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What Is Your Insurance Agent Doing For You?

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Engaging in any business requires the support of professionals who can guide you through the complexities and challenges of your industry. One such professional is an agent. They play a critical role in ensuring your success. However, not all agents are created equal. It’s important to know what your agent should be doing for you to ensure that they are providing the best service possible.

Educating You

Knowledge is power, especially in business. Your agent should be a source of knowledge and education for you. They should be able to explain the different aspects of your business, the market, and the industry as a whole. It’s their responsibility to ensure that you are well-informed and understand the details of your business. This not only helps you make informed decisions but also increases your confidence in your business operations.

Connecting with You

Communication is key in any relationship, and the one between you and your agent is no different. Your agent should be proactive in reaching out to you, keeping you updated, and being responsive to your inquiries. They should be available to answer any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have. The more connected you are with your agent, the better they can serve your needs.

Reviewing Your Risk

Every business comes with its own set of risks, and it’s your agent’s job to help you understand and manage them. They should be able to review your business operations and identify potential risks that could affect your business. They should also offer solutions or strategies to mitigate these risks. By doing so, they can help protect your business and ensure its longevity.

Looking for the Right Combination of Coverage and Price

One of the critical roles of an agent is to help you find the right insurance coverage for your business at the best price. They should be able to navigate the complex insurance market and find a policy that fits your needs and budget. It’s their duty to ensure that your business is adequately protected without overpaying for coverage.

Responding to Questions

Your agent should always be ready and willing to answer your questions. No question is too small or too big for them to handle. Whether you’re asking about policy details, claims, or changes in the market, your agent should provide clear, accurate, and timely answers. This not only helps you understand your business better but also builds trust between you and your agent.

Providing Great Customer Service

Last but not least, your agent should provide exceptional customer service. They should be friendly, approachable, and professional. They should also be proactive in addressing your needs and resolving any issues that may arise. Great customer service not only makes your business interactions more pleasant but also fosters a strong, long-lasting relationship between you and your agent.

An agent plays a crucial role in the success of your business. They should be educating you, connecting with you, reviewing your risk, looking for the right combination of coverage and price, responding to questions, and providing excellent customer service. They should be a partner in your success and not just a service provider. So, make sure to choose your agent carefully and hold them to these standards.

Is Your Home Insured Correctly?

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How much would it cost you to rebuild your home if it was destroyed by a fire? It’s possible that reality is not what you expect. In the case of a covered loss, your homeowner’s policy may not cover the whole cost of rebuilding your house if it isn’t insured to its total replacement cost.

According to recent studies by major insurers, approximately 70% of houses in the United States, or two out of every three, are underinsured by at least 18%. This means that in the event of a total loss, such as a fire, the homeowner may be held liable for a large amount of the reconstruction costs. Working with an insurance professional to negotiate your home value issues will help you avoid misunderstandings and secure fair compensation in the case of a loss.

The market value (appraisal value) tax value of your home is entirely different from how much it would cost to rebuild your home in case it was completely damaged.

Replacement Cost Considerations

There are a number of factors that go into determining your home’s replacement value, including:

  • Type of construction quality
  • Materials used in the construction
  • Size of your home
  • Location
  • Your lot configuration
  • Are there any unique materials, like imported stone, marble, etc.?
  • The overall quality of construction, is your home average construction or high-end?
  • The average cost per square foot for new construction in your area.

The level of homeowner’s insurance you purchase is determined by your specific requirements. Insuring your home or other property for its full replacement value will help you prevent large out-of-pocket payments that could deplete your funds and cause you to change your estate plan. In addition, the contents of the home, other structures on the land, additional living expenditures, liability, and other factors should all be considered. Consult your agent about the right amount of coverage for your home and how to best arrange your policy.

Personal service combined with depth of knowledge in the insurance marketplace, and access to a wide range of carriers is the combination of factors that sets Oakwood Insurance apart from its competitors. We not only work in the north metro, but it’s also our home. We strive to support the vibrancy and growth of this community. We want it to thrive, and we want you to thrive. We will review your insurance coverage and help you understand what you have and ensure that it’s the best fit for your goals.

How To Select The Right Insurance Agent For Your Needs

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When it comes to protecting your financial assets like your home or auto, you can’t trust just anyone with your investment. Finding a trustworthy and trained insurance agent/broker could mean the difference between having enough coverage for your property following a catastrophic loss and being stuck with a large repair bill. An insurance agent/broker is a specialist who works on behalf of clients to find the best policy or insurance provider for their needs.

