Look, dealing with insurance is a total nightmare. I spent 3 years working for an agency before going independent, and let me tell you – a good broker changes everything. Not because we’re magical, but because this system is absolutely broken without someone who knows the inside tricks.
Here’s the deal – agents work for ONE company. State Farm, Allstate, whoever. Brokers? We work for YOU. Huge difference. We don’t care which company wins your business because we can sell them all. Sarah Thompson (owns that cute little coffee shop in Denver) told me last month: “Wasted years dealing with direct companies. My broker saved us 30% AND got us better coverage. Found stuff we never heard of.”
Think about it – would you trust financial advice from someone who can only sell one company’s products? Hell no. Brokers show you options across the whole market. No loyalty to any carrier means we can actually tell you when something sucks.
Everyone’s situation is different. Those online quotes? They’re garbage for anything complicated. We dig into what YOU actually need.
For businesses, we look at how you operate, what could get you sued, property values, weird industry stuff. For regular folks, we consider your house, family stuff, health issues, and where you want to be in 10 years to figure out what needs protecting.
I’ve got relationships with 47 different insurance companies. Most people know maybe 5-6 big names. Some of my best carriers for tough situations? You’ve never even heard of them.
This matters huge when you need something weird covered or have issues that make you hard to insure. I know which companies actually like certain risks and can call in favors when needed.
Everyone thinks brokers cost extra. Total myth. We save clients money because:
Mike Rodriguez (broker over in Phoenix) put it best: “Found a new client yesterday paying double what they should. Had them set up better by lunch with 40% savings. They thought I was a wizard.”
God, the paperwork in this industry. Forms, quotes, comparing 80-page policies with microscopic differences, industry terms nobody understands… it’s ridiculous.
We deal with all that crap. We get your info, chase quotes, translate everything to English, and handle the applications. You just make decisions based on clear options.
Plus we stick around! Questions six months later? Policy changes when you buy that new car? Renewal shopping? That’s all part of what we do.
Filing claims without help is the absolute worst. You’re already dealing with whatever bad thing happened, and now you’ve got to fight a company designed to pay as little as possible.
We go to bat for you:
After a claim is when most clients tell me “ok NOW I get why you’re worth it.” Had a guy last summer with major water damage – insurance tried offering $18k when repairs were $52k. We got him the full amount after some, let’s say, strongly worded conversations.
Insurance regulations are a mess and change constantly. What’s required varies by state and industry, and the penalties for screwing up can be huge.
We stay on top of this boring-but-important stuff, especially for businesses dealing with workers’ comp, professional liability, or industry requirements. One missed endorsement can be the difference between coverage and bankruptcy.
Most good brokers specialize. I focus on construction and manufacturing because I understand the unique risks. Other brokers specialize in:
James Wilson runs a mid-size construction company and told me: “My broker caught coverage gaps in subcontractor agreements that could’ve bankrupted us. His construction knowledge paid for itself the first month.”
For this relationship to work right:
Tell us the whole truth. That DUI from 3 years ago? Better we know now than when a claim gets denied.
Ask questions! Good brokers love explaining complicated stuff. If you don’t understand something, that’s on us, not you.
Stop thinking cheapest is best. Focus on value and actual protection, not just the lowest premium.
Meet yearly to review stuff. Life changes, business changes, insurance needs change.
Let us help beyond just policies. Many of us offer risk advice, claims help, compliance guidance, and other stuff that makes your life easier.
Yeah, those online quote sites are convenient. But algorithms don’t understand nuance, can’t think creatively about solutions, and definitely don’t go to bat for you.
A good broker notices when you mention your kid is heading to college soon and thinks “better adjust that auto policy.” We see you bought new equipment and think about business interruption limits. Software just doesn’t do that.
Not all brokers are created equal. Some are just order-takers. When choosing:
The right person feels like a trusted advisor, not a pushy salesperson. They should be thinking about your long-term protection.
Insurance is getting more complicated every year, and the stakes for getting it wrong keep rising. Brokers don’t just sell policies – we build protection that actually works for your specific situation.
Whether you’re protecting your family, your business, or planning for what’s next, having a good broker gives you an insider on your side. We help build resilience against whatever life throws at you next.
When you’re ready for insurance that actually makes sense, give the team at Number1Ins.com a call. Been in this business 20+ years and we’ve seen it all.
