands they need it – it’s simply a matter of whether or not they will take the steps to do something about it, or even more specifically, be willing to think about it.
Another challenge when it comes to insurance is that as a society, we are designed to think that insurance should be cheaper. With all of the 15%-off ads, we are groomed to ask, “Well what’s the cheapest coverage I can get?” Instead, we should be asking, “What kind of coverage am I really getting?” The truth is, at the end of the day, if something bad happens, consumers will come to their agents and ask them “Did you do it right?” They won’t say, “I’m sure glad I lowered my coverage so I could get a lower price.” The thing to remember is that if the price is going down, something is changing, make sure you know what "it" is. In short, make sure you clearly understand what you are paying for and what you are getting in return.
3. What should I do if I need to file a claim? (How quickly do I need to act?)
Having an insurance plan you are confident in can give you peace of mind that you and your family are protected. If something happens – no matter what it is – you should file your claim promptly. Contact your agent right away – this means knowing their number and also knowing the number for your insurance agency’s 24/7 call center if your agent is not available. It’s never too soon to contact your agent.
Having an insurance plan you are confident in can give you peace of mind that you and your family are protected. If something happens – no matter what it is – you should file your claim promptly. Contact your agent right away – this means knowing their number and also knowing the number for your insurance agency’s 24/7 call center if your agent is not available. It’s never too soon to contact your agent.
4. How often should I be meeting with my agent?
While every agent is different, we recommend meeting with your agent anytime there is a major life event/change. That means getting married, having a baby, a death in the family, buying a home, etc. This will help make sure that your plans are up to date, and you have the coverage you need. If things are staying pretty constant in your life, the rule of thumb is to meet with your agent at least every two years.
While every agent is different, we recommend meeting with your agent anytime there is a major life event/change. That means getting married, having a baby, a death in the family, buying a home, etc. This will help make sure that your plans are up to date, and you have the coverage you need. If things are staying pretty constant in your life, the rule of thumb is to meet with your agent at least every two years.
Our goal at J.R. Schultz Agency is to keep you informed and provide confidence in your insurance plan. We are here to be your advocate!
Have other questions? Share them with us and we may cover the answers in a future blog post! If you’d like to set up a meeting with us, feel free to contact us today.
