Insurance agents come in three types: independent agents, captive agents and direct agents. Independent agents and captive agents have office locations in your community. Direct agents are accessible via phone and email only.

So why choose an independent insurance agent over a captive or direct agent? Our team at McInnis Insurance Agency in Louisiana agrees that there are three main considerations that put independent agents ahead of the others.

Reason #1: We Work For You

Unlike agents who work directly for any single insurance company, we work for you. We carry contracts with multiple insurance companies, which allow us to offer you a variety of choices. It also means those companies have to fight for your business. If you ever run into an issue with your carrier, we can step in as your advocate to resolve the issue. When you need to make a claim, we will be there to help guide you through the process. The bottom line is that we will be on your side, fighting for you at all times.

Reason #2: We Care About Getting You the Best Protection

When it comes time to meet with a new or prospective customer, we take as much time as we need to get to know them and their needs. We don’t believe in selling policies to make money. We don’t believe in adding extra coverage where it isn’t needed. We believe our goal is to provide our clients with the proper insurance knowledge and policies so they are best protected against loss. Not only can we advise on what coverage you should seriously consider carrying, but we just as freely tell you when you’re carrying too much. We will also proactively review your account on an annual basis to ensure that your insurance adjusts to life’s changes.

Reason #3: We Are Invested in Our Community

Independent agencies are small businesses that are just as invested in the community as you are. We all live and work in the same area, our children go to school together, and our families attend the same church. We know what makes our community thrive and what it needs to be a fun, vibrant, safe place to live. This knowledge is fundamental to being able to offer truly tailored insurance policies that address the unique risks and needs of our area.

The relationship you build with an independent agent varies greatly from what you’ll get from working with an agent employed directly by an insurance company.

So what do you think? If you work with an independent agent, do you believe these three reasons are what provide the best value? Or are there other reasons you find more influential?