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Do you Need an Insurance Agent?

The benefits of navigating coverage with an insurance agent.

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September 9, 2024
5 min read

In the intricate world of insurance, understanding its nuances, requirements, and regulations can be a bit overwhelming. But fear not, in this article we’ll explore the importance of having an insurance agent by your side to alleviate stress when selecting a policy that aligns with your needs.

What Is an Insurance Agent?

They are insurance professionals with vast expertise and know-how ready to guide you toward the perfect protection while prioritizing your budget. They are masters in analyzing the best insurance options for you, and help you reach the ideal safety net by combining discounts, policies, and optional coverages.

Keep in mind that, when we refer to optional coverages we are talking about specific add-ons you can include in your Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Motorcycle, or even Personal Liability policy. They know every detail and trick behind these enhancements, and most importantly they are all about using them in your favor!

 

Types of Insurance Agents

When it comes to insurance, there are different types of agents available to assist you. Let’s understand your options:

 

  • Captive
    Captive agents work exclusively for a single insurance company, selling policies offered by that company alone. They have in-depth knowledge of the products and services only offered by their insurance company and have to keep their interests besides yours when offering insurance products.

 

  • Independent
    Independent agents work with multiple insurance companies, offering a wider range of coverage options. They know all about every available insurance product, no matter the company. These agents are the ones who can put your needs first. They do not respond to an insurance company but to their customers.

 

While both agents have their advantages, working with an independent one can help you get more unbiased advice. They can also offer a broader range of insurance options and fully focus on what you’re looking for. That, combined with their expertise, becomes the perfect match!

 

Benefits of Working With Independent Agents

Let’s discover the advantages of counting with an independent agent when getting insurance.

 

  • Local focus
    One of the key benefits of working with independent agents is their know-how about the specific neighborhood or location where you reside. They have firsthand information about the local needs, risks, and characteristics of the area.

    By leveraging their in-depth understanding of the local landscape, independent agents can provide you with comprehensive coverage that addresses the specific risks associated with your neighborhood, ensuring you have the right protection when you need it most. This localized expertise allows them to offer tailored insurance solutions that align with the unique requirements of your community.

 

  • Time-saving
    When you’re looking to protect your home or your vehicles, we cannot immediately give you an exact rate of how much your insurance will cost. Multiple factors may affect your policy whether you’re accessing a Homeowners, Condo, Mobile Home, Landlord, or Motorcycle, among other insurance products.

    These processes can take time, that’s when an agent comes in handy. As independent agents, they have the expertise and are fully aware of the considerations you need to take into account accelerating this workload significantly. Moreover, they’re experts when balancing the costs and benefits between the ideal coverage, and the key factors affecting your policy’s final price. They help you quickly understand and prioritize what you need, how much you are willing to pay for that, and what you should expect when filing a claim.

 

  • Customer-oriented
    Independent agents are known for their customer-oriented approach. Unlike captive agents who work for an insurance company, independent agents work for you. They prioritize your needs and preferences above all else.

    They are not bound by any specific insurer, allowing them to impartially assess your requirements and present you with a wide range of options from various insurance providers.

 

  • Licensed experts
    Independent agents undergo rigorous training and must meet specific licensing requirements to provide insurance services. This level of professionalism ensures that they’ll have a deep understanding of insurance policies, coverage options, and industry regulations.

    With their expertise, they can guide you through the complexities of insurance, explain policy terms and conditions, and help you make informed decisions.

 

Conclusion

 

All in all, contacting an agent is not only a smart choice but a great investment! They are key players in this industry, and by choosing them to help you navigate it, you’ll save money, have a better understanding of your options, and upgrade your protection.

At PSIC, we know how important professional guidance is when it comes to insurance. That’s why we only work with independent insurance agents who have the expertise to assess your needs and find the insurance policy that fits you best. Remember, you’re the one who’s going to pay every month your insurance policy, wouldn’t it be ideal if you make sure first that you’re getting the best out of it?

Ready to explore your insurance options?
Start a quote today and let us help you find the coverage that best suits your needs.

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Privacy Notice at Collection for CA employees

Last updated: June 27, 2023

  1. About this Notice. This privacy notice sets out how The McGraw Group of Affiliated Companies collects and uses personal information about you in compliance with our obligations under the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA). This Notice supplements all other privacy policies we have in place.

