Tuesday Morning Insurance Tidbit - Local vs. National

[InsuranceMan]

Good Morning ADI Citizens!

                In today’s installment of the Tuesday Morning Insurance Tidbit the topic de jure is Local Insurance Agent vs. National Insurance Agent, i.e. InsuranceMan 2.0.

                For many, your distillery business is your heart and soul, your life.  You have put everything (or most everything) you have into building your business, making amazing, artistically crafted products.  You spend many of the hours of your week at your facility, and when you are not there, you are thinking about being there.  Something this important in your life deserves the best in the way of protection.  

                I speak to dozens of people just like you every week and have for the past 7 years.  Inevitably I am asked a particular question at least once a month.  What is the question you wonder? Well, the question is this, “Shouldn’t I try to find a local insurance agent to handle my distillery insurance?”  Ah, the age-old question!

                Because I am an honest and just Insurance Superhero, I will address why dealing with a local agent is something people consider.  First of all, they are somewhere in your town/city/area, so that could be something.  Second, and I hear this all the time, “It helps stimulate the local economy.”  Ok, I can kind of see that I guess.  Finally, maybe you know the guy/gal and your kids play soccer together or the local agent is you brothers, step-aunt’s niece’s cousin whose best friend’s dog-goomers husband sells insurance, or some other such relationship.  Nice, all reasons and justifications I hear as to why people may look for a local agent. 

                Now, let’s speak to the adverse side of dealing with a local agent.  Just because they are in town or the area does not necessarily make them more accessible or mean they will be stopping in to your business every time you have a question.  In fact, more often than not, people that had been dealing with a local agent, and then moved to me have told me I am more accessible via email, text, and by them calling me on my cell phone than their local agent ever was.  Many have told me their local agent was a “hit it and forget it” insurance salesperson.  Meaning, they sold them a policy and then never spoke to them again.  SAD!!!!!  Second, in regard to the economy, although the insurance agent is paid by your business it may not be what you think nor have the economic impact that is perceived.  If a policy costs you $5,000, that is not going into your local economy.  Agents are actually paid only a small percentage of the premium, the rest goes to the big faceless insurance entity located in some far away land of actuaries and guys that look like they just stepped off the Monopoly box, who light their cigars with $100 bills.  SCARY!  Finally, just because you may know, or kind of know someone that schleps insurance for a living does not obligate you to having to work with them. 

                We have now arrived at my favorite part of the discussion; Why should you consider a National Insurance Agent, i.e. InsuranceMan 2.0?  Grab yourself a nice lowball of your favorite spirit and get comfy, this portion could be L-O-N-G!!!!!!!  Just kidding, I will keep it short and sweet even though I could go on for days.  One reason to work with me is that I am incredibly responsive and pretty much accessible 24/7 via cell, email, and text.  Don’t believe me?!?!?!?  Ask around and you will find out quickly that I respond to folks at all hours of the day and even on weekends.  Unless I am up in the mountains and have no cell reception, I am accessible dang near all the time.  That is partly what makes me so Superhero-ish!  Next, think of this scenario:  God forbid, but pretend that someone contracts a rare disease.  There may be a slew of local doctors and hospitals in the area, but that does not mean they will know how to treat the person.  The first thing that person would do is jump online and find out where and who in the country specializes in this kind of treatment.  They would do everything in their power to seek out the very best, most experienced person they could find to assist them with their needs, right?!?!?!  I know I would.  Well, why should your distillery insurance be any different?  Why would you choose to work with someone just because they happened to be close to you?  What experience do they have in writing distilleries?  Do you really want to be their Guinea Pig?!?!?!!?  Having them experimenting on your policy, cobbling some coverage together, only to find out in the time of a claim that it is not covered because they didn’t know what they were doing?  NO!!!!!  You would seek out a specialist who knows what they are doing, someone who has been doing it for a long time and has successfully worked with and assisted hundreds of similar clients!  You would not just want to work with the person that schleps insurance, you would seek out an insurance Superhero.  Someone like … me!  InsuranceMan 2.0!!!!!!  Here, let me save you the work.  You can contact me at Insuranceman2.0@yahoo.com, or via PM here on ADI, or by call or text at 307-752-5961.  There, that was easy, wasn’t it? 

                Now you don’t have to spend time looking for someone who can assist you with your distillery insurance needs.  You can use your extra time to come up with that new mash bill.  Or maybe whether to macerate, or use a basket, or place botanicals strategically at different levels in the column.  So much extra time and so many things to consider!  You’re welcome!

                So, until next time my friends …

Stay Vigilant,

Aaron Linden

InsuranceMan 2.0