Captive vs Independent Agents

Posted on June 22, 2019August 31, 2023 by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Blog | Captive vs Independent Agents |

Written by Shield Insurance Agency on Apr 11, 2018

Captive vs Independent Agents

Hello Friends, Family, Clients, Potential Clients.

I am writing this Blog Entry today, because my Dad, Andy, the owner of the Agency, is asking me to. We believe that a website with Blog entries every so often will get more views than one that has none. We are always looking for ways to get our Business more Business, and if a Blog is one, then we will have a Blog!

I was struggling very hard on what to write about for this blog, as I am not exactly a person who just writes for fun by any means. I thought that I would tackle the thought process of buying from an Independent Agency, versus Buying from a Captive Agency. Not a lot of people know the difference, and not a lot of people even know there IS a difference.

First, let me explain the Difference between Independent Agency and a Captive Agency. A Captive Agency is an agency that can only sell one single Insurance Company Product. For example; State Farm, Farm Bureau, Farmers. These type of Captive Agents sell their Customers that specific companies Products, and then after the Policy renews, they renew with that Specific company. Year after year the customer stays with that specific company no matter what happens to the Price or coverage because that Captive Agency only sells that company. Captive Agencies have the Majority of Personal lines, customers, in the United States, but I personally think that is because of the Marketing these captive Agencies do.

An Independent Agency sells many company’s products to their customers. Shield Insurance is an Independent Agency, we sell 8 different Home and Auto Companies to our Customers. Here is the List; Wolverine Mutual Insurance, Fremont Insurance, State Auto Insurance, Foremost Specialty Insurance, Progressive Insurance, AAA Insurance, Safe-co Insurance, Grange Insurance. When an Independent Agency Writes a policy for a client, they quote all of their companies to figure out which one is going to give that client the lowest price, with the best coverage, and that is who they put the client with. After 6 months when the Policy Renews, the agent will evaluate the Price, and if there is any sort of Increase, the agent will check all of the Other companies they Represent, and see if any of them have a cheaper price, and if they do, they will present that to their Client, and save them money on the renewal. (Some agencies don’t check, but we do!).

This is the Process of a Captive Agency, Versus an Independent Agency. The Independent Agent Shops for you, Year after Year. The Captive agent, keeps you as a Client Year after year, while your Policies are stuck with one Company. Obviously, I am a bit bias being an Independent Agent, but just think about the Thought process, would someone want to go somewhere they can only receive the same quote, or would they want to go somewhere that shops for them, and find the best price for them. I have yet to find More Benefits to being with a Captive Agency, versus an Independent Agency, but if anyone knows any, feel free to email me about it! Thanks for reading my Blog Entry today Folks, Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

submitted by TJ

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O’ Christmas Tree Don’t Burn Down On Me!

Posted on June 22, 2019August 29, 2021 by Shield Insurance Agency

‘Tis the season, the busy Christmas season. All of us are busy decorating our homes, buying gifts, and preparing to spend time with family and friends.

For some of us, myself included, decorating our homes for the Christmas season is a longstanding tradition. Based on data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), an estimated 240 home fires involving Christmas trees and another 150 home fires involving holiday lights and other decorative lighting occur each year. Together, these fires result in 21 deaths and $25.2 million in direct property damage.

Here are some tips to protect your Christmas Tree:

Keep the tree watered
Choose a freshly cut tree. You can tell if the tree has been cut for a long time by bouncing the trunk on the ground. If needles fall off the tree, it’s been sitting too long and will be a fire hazard.
Do not place your tree near a heat register or heat source like a fireplace.
Do not block doorways or exits.
Turn the lights off when you leave or go to bed.
Test the lights to be sure they are all working to prevent and electrical short.
Do not overload your electrical outlets.
Do not connect more than 3 strands of lights together, unless the package says that it is safe.
If you have an artificial tree, choose one that is fire resistant. This may not always mean the tree can not catch fire, but if it does, it will be more easily extinguished.

Taking just a few extra steps and precautions will help protect your home and family this time of year. We hope that you all have a safe and blessed Christmas Season!

Check Out Shield’s Recent Blogs

Unveiling the Secrets to Getting the Best Coverage for Your RV

Posted on June 22, 2019August 14, 2023 by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Blog | Recreation Vehicle | Start A Quote Today!

ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, etc… All of these recreational vehicles can be risky to operate for the riders, passengers, and those around them. They are also very fun and one of the perks of living in a state where it snows!!! Thankfully, you can insure these recreation vehicles as you would an automobile.

Just like an auto insurance policy, on a recreational vehicle policy, you would receive:

Bodily Injury Liability
Uninsured/Underinsured motorist
Either Medical pay or Medical benefits coverage
Physical damage (comprehensive & collision) — optional
Roadside – optional
Carried contents and Accessories – optional

A lot of these coverages are only available on an ATV or RV policy. For instance, if you decide to not insure your snowmobile in the summer with at least storage coverage, and the garage that it is in burns down, your homeowner’s policy will not cover it! OR, what if you or your passenger are hurt after having an accident on your ATV, you may have NO coverage for those medical bills!

Recreational vehicles aren’t always covered

Did you know that not every insurance company will allow you to insure recreational vehicles such as ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, etc… on your homeowner’s policy? Did you also know that coverage on a homeowner’s policy is very much lacking in comparison to a separate ATV/RV policy?

Lately, I have been hearing that quite a few banks have been suggesting clients insure their newly purchased recreational vehicles on their homeowner’s policy so they don’t have to purchase another separate policy. Not only may that person be out of luck depending on the company, but most companies only offer liability coverage and/or physical damage coverage. No roadside, no uninsured/underinsured motorist, no medical coverage if injured in an accident, and there tend to be more exclusions than your typical ATV/RV policy.

Generally speaking, depending on driving history and what type of recreational vehicle is owned, insurance policies for them tend to run cheaper and they are always worth the money.

It can get confusing, but give our office a call. We are here to help and will make it all seem pretty simple. 616.896.4600