We take the privacy of our employees and applicants very seriously. Please read this notice carefully as it contains important information on the personal information that we collect, why we collect it, how long we keep it, and that it is not sold to third parties.

  1. Key Terms. The following key terms are used in this notice:
  • We, us, our. The McGraw Group of Affiliated Companies.
  • Personal information. Any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked with a particular individual.
  • Sensitive personal information. Personal information revealing an individual’s social security number, driver’s license and passport numbers, account numbers and credentials, precise geolocation, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, or union membership, personal information concerning a consumer’s health, sex life, or sexual orientation, contents of a consumer’s mail, email and text messages where the business is not the intended recipient, genetic data, and biometric information.
  • Biometric Information. An individual’s physiological, biological, or behavioral characteristics, including information pertaining to an individual’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), that is used or is intended to be used singly or in combination with each other or with other identifying data, to establish individual identity. Biometric information includes, but is not limited to, imagery of the iris, retina, fingerprint, face, hand, palm, vein patterns, and voice recordings, from which an identifier template, such as a faceprint, a minutiae template, or a voiceprint, can be extracted, and keystroke patterns or rhythms, gait patterns or rhythms, and sleep, health, or exercise data that contain identifying information.

Other terms used but not defined will have the meaning set forth in the CCPA, as amended by the CPRA, Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1798.100—1798.199.100, and accompanying regulations set forth under Cal. Code Regs. tit. 11, § 7000 et seq.

  1. Personal Information We Collect About You. We may collect and use the following categories of personal information about you:

Categories of Personal Information Collected

  • Identifiers: Name, alias, postal address, email address, phone number, account name, social security number, driver’s license number, passport number, or other similar identifiers.
  • Employment-related information such as your job title, salary, benefits information, emergency contact information, references, qualifications, skills and experience.
  • Personal information as defined in Customer Records law: Name, signature, social security number, physical characteristics or description, address, telephone number, passport number, driver’s license or state identification card number, education, professional license number employment history, bank account number, other financial information, medical information, and/or health insurance information.
  • Characteristics of protected classifications under California or federal law such as race, age, sex, familial status, and disability.
  • Audio, electronic, visual, or similar information such as photographs and call recordings
  • Background check information such as your criminal and credit history
  • Inferences are not drawn from any of the information identified above to create a profile reflecting your preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes.
  1. How and Why We Use Your Personal Information. We use your personal information for the following purposes:

Purposes for Collecting and Using Your Personal Information

Managing Human Resource Functions:

  • Recruiting, hiring, and onboarding
  • Performing background checks
  • Implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives
  • Training and career development
  • Assessing performance
  • Determining promotions, transfers, salary, awards, and bonuses
  • Managing disciplinary matters
  • Managing payroll and business expenses
  • Administering leave requests
  • Employee communications
  • Administration of benefits
  • Promoting employee health and safety

Conducting business operations:

  • Budgeting
  • Recordkeeping and reporting requirements
  • Managing infrastructure and company assets
  • Strategic planning
  • Maintaining security and risk management
  • Emergency response and business continuity
  • Conducting audits
  • Pursuing or defending legal or administrative claims

Monitoring:

  • Compliance
  • Use of company resources
  • Any other monitoring activities permitted by applicable laws

Compliance with:

  • Legal and regulatory obligations
  • Court or other government directives
  • Internal policies and procedures

Investigating:

  • Reports of wrongdoing
  • Policy violations
  • Internal complaints
  1. Whether Personal Information Will Be Sold or Shared. We do not sell or share the personal information of employees.
  2. How Long Your Personal Information Will Be Kept. We will keep your personal information for as long as is necessary while you are employed by us. Thereafter, we will keep your personal information:
  • To respond to any questions, complaints or claims made by you or on your behalf or;
  • To keep records required by law. In California, this is currently and generally a minimum of four (4) years.

We will not retain your personal information for longer than necessary for the purposes set out in this notice. Different retention periods apply for different types of personal information.

When it is no longer necessary to retain your personal information, we will delete or anonymize it.

  1. If you have any questions or concerns about this notice or the information we collect about you, please contact send an email to privacy@pacificspecialty.com.