Consider the overall fit, not just the price, as the price can be deceptive. Be careful of someone who sells at low cost, generally, it means poor coverage. The same method you used to choose a doctor or dentist can be applied to choose an insurance broker. You want someone with a pleasant “bedside manner,” as it were.

Understand the differences in agents

Direct Writers vs. Independent Agents: There are two ways to obtain insurance coverage from a company. Direct writers are insurance companies that hire their own salespeople to write exclusively for them; they work for the company that employs them. Independent agents work for the insured rather than the insurance company. They do, however, have contracts with multiple insurance companies and can usually provide you with more options.

Signs It Is Time To Find A New Agent

  • They are responsive to calls and requests
  • You are the one that indicates all conversations
  • Requesting a quote is complicated
  • When a claim occurs they are nowhere to be found

Qualities of a Good Agent

  1. Trustworthy
  2. A good Listener
  3. The desire to teach you rather than sell you
  4. Someone who view insurance as a promise not a product
  5. A good agent will want to develop a relationship with you not just sell you then move on.

How To Start The Process

Testimonials: Yelp, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media platforms can help you determine whether or not a business provides good service. These websites can be useful, but meeting with an agent or broker in person is one of the greatest methods to determine whether or not they will take good care of you.

Personal Recommendations: Consult with your coworkers, people you trust, and your circle of friends. Asking a complete stranger is preferable to relying on advertisements or the yellow pages. People are more likely to refer others with whom they have had a good encounter.

Ask Questions

Consider this like an interview, where you are selecting a person and agency to represent you.

  • How long have they been in operation?
  • What are their certifications if any? Look for agents with advanced designations such as Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) or Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI).
  • Which companies do they represent?
  • How will the renewal processes work?
  • If you’re going to have a personal account manager?
  • How will they help if a claim occurs?
  • What experience do they have with risks like yours?
  • What they charge for services and/or how they are compensated?
  • Ask them to review your current policies and make recommendations?

Conduct interviews with the contenders to determine which one is the best fit for you. Selecting a broker with strong communication skills will allow you to find an agent who is easy to relate to and who can provide you with information you need to understand your risk and how to best manage it.

Oakwood is involved with numerous local, state, and national insurance associations and communities. The agency encourages employees to devote time to these endeavors. Oakwood’s approach is one of total risk management, encompassing the areas of property & liability insurance, automotive insurance, worker’s compensation, professional liability, individual or group accident & health insurance, life insurance, contract surety bonds, and personal insurance. Oakwood provides an in-depth range of insurance products and services to assist in securing our clients’ future. We are an agency committed to excellence, founded on the principle of integrity.

Are You Insured Correctly?

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Your home will be one of the most significant investments you will ever make, both economically and emotionally. Your family will spend countless hours there, among some of your most prized possessions. In the event of any misfortune, let us give you the peace of mind knowing that you are well protected.

Replacement Cost Coverage

You can insure your home and belongings for replacement cost, which pays the actual cost of replacing your home or possessions (no deduction for depreciation) up to the limit of your policy.

Suppose, for example, a fire destroys a 10-year-old TV set in your living room. If you have a replacement cost policy for the contents of your home, the insurance company will pay to replace the TV set with a new one. If you have an actual cash value policy, it will pay only a percentage of the cost of a new TV set.

Insuring expensive items with floaters/endorsements

There may be limits on how much coverage you get for expensive items such as jewelry, silverware and furs. Generally, there is a limit on jewelry for $1,000 to $2,000. You should ask your agent or look it up in your policy.

If the limits are too low, consider buying a special personal property floater or an endorsement. These allow you to insure these items individually or as a collection.

Additional living expenses after a disaster

This is a very important feature of a standard homeowner’s insurance policy. This pays the additional costs of temporarily living away from your home if you can’t live in it due to a fire, severe storm or other insured disaster. It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other living expenses incurred while your home is being rebuilt.

You should talk to your agent or company to make sure you know exactly how much coverage you have and how long the coverage will be in effect. In most cases, you can increase this coverage for an additional premium.

 

In 1989, Oakwood’s founder, Bruce L. Sogn, set out to establish a business that would give him the opportunity to serve the community and to fulfill a need in the marketplace. Today as an independent insurance agency, Oakwood does just that.

After researching the insurance industry, he found that by becoming an independent insurance agent, he could offer a comprehensive range of insurance products and services to his clients. By maintaining focus on competitive products, Oakwood has kept its commitment to service, professionalism, and the highest integrity.