Page 28 - 2018 Greater Salem Chamber Magazine

Your Finances

Working With an Independent Insurance

Agent vs. Buying Insurance Online or

Through an 800 Number

Understand the differences and limit your risk.

disadvantage. When you file a claim,
or when your premiums increase, you
need someone nearby who can advocate
on your behalf with the insurance
company.
The limited choice issue:
Happy Birthday! number or online insurance sales, and
Some people avoid the toll free
Happy Teeth! opt to work with an ‘exclusive agent.’
That agent may be local, but exclusively
Protect your child’s represents one insurance carrier and
can only offer you one product at one
teeth by starting specified price. That limitation can also

dental checkups early. put you at unnecessary risk.
For over 100 years, the insurance In today’s insurance environment,
Now welcoming industry has been protecting families, the best value added approach is
often utilizing the services of a ‘local
homeowners and business owners
new patients! against unexpected losses. Many independent’ agent. That agent is local
consumers however, still do not and as an independent insurance agent,
understand their own coverage or how represents dozens of different insurance
Providing optimal dental one policy is different from another. companies. By researching multiple
care for infants, children, In today’s marketplace most insurance carriers, the independent agent can
adolescents, and carriers have subtle, difficult to identify often find the best solution to protect
individuals with special differences in coverage and limits. For all types of clients at the most
competitive pricing.
health care needs. the average person, that is a major Another big disadvantage of the 800
challenge. Without help, it can be
impossible to navigate. numbers, online sales, and exclusive
Despite that drawback, many agents can be the inability to develop
consumers still try to purchase all types a comprehensive approach. However,
of insurance through 800 numbers, using an independent agent adds value
online or from an exclusive agent. to the relationship by finding a solution
The cost issue: to client need even if it is through
The risk is not whether you are saving different insurance carriers.
In today’s evolving world of
$100, or paying $100 more. The real homeowner and business insurance
Pediatric Dentistry risk is whether or not you truly have needs, one size that’s intended to fit all
the correct coverage and in the proper
of Salem, LLC amount when you need to file a claim. may not be the best approach. Working
with an independent agent can result
At that point, it’s likely too late to do
James F. Dickerson, D.M.D. anything about it. So the perceived in a comprehensive solution for a
business owner or homeowner that
Adam J. Wolff, D.D.S. savings at the beginning can cost you
more money at the end. truly is customized.
389 Main Street • Salem, NH
603-893-5266 The advocate issue: Guest Editorial by Jamie Santo
Not having a local agent whom Santo Insurance and Financial Services
www.pediatricdentistryofsalem.com you can talk to face-to-face at any Salem, NH 03079
point in the process can put you at a www.santoinsurance.com

26 Greater Salem Magazine and 2018 Chamber Business Guide