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Finding a good insurance agent is kind of like finding a spouse – you need to have good communication, common goals and values, and the desire to stick with them for life. Las Vegas insurance agents are every where and you want to find the right one for you. Of course, you don’t owe your agent the same commitment you do your significant other, but when you find the right one, you’ll never want to go through the hassle of finding another.

But unless you’re wildly lucky, finding that relationship can take some work. We’ve broken it down into five steps to help you find the best agent for your needs:

Determine your needs

Using just one agent for all of your personal insurance needs can be very convenient, but it will require you to decide exactly what you need so you can find the agent who can provide it to you. Bundling insurance policies can help save money, so make a list of what lines you’ll need: auto, homeowners, renters, flood, dwelling, umbrella, etc.

Talk to your friends

Referrals can go a long way. Talk to your friends and family to see if they’d recommend an agent or a specific company. Ask them why they’d recommend the agent and broker and decide if these qualities fall in line with what you’re looking for.

Ask questions

Regardless of whether you have gotten some suggestions from friends or family, be sure to ask plenty of questions of your potential agent and their staff. Ask for extensive information on each insurance policy. You’ll also want to ask about the agency and supporting staff as well to get a good feel of the availability of your potential insurance agent and staff.

Get actual quotes

After you’ve narrowed your candidates for insurance agents, get actual quotes on the policies you’re interested in. Be sure to ask about any discounts for bundling policies, as well as other available discounts. A good agent will try to find you the best coverage with as many discounts as possible.

Try it out

If you’ve found an agent you like who also offers you the coverage you need at a price that fits your budget, you might be ready to purchase your insurance policies and work with your new agent. Before you renew your policy, reflect on the service and accessibility of your agent and his or her staff. Hopefully, you will have found an agent and started to build a relationship that can last a lifetime!

How did you find your agent?

If you’re looking for work, going back to school or preparing to strike out on your own, avoiding these common insurance mistakes will help you save money and maintain a solid financial safety net.

• Mistake #1:  Reducing Your Home and Auto Insurance Coverage Levels
  While reducing your coverage levels may save you money in the short run, this may be the worst time to take on more financial risk. Consider increasing your home and auto deductibles as an alternative. You’ll save  money on your rates, but the risk of financial ruin may be far less.
• Mistake #2: Ignoring Alternatives to COBRA
  Maintaining health coverage via your former employer is not your only  option. If you’re in good health, individual health insurance—also called  “major medical” or “high-deductible” insurance—could cost considerably less overall.
• Mistake #3: Not  Comparing Rates from Multiple Insurers
  With every type of insurance, different insurance companies are going to look at you differently. All companies use different underwriting criteria to determine rates, and if you don’t call AMS Insurance you’ll never know if you could be paying less.
• Mistake #4: Neglecting to Tell Your Auto Insurance Company Your   Commute Has changed
  If your employment situation has changed, talk to your current insurer and      review the annual mileage you’re currently being rated for. If your new annual mileage is lower, you should save some money.
• Mistake #5: Not Buying Term Life Insurance as Soon as Possible
  Extra expense may be the last thing you need at this point; failing to address your life insurance needs could make a bad situation even worse if you were to pass away. Talk to AMS and let us put your mind at ease.

When shopping for insurance, most people are unaware that there are different kinds of agents they can work with. Choosing the right one can make a big difference in securing the best combination of price and value.

With a captive insurance agent, you only get the guidance of one company that sells one brand of insurance. With an independent insurance agent, you might get up to 30 choices.

This is because an independent insurance agent represents multiple brands, and can compare coverage and prices to find the best possible value for your individual circumstances. Independent agents are usually vested members of your community who are committed to doing business face-to-face and being your advocate in times of need.

They also:

• Work for you when you have a claim.
• Are not beholden to any one company. This means you don’t have to change agencies as your insurance and service needs change.
• Are your consultants, working with you as you determine your needs.
• Are value-hunters who look after your pocketbook in finding the best combination of price, coverage, and service.
• Offer one-stop shopping for a full range of products, including home, renters, auto, business, life, health, and retirement plans.
• Can periodically review your coverage to keep up with your changing insurance needs.
• Are committed to customer satisfaction-it’s the key to their livelihood
• Treat you like a person, not a number.
• Are licensed professionals with strong customer and community ties.

There is a difference. To find out more about working with an independent agent, please contact AMS Insurance!

Author : Martin Jeffrey

In the middle of the 1930s a large red London Bus, bearing a “7” route number harassed motorists in the North Kensington area of London.

The Junction of St Mark’s Road and Cambridge Gardens in that area had long been considered a dangerous corner – it was “blind” from both roads and had been the scene of numerous accidents.

The decision of the local authority to straighten out the bend was partially influenced by the testimony of late night motorists. Many claimed that they had crashed while swerving to avoid a speeding double decker bus that hurtled down St Marks Road in the small hours, long after regular buses ceased service.

A typical report to the Kensington Police read ” I was turning the corner and saw a bus tearing towards me. The lights of the top and bottom decks and the headlights were full on but I could see no crew or passengers. I yanked my steering wheel hard over and mounted the pavement, scraping the roadside wall. The bus just vanished.”

After one fatal accident, during which a driver had swerved and hit the wall head on, an eyewitness told the coroner’s inquest that he had seen the mystery bus hurtling towards the car seconds before the driver spun off the road.

When the coroner expressed what was perhaps natural cynicism, hundreds of local residents wrote to his office and to the local newspapers offering to testify that they too, had seen the “Ghost Bus”.

Among the most impressing of these witnesses was a local transport official who claimed that he had seen the vehicle draw up to the local bus depot in the early hours of the morning, stand with engine purring for a moment, and then disappear. Eventually the local council straightened out the road there, and the accident rate was greatly reduced. Thereafter there were no more reports of the ghostly red bus.

References
Frank Smythe “Ghosts and Poltergeists”
The Ghost Bus of Kensington By Bob Griffiths “Silver Arrow” – November 1998

Fictional sales woman Flo in Progressive Insurance commercials became recognizable character in United States. Many people find it pretty funny, others find her annoying and even created groups on Facebook called Progressive Insurance Commercials Aggravate Me, FLO MUST DIE!!!, or I hate Flo!!! As for me, I like the way actress acts and behaves as an advertising character. For some people it is not enough to watch the commercial on TV and they go on YouTube where each clip with Flo received about 20,000 – 50,000 views.

Google keyword suggestion tool shows that people search information about Progressive Insurance ad campaign as well. According Google many people searched typing:

• progressive insurance girl
• who is the girl in the progressive insurance commercials?
• who is the chick in the progressive commercials
• annoying progressive insurance commercial
  …and more.

So, who is this funny, wired, crazy girl?

Okay, the women in the Progressive Insurance commercials is an actress and comedian Stephanie Courtney. Her little wired and enthusiastic behavior turned into something like business card or sales pitch for Progressive Insurance. Appearance in Progressive commercials is her biggest but she also appeared in movies like The Heartbreak Kid and Blades of Glory.