If you’re like most Americans, it’s possible you don’t have enough money saved to rebuild your home or repair or buy a new auto should you experience a substantial loss. By purchasing an insurance policy, you’re transferring that risk of loss to the insurance company. This is the value of an insurance policy: transferring the unknown (risk of possible financial disaster) for the known (affordable annual premiums).

But don’t be fooled – not all insurance policies are created equal. It’s true, you can purchase a policy online at a low-cost in just a matter of minutes. You might save a little money, you might save a little time, and you don’t even need to speak to anyone! But what happens the first time you have a question about your coverage? Who do you talk to? And what if you have a loss? Are you sure the coverage you purchased on the Internet covers the diamond ring that gets lost on vacation? If not, the amount you’ll pay out of your own pocket to replace it far outweighs the couple hundred dollars you may have saved in insurance premium by purchasing cut-rate insurance online.

This is where you discover the value of your independent insurance agent. Let’s face it – most of us have trouble understanding our insurance policy. Your independent agent can help take the mystery out of your insurance coverage. Having a trusted independent agent as your insurance advisor means you get benefits you can’t get from any website. Expert advice and counseling, personalized attention and interaction, the ability to offer comprehensive protection to meet your unique needs, and excellent customer service are just a few of the ways independent agents bring value to the insurance transaction.

You also get the peace of mind that comes from knowing your agent is an advocate for you, not the insurance company. Independent agents work with multiple companies which allows them to “shop” for you to find the combination of coverage, price, and service that meets your needs.

So before you purchase a “value-priced” insurance policy, consider the value an independent insurance agent can provide. After all, peace of mind is priceless!