Helpful Information

Dramatic changes in the insurance marketplace make the professional insurance advisor’s role increasingly important to individuals and small businesses in finding cost-saving measures and coverage options. They provide and service insurance products while educating and advising you on how to manage risk and make informed insurance choices. Many career insurance advisors have completed a sequence of college level courses leading to a professional designation, such as:

• - Registered Health Underwriter (RHU),
• - Health Insurance Associate (HIA),
• - Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC),
• - Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), or
• - Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU).

Advisors are highly trained insurance professionals who will guide you through the complex task of choosing appropriate coverage at an affordable cost and are dedicated to serving the long-term interests of consumers.

Dramatic changes in the insurance marketplace make the professional insurance advisor’s role increasingly important to individuals and small businesses in finding cost-saving measures and coverage options. They provide and service insurance products while educating and advising you on how to manage risk and make informed insurance choices. Many career insurance advisors have completed a sequence of college level courses leading to a professional designation, such as:

An advisor will guide you through the complex task of choosing appropriate coverage at an  affordable cost. The following is what you should expect from a professional insurance agent. Use this checklist to evaluate your current advisor. Your professional insurance advisor should:

1. work with you to evaluate your needs for insurance coverage.
2. explain the details of different insurance plans.
3. make specific recommendations and tailor plans to suit your special needs and budgets.
4. review your plans periodically to update coverage and limit costs.
5. serve as your advocate and advisor in dealing with insurance companies, doctors and hospitals, and government agencies involving claims, services and regulations.
6. help you, as a business owner, communicate benefits packages to employees and demonstrate how various provisions can complement personal and government financial plans.

Buying health insurance benefits is different than buying other things online. Benefits are complex and critically important for you. Health care coverage protects both a family’s health and its finances. Purchase the wrong book and you’re out a few dollars. Purchase the wrong health care coverage and the consequences are far more significant.

Remember, if you buy health insurance online, there may be no advisor to explain benefits, no advocate if problems arise, and no counselor to help you make the right coverage choices.

Insurance advisors are licensed and regulated by state insurance departments. Prospective advisors receive training regarding insurance and applicable laws before taking a qualifying exam for licensing. The majority of states now require continuing education to maintain license status.

Many career insurance advisors (like ours) belong to the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP), which offers seminars, workshops, courses, and other educational forums to ensure members meet the highest standards of client service. NABIP also requires members to subscribe to a strict professional code of ethics.

State insurance departments regulate the activities of insurance brokers. Each state has its own set of insurance regulations that brokers must follow.