I believe I have struck a huge nerve in the industry today. It’s quite interesting to see the feedback. Of course, this is an “insurance journal” so I should have expected no less, but what is important in response to you, is that I do handle my own life and make my own choices. One thing that is very difficult to topple however, is BIG business. Insurance is part and parcel of that. You are an expert in your industry. You rely on facts that make you knowledgeable — as a layperson, I depend on you to guide me in what I need or do not need, with regard to insurance. Much like one would seek the guidance of a surgeon, I would never conduct surgery on myself, because I “read information and educated myself on it”. In the same manner, I expect an agent to guide me in a purchase. That is not done OVER AND OVER. The coast is a prime example. EDUCATE YOUR CUSTOMERS — and when Florida suffers, as Mississippi did, I will be looking with interest, at the postings on this website. Better hope it doesn’t happen to you all — because it is a painful process. DO I know everything, as stated before — no, but it was the industries responsibility to educate people on what they needed. For large insurance companies, profits were more important than full and open disclosure. We all generally abide by professional advice — so many of us did not get it! If you all are agents — trust me, the last thing you want to do, is look down the street at “NOTHING” and have to explain to your customers, why they’re not covered! “Howdy good neighbor” just won’t cut it!
let’s put this in perspective on a frame that everyone understands:
we all purch insurance and in many states we choose or possibly select rejected um coverage because we want to save $$$; yet when the event comes, we don’t have coverage to protect ourselves or anyone else in the vehicle. as a counselor of insurance i remind folks about this coverage and yet, they still reject if possible.
now take a look at flood insurance:
same thing, we can talk all we want and knowing be w/in 100 mis of the waterfront, we need to always have flood insurance. problem exists past those even. most cases, you’ll find that folks want to save money but don’t see the hindsight until it hits. as an agent we try to let folks know what they have or be knowledgeable about what could happen. people will always try to say, it won’t happen to me. just like that article i was reading who said, why should i wear a seatbelt or a helmet?
So what you are saying is that the agent you chose did not help you. If you had an agent. Can you believe? Not everyone believes in the importance of an agent like you do BDJS5. Some people buy it over the phone, online and off the back of a matchbook. THOSE FOLKS GOT EXACTLY WHAT THEY PAID FOR. They either knew what they wanted and didnt need an agent, or were looking for the cheapest and never called an agent. It may surprise you but some of us understand this industry very well. When shopping for insurance, people will call 2.3 insurance companies before making their decision. Who do they call? Whoever is advertising the most at the time. Clients do NOT check consumer reports for claim satisfaction, they do NOT call the better business bureau or commissioner to see who is good and who is not, and the absence of questions at policy time is painful, no idiotic. But they always ask that most important question, the most important of all – HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME?!? Billions of dollars of windfall profit? Insurers have lost money 7 out of the last 11 years on property and casualty insurance, as an industry. Learn your facts before you reveal how little you know. One thing I have learned after 16 years in this industry. Most people in this business are talented, educated, hard working, good hearted people. And for me anyway, I won’t abide a fool like you throwing bombs around. Trash your own industry, whatever that may be. But don’t pop off about ours because you left yourself unprepared.
My last posting — think about what I have said. It is YOUR industry — fix it! My Congressman, Gene Taylor, said it best about insurance company executives — go read his comments. Do you really want to work for guys like those execs?
My last posting as you are so off base its scary. We offer flood coverage (even put nice stickers on the policies) to our customers “Buy flood insurance”. The response is usually the same as your’s “I don’t live in a flood zone” so I don’t need it as it will never flood. With the power of the internet and other resources it is so easy to look up your flood zone (again, we all live in a flood zone). The one I would like to talk to is your local agent, oh I forgot, you bought from a company with no one local that knows the area. I guess that about says it all because you did not rely on someone whose business it is to help you protect you and your belongings. It is obvious that your choice actually was to go it on your own and not have someone who works for their clients and not just the company. Oh well, like my 86 year old mother says “Live, learn, die and forget it all”.
