Insurance language has many terms and some can be confusing!  Often when referring to Homeowners Insurance or Car Insurance, the terms "Agent" and "Broker" the are often used to describe someone who procures insurance for their client. While this is very true, agents are employees of the insurance company that they represent while brokers work independently for clients. A good agent or broker will do their best to procure the best policy(ies) for their customer, and the relationships tend to last for a long time.  Which is better, an Insurance Agent or an Insurance Broker?  The answer is that there can be advantages and challenges for both when trying to procure the best policies.  For example, the insurance agent who works for XYZ Insurance company has to sell policies for XYZ and may not have any other option for their customer when it comes to replacement cost cap on a Homeowners policy, or specific limits on personal items.  The agent is forced to offer the choices available and hope for the best.  This situation can be fine for very basic insurance such as renters policies and car or motorcycle insurance.  But when it comes to more complex coverage situations, working with an agent may not be enough. An Insurance Broker works for the client and places insurance coverage through many carriers.  The benefits to clients are that many options exist, so if you own a home in the Bay Area, your replacement cost may be somewhat difficult to estimate.  In cases like this, we would recommend carrying a higher replacement cost cap which acts as a cushion to insure that there's enough coverage if your home should burn down.  The replacement caps vary by carrier, so we work with homeowners to identify the best options to meet their needs. Sometimes, this means issuing policies with different carriers and working together to provide the best coverage at an affordable price. We hope when you have the opportunity to review your insurance coverage that you will call us for professional consultation.