Independent Agents: Why Your Insurance Matters in New Hampshire

We Have Feelings Too

It’s tough working in a profession where the very people you are trying to help, view you as a manifestation of greed and troublemaking.  So why do we do it?  Well, it is all about the customers.  There is nothing that matters more to an independent insurance agent than his/her clients.  Our clients keep us in business, they brighten or dampen our days and they give us something to do when they need our assistance and expertise. 

Why do we care so much?

Our clients are the most valuable part of our business, but why?  Is it because we really are a money-driven wolf pack, out for everything you have, down to the last piece of lint in your pockets?  Contrary to popular belief, this is not the case.  Insurance is like anthropology:  Agents help to assess your need for insurance based on your personal level of exposure to risks found in day-today life.  Independent Agents possess the knowledge and training to assist our friends, families and communities in protecting themselves from unavoidable financial losses.  Besides helping our clients to secure the proper coverage to protect their financial assets, we also work to ensure you are getting the most competitive price on said insurance.  Independent agents generally represent multiple insurance providers, giving us the ability to shop for and compare products and rates in the marketplace, that will best fit our clients’ needs. 

Would you Rather…?  A Quick Example

If you still think that insurance is a scam, ponder this:  In the State of New Hampshire, car insurance is not required by law.  And so in light of our State motto “Live Free or Die,” citizens have the option to elect whether they wish to have coverage or not.  So let’s say that you’ve elected not to have car insurance and you are driving home from work.  You’re being mindful of the other drivers on the road, aware of your surroundings, when you hear one of your favorite songs playing on the radio.  So you look down for a split second to turn up the volume, not realizing that traffic has come to a dead stop.  Immediately you slam on your brakes but it is too late.  You collide with the car in front of you, which pushes into the next car, and now you’ve got a three vehicle accident that occurred in a matter of seconds. 

Problem #1:  Because you rear ended the vehicle in front of you, you are at fault for the accident, regardless of whether you slammed on your breaks to prevent the crash.

Problem #2:  You have caused some bodily injury to the driver of the vehicle you collided with, and the claim is going to be much more significant than just property damage payouts.

Problem #3:  You don’t have insurance.  To pay for the damages to the other two vehicles, the other two drivers’ insurance companies are going to use the coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorists Bodily Injury limits for medical payments and collision coverage for property damages.  But it doesn’t stop there.  Insurance companies go through a process called “subrogation” when claims are paid out. What this means is that after they (the first party insurance company) have paid the agreed upon amount to the insured (second party), a legal team would usually go to the at fault driver’s insurance company (third-party) to have them reimburse the money that was paid out to the first party’s insured.  This is why premiums increase when you have an accident.  Unfortunately, you do not have insurance, so the insurance company comes to you looking for money to pay out damages.  If you make an agreement with the claimant’s insurance company to pay out all of the damages owed, then you are permitted to keep your license.  However, if you elect not to or cannot pay out the damages, the claimant’s insurance company is obligated to report the incident to the State of New Hampshire, after which time you must get an SR-22, or a certificate showing that you have insurance (See our postings on SR-22′s).  Without this certificate, your license will be suspended until you have acquired proper coverage.

Best if you Do, Damned if you Don’t

At this point, it would seem that it is almost better to have insurance than not.  And you would be right.  Independent insurance agents are in business to help you protect yourself from uncertainty.  You never know when tragedy may strike.  It is your responsibility to make sure that you are taken care of so that you don’t get stuck with thousands of dollars in payments to an insurance company, and it is our responsibility to make sure that you are getting the best coverage that fits your lifestyle and your budget.  We just want to make sure that you are protected!  So don’t be scared when an agent offers you an insurance product; we are just spreading the word so that you will know in the back of your mind that should anything ever happen to you, there is someone watching over you to protect yourself, your finances, your family and your property.

Call us today @(603)645-8600 to see how we can help to reduce financial risk, or visit us online @ www.counterpointinsurance.com.

Counterpoint Insurance:  Helping you make informed decisions for your future.  Relax, we’ve got you covered.

New Hampshire: Car Insurance for Cavemen?

The Ever-Expanding Automobile Insurance Market

The insurance industry is booming with direct writing and marketing.  As technology changes, so does the marketplace, and many insurance companies are using internet and phone-based business to sell car insurance to consumers.  But at what cost?  Is it really better to receive this mandated coverage as quickly and cheaply as possible without any direct intervention from an insurance agent?