No — your industry left me unprepared — it needs some professionalism. In terms of facts, they are like statistics — everyone has their own they like to quote. Interesting, my insurance company TOUTED record profits in both 2005 and 2006.
I lied, I’m going to post another comment. BDJS5 do you or don’t you have a local agent that knows your area? I have lived (50 years) and worked my entire career (28 years)in the same town. Again, we always offer flood coverage and never tell anyone they won’t need it, they must make their own decision just like you did. But I would love to hear what industry you worked in and that you must believe that all profit must be bad. If the highest profit an industry made was .000001% then I guess .00001% must then be a record! Again, go look at the most profitable industries in the nation and go after the 12-14 others that are in front of insurance, then you can talk with some credibility.
Bdjs5, How do you know the admiral had flood coverage? How do you know you are overinsured? How do you know insurance is required to buy a house? How do you know the insurance industry left you unprepared? How do you know that was your last post?
Spoke with my client for one hour. We talked about his cars, his home, life insurance. Then his family. At ten another client called and now I am out the door to drive 40 miles to look at his house, just to make sure I know EXACTLY what he has, so we can better understand his needs. Along the way I will look at three other houses we insure, for the same reason. If you are not getting that kind of service, and want it, or need it, then its up to you to go get it. Its out there, if you really want it. But really, most DON’T WANT IT. If they did, the Geicos, the progressives, the Hartfords, would be out of business. Most people want the cheapest, and they get what they want and deserve. I like helping my clients, and not surprisingly I don’t lose very many (that’s called a low lapse/cancellation rate BDJS5, and its a good thing). What also helps me is that I help the knuckleheads find an insurer that suits them best (the Geicos, progressives, hartfords). I try to separate myself from those that are not a good fit because, even when my job is done correctly, its still stressful. And that is why everyone here is handing you your A$$ on a platter. We know that in spite of our best efforts, the weak link in the relationship is almost always you.
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I believe I have struck a huge nerve in the industry today. It’s quite interesting to see the feedback. Of course, this is an “insurance journal” so I should have expected no less, but what is important in response to you, is that I do handle my own life and make my own choices. One thing that is very difficult to topple however, is BIG business. Insurance is part and parcel of that. You are an expert in your industry. You rely on facts that make you knowledgeable — as a layperson, I depend on you to guide me in what I need or do not need, with regard to insurance. Much like one would seek the guidance of a surgeon, I would never conduct surgery on myself, because I “read information and educated myself on it”. In the same manner, I expect an agent to guide me in a purchase. That is not done OVER AND OVER. The coast is a prime example. EDUCATE YOUR CUSTOMERS — and when Florida suffers, as Mississippi did, I will be looking with interest, at the postings on this website. Better hope it doesn’t happen to you all — because it is a painful process. DO I know everything, as stated before — no, but it was the industries responsibility to educate people on what they needed. For large insurance companies, profits were more important than full and open disclosure. We all generally abide by professional advice — so many of us did not get it! If you all are agents — trust me, the last thing you want to do, is look down the street at “NOTHING” and have to explain to your customers, why they’re not covered! “Howdy good neighbor” just won’t cut it!
let’s put this in perspective on a frame that everyone understands:
we all purch insurance and in many states we choose or possibly select rejected um coverage because we want to save $$$; yet when the event comes, we don’t have coverage to protect ourselves or anyone else in the vehicle. as a counselor of insurance i remind folks about this coverage and yet, they still reject if possible.
now take a look at flood insurance:
same thing, we can talk all we want and knowing be w/in 100 mis of the waterfront, we need to always have flood insurance. problem exists past those even. most cases, you’ll find that folks want to save money but don’t see the hindsight until it hits. as an agent we try to let folks know what they have or be knowledgeable about what could happen. people will always try to say, it won’t happen to me. just like that article i was reading who said, why should i wear a seatbelt or a helmet?
Congratulations! I have found the first honest man in this industry — an insurance agent who wouldn’t sell me insurance! That’s a first!
