Loyalty: the company or the rep?

[hl_tree]

A few years ago when I was looking to get insurance the wife of a trusted business associate recommended this woman she had worked with for many years.

The lady got me a policy, saving me several thousands of dollars in premium. She recommends me to all her friends for tree work, and has given me a bit of work at her houses as well. As far as being an insurance agent goes, she is great. As just about anybody who knows her will say, she is the best in the business because she treats all her clients so well.

A few weeks ago I spoke with the lady, and she informed me that she had quit her job after working for the company 21 years. She wasn't fired, and didn't retire or anything... she outright quit. As I am finding out over the last few weeks about 8 of her co-workers either are quitting, or have quit the company because of the same issue. She refuses to tell me what the issue is, but I feel it must be something big for 8 people in a 50 person company to leave in a matter of under 2 months, particularly seeing as how these people all have quite a few years with the company.

The lady was immediately hired by another, bigger company... a better job ready to go. I've already signed the papers stating that when I re-new my policy for next year that her new company will be representing me. She told me that roughly 2 dozen of her other accounts are doing the same so far... and her prior employer is making it HARD for them to do so.

Not looking for advice here, just looking to see what the rest of you guys would have done... been loyal to the insurance company, or been loyal to the agent.

 

[rfwoodvt]

A good agent works for you and your best interests. Find a good one and they will find the best deal for you. Sometimes they are limited by which lines thier agency carries, but then again, many of the best agents work for independent agencies that can find stuff from any company.

Right now our guy deals with one company, but he has gone through hoops to find me the best product and tweaked limits, riders and deductables to get us the perfect coverage.

I'd follow him to whatever agency he decided to go to.

 

[kevknep]

I'd go with the agent as long as they seem like they would go to bat for you if you ever had a problem, and not just finding the best price.

When I sign a policy it usually takes a couple of weeks to get the paperwork in the mail and I usually have a question or two about it after reading it, and call to verify. This is where you find out how much the agent cares. A good agent will call me back with the same promptness and enthusiasm as when they sold me the policy. I have been disappointed to see many agents fall short of my expectations when I have a problem. The less than great ones will be reluctant to get involved after the sale. That is not what I want if I am in a bind and need to figure out the best way to take care of a problem. I don't want to hear "Well here is the companies national 1-800 number, they can help you..."