Insurance agent: does the word ring a bell? It may be that the figure of a relative or a person who harasses you to meet your monthly sales goal comes to mind. Or do you remember someone rushing into a last-minute investment to save on income tax?
A good insurance agent is like a good doctor or lawyer with whom you should have a good relationship. You never know when you will be faced with an emergency that requires the help of an insurance agent. Selling you an insurance product is only a very small role for an agent to perform. As a professional who deals with insurance products, you can play a very important role in securing the future of yourself and your family, in planning important events in your life, such as the marriage of your child or planning for your retirement. The following are some of the important attributes to look for in an insurance agent:
1. Must be a good educator
The world of personal finance evolves day by day. Companies are courting clients with new investment products and sales gimmicks. A good insurance advisor is someone who should help you eliminate the clutter and determine what your exact financial goals are and recommend products that will help you achieve them. You need to be well informed about the new products available on the market, what their key features are, how safe or riskier they are, and what type of instruments they invest in, so that you can provide insightful advice.
2. Must be the seller of products for multiple insurance companies.
This way, they will be able to provide you with options and help you select the product that best suits your needs. If he sells products from an insurance company, then he would be more interested in you buying that rather than determining which one is best for you.
3. Level of customer service
Your insurance agent should facilitate your interaction with the insurer. It should make it easy for you to pay her premium, send you reminders when her premiums are due, and keep you updated on the status of your policy. In short, you must act as a single point of contact between you and the insurance company.
4. Help you in the claim process
The insurance claim is a very important process. You typically file a claim when you are in a state of distress, such as the death of a breadwinner, or a health insurance claim when someone in your family is hospitalized. Similarly, you would need a prompt settlement of your claim if you want to fund a planned event, such as your child’s education. A good insurance agent should help you with this process, assist you with paperwork, and promote your case to insurance company officials. He should be your advocate with the insurer, facilitating fast and adequate claims.
The selection of an insurance agent is more important than the selection of an insurance product itself, as a good agent will automatically help you plan your insurance portfolio. In addition to this, you need to spend quality time and effort planning your insurance portfolio with your adviser.