Five tips for choosing an insurance agent

Choosing an insurance agent in Canada sounds like a daunting task for anyone who’s never bought insurance before. However, when disaster strikes a good agent who’s found the perfect insurance for you can make all the difference in the world. No one wants to have an agent who’s mysteriously disappeared when you need him or her. Here’s how to find a great insurance agent no matter where you live in Canada.

1. Look for someone professional and honest

Perhaps the most important quality to look for in an agent is someone who’s professional and honest. While these qualities are important in general, they are especially valuable in the insurance world. Honest and professional insurance agents will work for you to ensure that you get the best plan for your needs and budget. Honest and professional agents also won’t push expensive products and services that you barely understand to pad their commission.

2. Find someone you like

Choosing an insurance agent that won’t oversell or engage in high-pressure tactics is hard. The key is to interviewing multiple agents to find someone good. You can even start by looking for insurance online, and going from there.

Make a list of questions to ask and visit a few agencies to find the right insurance agent for you. When you’re putting your financial health in someone’s hands, you need to make sure that you trust and like the right person.

3. Ask for recommendations

Whether you search online or ask your friends, get a second opinion on your choice of insurance agent. Lucky people will have a friend who insists that s/he has the best insurance agent. A recommendation like that is valuable to you as it could save hours of research and interviews. If you don’t have anyone to recommend an agent, ask in local discussion groups or on Yelp to make a short list of candidates.

4. Big or Small

While unimportant to many people, some find the size of an insurance agency to be a deciding factor in choosing an insurance agent. Small agencies might offer more personalized solutions or be cheaper than large agencies. On the flip side, small agencies likely won’t have 24-hour telephone lines to help you resolve your claims as quickly as possible.

One of the important elements though, is the number of companies the insurance agent represents. Some agents have exclusive contracts where they are only allowed to sell insurance policies from a certain company. Other agents have access to a wide array of product offerings from different companies. Price will play a factor in choosing whether to work with an exclusive insurance agent or not.

5. After the Decision

Once you’ve made up your mind about which insurance agent will represent you, re-examine your choice periodically. Insurance needs sometime change and it’s essential to ensure that your agent is still best able to represent your needs. If your insurance agent moves to another agency, visit the agency and see if you feel comfortable before renewing your policies.

Choosing an insurance agent in Canada doesn’t need to be complicated or stressful. With a due diligence on your part and a bit of patience, finding the perfect insurance agent is easy.