Every insurance agent you have ever met falls into one of two groups. A captive agent represents one company and sells that company's products. An independent broker represents you, and places your coverage with whichever carrier fits.
That difference sounds small until your renewal arrives. A captive agent can only offer you their company's new price. An independent broker can take the same policy to five or ten carriers and show you what each one would charge for the same coverage, or what better coverage would cost for the same money.
What "independent" changes in practice
- Choice at every renewal. Rates move every year, and no single carrier is the best fit forever. We re-shop when the market moves against you.
- A single point of contact. Auto with one carrier, home with another, umbrella with a third, and one phone number for all of it.
- Advocacy at claim time. The carrier decides the claim, but you are not alone in the conversation. We know who to call and what to ask for.
- Fit over formula. A carrier that loves a 1920s brick two-flat may not love a new-construction townhouse. We know which is which.
What it does not change
The policy is still issued by the carrier, on the carrier's terms. The claim is still adjusted by the carrier. Prices are filed with the state, so no broker has a secret discount. What we control is which carriers see your risk, how it is presented, and whether anyone is paying attention when things change.
If it has been more than two years since someone compared your coverage across carriers, that is usually reason enough to have the conversation. It takes about two minutes to start.