What’s the difference between a “State Farm” agency versus a local independent insurance agency?
Let’s start from the beginning. State Farm is a captive insurance company that uses captive agencies. A captive agency can generally represent only one insurance company.
Who are some captive insurance companies? 
Allstate, State Farm, Farmers, American Family, and 800-number companies like GEICO are a few examples.
Why captive agents?
Captives have pretty awesome TV commercials and ads. Billions of dollars (yes, billions of dollars) are spent by Captives to gain your trust and branding recognition. Seriously, peace of mind is a big deal and when we see and hear their commercials all-the-time we tend to believe it.
How can a local independent insurance agency create more value?
- Options – Captives have their cookie cutter policies which may limit the coverage you want or need. An independent can seek out multiple carriers to find one that best fits you in cost and coverage.
- Relationship – A good independent agency will put you with a quality carrier, but if something happens and you need an alternative an independent can help you in-house. The legwork is on your agent to get another quality carrier lined up.
- Your interest – An independent agency has experience with multiple carriers giving you a better grasp of what your choices are in billing, claims, and coverage. A captive agent must spout the corporate line.
- Local presence – They know your neighborhood. Local contractors. