Yes and No!

All Property and Casualty Insurance Agents are licensed as both an Agent and a Broker.Whether an insurance professional is working as an Agent or a Broker depends on their clients insurance needs and their relationship with the insurance companies.By definition, a Broker represents the client, where as the Agent represents the insurance company.

Our agents at San Ramon Insurance Agency are "Independent Agents". As Independent Agents, we represent and are appointed with multiple insurance companies to provide our client with multiple insurance solutions. Companies like, Mercury, Travelers, Safeco, Allied, Hartford, and many others. As appointed Independent Agents, we have the authority to issue coverage, discuss billing, take payments, process claims, make changes and ultimately be everything you would expect from an insurance agent while being able to provide a broader level of coverage and premium options.

Sometimes however, we need to act as an Insurance Broker to obtain specialty insurance products that difficult to obtain from mainstream insurance companies. Some of these products might include high risk Home Insurance, General Liability, Professional Liability, Workers Compensation, Employment Practices Liability, etc. This coverage can be found from companies like Lloyd’s of London, Lexington, and AIG Companies.

There are significant differences, however between an Independent Agents and other types of agents. “Direct Writers” are companies like Geico, AAA, Esurance, and Progressive. These companies use their own employees (agents), including the internet, to sell insurance and provide customer service usually via an 800 number. While “Captive Agents”, are agents that are contractually bound with insurance companies, like Farmers, State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and Nationwide.  They are contractually obligated to sell only those insurance products offered by the company they represent and, in most cases, are unable to provide any alternatives.

Clearly, there are significant advantages to using an Independent Agent / Broker when shopping for your insurance needs. Independent Agents will provide personal service, multiple insurance options, and extensive knowledge of the insurance market place to find your family and your business the best insurance coverage.