You hear advertisements all the time from Esurance and GEICO; their selling point is that they can save you money in a timely manner.  But what you don’t hear is what their agents can do for you.  Companies like State Farm and Allstate have some semblance of providing more than just cost-effective services, but those companies are so large, you never know where in the mix you will fall.  Not to say that these companies should be discredited for the work that they do and the products they sell, but one has to wonder:  If they can afford all of these advertisements and new offices, what does that leave for the client?  And if there are not any offices for these internet-based businesses, then where is the personality in the product?  How are they going to make you feel that you are making the right decision for your protection, affordability aside?

Putting a Face on it:  Value and Auto Policies

It is good to promote competition, and the great thing about the marketplace today is that the consumer has a choice to buy their insurance from anyone they choose.  However, therein lies a problem.  There are so many agencies in New Hampshire alone that make a living off of selling auto policies and personal insurance.  The problem with the larger companies is that they are tapping that particular market dry, taking away opportunities for small businesses because the large companies have the assets to create a name for themselves in the eyes of the consumer through various distribution channels.  You may assume that because you saw that they had a commercial on the television that their product must be worth while.  But most of these big names only write insurance for themselves, and as such have only one set of underwriting standards for assessing risk and calculating premium. 

An Alternative Solution for Affordability

When you do business with an independent agent, things change a bit.  Not only are you getting the advice you need speaking with an agent, but the number of insurance options available to you are much greater.  Independent agents have contracts with many different insurers, and they use these contracts to play the rates of the different companies against each other to create competitive rates.  These rates usually end up being a better deal to the consumer as compared to direct writers.  An independent agent is willing to work with you and discuss various coverage options that fit your financial and personal needs.  These agents work for your benefit, not the large insurance companies.  More often than not, you will save money on your car insurance while building a relationship with the agent, who has your best interests in mind.  If you like them enough, you may even be able to save more money by consolidating all of your personal insurance to one place!

Counterpoint Insurance does just that.  We answer your questions, talk you through your policy, and at the end of your term, we look at your account again to see if we can find a better deal with another one of our companies.  Looking for a better deal on your car insurance policy can be a hassle, but when you do business with an independent agent, we do the work for you.

Free Quotes for Everyone!

Come check us out on our website and get a free quote or give us a call today @ (603)645-8600 to see how much money you can start saving.

Counterpoint Insurance.  Relax, we’ve got you covered.

It’s Raining: Do you Have Flood Insurance for your NH Home?

How do I Get Flood Insurance in New Hampshire?

Many people believe that when they purchase a homeowners policy that the risk of floods is automatically covered in the insurance contract. On the contrary, flood insurance programs in New Hampshire and all other States are sold separately from homeowners policies, and are provided by the Federal Government through the National Flood Insurance Program. The reason for this being that flooding is a natural phenomenon that can sometimes be catastrophic and wind up being very expensive to cover property damages.

That being said, you should make sure of a couple of things before either considering purchasing a new home or intending to protect your house and your property.

First, as a homeowner, it is helpful to know if your home is on a floodplane. If you do not know how to find this information don’t panic! FEMA has a feature to their website that allows you to enter your address and find out how much at risk your home is at for flooding. Follow the link below to see if you should be looking into coverage from the National Flood Insurance Program:

FEMA’s Map Service

Secondly, because a separate policy exists for flood coverage, it is a good idea to protect yourself and your belongings from the unexpected.  Talking to a local agent will help you to determine how much protection you need.

Counterpoint Insurance offers flood insurance policies through the National Flood Insurance Program to make the coverage more available to homeowners. We are doing what we can to keep people informed about the various ways they can protect themselves from major losses associated with flooding.  A flood can happen to anyone at any time, just be aware.

Have more questions about flood insurance? Give us a call today. We would be glad to speak with you about what kind of options are available for your protection. And who knows? Maybe you can save a little money on the way!

Check us out on our website!

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Call our office to speak to one of our agents @ (603)645-8600

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“Like” Counterpoint Insurance on Facebook!

Counterpoint Insurance is an independent agency located in Bedford, NH with a comprehensive staff dedicated to getting you the answers you need and providing quality service to our clients.  We offer a wide variety of coverage for you, your home, your vehicles, your family and your future. Come find out for yourself and see how committed we are to helping you!

Counterpoint Insurance. Relax, we’ve got you covered.