So what you are saying is that the agent you chose did not help you. If you had an agent. Can you believe? Not everyone believes in the importance of an agent like you do BDJS5. Some people buy it over the phone, online and off the back of a matchbook. THOSE FOLKS GOT EXACTLY WHAT THEY PAID FOR. They either knew what they wanted and didnt need an agent, or were looking for the cheapest and never called an agent. It may surprise you but some of us understand this industry very well. When shopping for insurance, people will call 2.3 insurance companies before making their decision. Who do they call? Whoever is advertising the most at the time. Clients do NOT check consumer reports for claim satisfaction, they do NOT call the better business bureau or commissioner to see who is good and who is not, and the absence of questions at policy time is painful, no idiotic. But they always ask that most important question, the most important of all – HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME?!? Billions of dollars of windfall profit? Insurers have lost money 7 out of the last 11 years on property and casualty insurance, as an industry. Learn your facts before you reveal how little you know. One thing I have learned after 16 years in this industry. Most people in this business are talented, educated, hard working, good hearted people. And for me anyway, I won’t abide a fool like you throwing bombs around. Trash your own industry, whatever that may be. But don’t pop off about ours because you left yourself unprepared.
My last posting — think about what I have said. It is YOUR industry — fix it! My Congressman, Gene Taylor, said it best about insurance company executives — go read his comments. Do you really want to work for guys like those execs?
My last posting as you are so off base its scary. We offer flood coverage (even put nice stickers on the policies) to our customers “Buy flood insurance”. The response is usually the same as your’s “I don’t live in a flood zone” so I don’t need it as it will never flood. With the power of the internet and other resources it is so easy to look up your flood zone (again, we all live in a flood zone). The one I would like to talk to is your local agent, oh I forgot, you bought from a company with no one local that knows the area. I guess that about says it all because you did not rely on someone whose business it is to help you protect you and your belongings. It is obvious that your choice actually was to go it on your own and not have someone who works for their clients and not just the company. Oh well, like my 86 year old mother says “Live, learn, die and forget it all”.
No — your industry left me unprepared — it needs some professionalism. In terms of facts, they are like statistics — everyone has their own they like to quote. Interesting, my insurance company TOUTED record profits in both 2005 and 2006.
I lied, I’m going to post another comment. BDJS5 do you or don’t you have a local agent that knows your area? I have lived (50 years) and worked my entire career (28 years)in the same town. Again, we always offer flood coverage and never tell anyone they won’t need it, they must make their own decision just like you did. But I would love to hear what industry you worked in and that you must believe that all profit must be bad. If the highest profit an industry made was .000001% then I guess .00001% must then be a record! Again, go look at the most profitable industries in the nation and go after the 12-14 others that are in front of insurance, then you can talk with some credibility.
Bdjs5, How do you know the admiral had flood coverage? How do you know you are overinsured? How do you know insurance is required to buy a house? How do you know the insurance industry left you unprepared? How do you know that was your last post?
Spoke with my client for one hour. We talked about his cars, his home, life insurance. Then his family. At ten another client called and now I am out the door to drive 40 miles to look at his house, just to make sure I know EXACTLY what he has, so we can better understand his needs. Along the way I will look at three other houses we insure, for the same reason. If you are not getting that kind of service, and want it, or need it, then its up to you to go get it. Its out there, if you really want it. But really, most DON’T WANT IT. If they did, the Geicos, the progressives, the Hartfords, would be out of business. Most people want the cheapest, and they get what they want and deserve. I like helping my clients, and not surprisingly I don’t lose very many (that’s called a low lapse/cancellation rate BDJS5, and its a good thing). What also helps me is that I help the knuckleheads find an insurer that suits them best (the Geicos, progressives, hartfords). I try to separate myself from those that are not a good fit because, even when my job is done correctly, its still stressful. And that is why everyone here is handing you your A$$ on a platter. We know that in spite of our best efforts, the weak link in the relationship is almost always you.