Insurance Brokers Aren’t Just “Quote Messengers”

Yesterday I arranged an OSHA compliance assessment for a client of mine who has employees frequently working on rooftops to clean solar panels. This client is concerned about employees falling off the rooftops or ladders and asked for guidance on how to help prevent this from happening. They were very concerned about staying compliant with OSHA regulations too. So, we coordinated a meeting with a safety consultant to perform an OSHA compliance assessment (mock OSHA Audit). Here are a few action shots:

A lot of people have a misconception that insurance brokers are simply “quote messengers” and it drives me crazy. “Oh, I need insurance so I am going to call a handful of brokers, give them a few details, let them plug them into a computer and we’ll take the lowest price provided.” Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to get multiple opinions and cover all the bases, but insurance brokers can and should provide a lot more value than this. In writing insurance for your business, finding the best policy for your needs is the first step, but what about all the other risks your business is exposed to?

Think about it….loss control and safety, human resources services, claims management, employee handbooks, etc. Who do you call when you need help with this stuff? I hope my clients are calling ME!

I have working relationships with highly trained safety consultants, HR professionals, payroll representatives, bookkeepers, etc. The list goes on. By starting with the basics, you can control those drivers that affect your insurance costs. When it comes to your business insurance, be proactive, not reactive when deciding on the right coverage for your protection.

Trust me, if you try to wing some policy together which you know nothing about, you’re going to pay a lot more than you ever would if you had an insurance partner do it right for you from the beginning. Don’t look for a quote messenger, look for a broker who’s going to be your partner and advocate in protecting your business.

-JK