Personal Insurance Links

Personal Insurance Quotation

It would be simple for us to have an on-line quoting system, but we believe the purchasing of insurance requires advice from a professional agent, C.P.A., or attorney. Rarely does it cost more to insure through an independent agent. Your insurance should be structured to protect your assets. We think it is a good practice to ask you to call us to discuss your insurance before we give you quotations.

Because most cars and homes are financed, and lenders require specific coverage, insurance has tended to become a commodity. When you get a quote on personal insurance, it is very difficult to get an “apple to apples” quote; the reason being that not all policies are the same. In addition, most quotes are for basic coverage. We have all heard the commercial that says, “You can save up to15% on car insurance through….” You can also save a bunch of money if you self-insurance. The problem is that you – not an insurance company - have to pay for a loss.

Let me give you some examples:

Most Homeowners policies are written on a standard form, which means basic coverages. This meets the mortgage company’s requirements because they are not concerned with your personal property. If something happens to your home, there is very broad coverage on this standard form, but if you loose a camera overboard on a ferryboat, there is no coverage on this form. We prefer to write the broader "all-risk" coverage on personal property because if a loss is not covered, it can get very expensive for you. Of course these broader forms of Homeowners policies cost a little more, but if the purpose of insurance is to cover catastrophic loss, then it may be worth it. The same is true of car insurance, but not as noticeable.

Liability insurance on both your cars and home is without doubt the weakest part of most people’s insurance programs. The fundamental reason you have insurance is to protect your assets. If there is a lawsuit against you, you need to have adequate liability coverage. How much? That is something you need to discuss with an insurance agent. They can guide you based on your assets.

Buying insurance on without guideance is similar to buying a car; you don’t usually have an advocate when you go to the car dealer or an insurance company. There are times when it makes sense to have professional advice.