How to find an Insurance agency

Choose Your Company Well!

   There are so many choices when it comes to Insurance these days. There are several carriers, different types of agencies, not to mention, the number of different types of policies. 
I am going to concentrate on what to look at when choosing an agency today. 
The are 3 types of agencies out there: 
* Captive agencies only write for one carrier.
* Independent agencies write for several carriers.
* Direct agencies just have a phone number to call, no actual agent required.
How do you choose? 
First of all, ask your friends and family. Referrals are a great way to find services to meet your need. But make sure you make the decision based on what you are looking for. Your sister may love her insurance company, but it may not fit your needs.
You can also go to the TDI (Texas Department of Insurance) and research any insurance company in the state. You can find types of insurance the company writes, if it uses credit to determine premium, it's financial stability rating and the complaints against the company, among other information.  
   Why is all of this important?
* If they write several types of insurance, you could get bundle discounts for putting your home, auto, life, commercial insurance into one carrier.
* If the company uses credit to place you into a premium tiering, the pricing is greatly affected by your payment and insurance history. (good or bad...)
* The financial stability of a company will let you know how well they are able to take care of customers- If a company has an A rating, it is more likely to be able to pay out claims and keep pricing stable.
* If there are a high number of complaints against a company, you may want to check further into its Customer Service and Claims handling processes.
    Once you make sure the agency/company you are thinking about is a solid choice, make phone calls. Insurance is a big purchase. It should take care of you in bad times, when you need it most. That is what it is designed for.  Not all agents/agencies/carriers are built the same with the same motivation. Go with your gut. If you get a feeling someone isn't looking out for your bets interests, move on. If they are not explaining coverage to you so that you know what you are buying, move on. You should trust your agent/carrier to take care of you. That is what we are here for!
 Contact the Brockman Agency toll free 1-877-987-8683