• Captive Agents, who can sell you the insurance of only one company.
• Telephone Representatives, who can offer you the insurance of one company, and only on the telephone.
• Independent Insurance Agents, who represent an avverage of eight insurance companies, and research with these firms to find you the best combination of price, coverage and service.

• Is a licensed professional with strong customer and community ties.
• Give you excellent service and competitive prices because your agent can access the insurance coverage from mor than one company.
• Unlike other agents, is not beholden to any one company; thus, you don't need to change agencies as your insurance and service needs change.
• Assists you when you have a claim.
• Is your consultant, working with you as you determine your needs.
• Offers you a choice of insurance plans and programs.
• Is a value hunter who looks after your pocketbook in finding the best combination of price, coverage, and service.
• Offers one-stop shopping for a full range of products-home, renters, auto, business, life and health.
• Can periodically review your coverage to keep up with your changing insurance needs.
• Treats you like a person, not just another number.
• Customer satisfaction is the key to an independent agent's livelihood. So, serving you is your independent agent's most-important concern.

The Consumer's Independent Guide to Auto Insurance

Collectibles Tips

Jewelry. Fin art. Antique dolls. Fur coats. Rare coins. Autographs. Baseball cards. Beanie Babies. All are expensive or rare holiday gifts for avid collectors that may not be covered by your homeowners or enters insurance policy. If you are giving or receiving a valuable or collectible gift this year, you could be at risk for a major loss if you are not proerly insured. Standard homeowners or renter's insurance policies are not intended to protect any items that tend to appreciate in value, only the everyday items in your home - furniture, clothing and appliances. Therefore, they limit coverage for unusually valuable items. Homeowners and renters plicies also typically exclude coverage altogther in certain situation, such as flood, earthquakes, accidental breakage or during shipping either to you or from you.

Guidelines to Ensure That Your Investment in Collectibles Remains Secure

• If you own individual items or a collection worth more than $1,000 talk with your Trusted Choice® agent about additional coverage. For collections, you can choose a blanket policy that covers your entire collection for a stated amount. Items worth more than $2,500, such as engagement rings, generally must be insured under their own policy.
• Choose a policy that insures your collection for replacement cost or a stated value based on book price, secondary market value or appraisal, rather than actual cash value.
• Watch for policies that exclude coverage in cases of accidental breakage, flood or other events. Pick a policy that is "all risk" - one that insures you for every potential hazard.
• If you are in the collecting business, you will need to purchase business insurance to protect your inventory. Homeowners policies limit coverage of business losses.
• Keep all purchase receipts and supporting ownership documentation in a fireproof box.
• Keep a detailed inventory of items and their values, even if your insurer doesn't require it.
• Update your written appraisals every year or two.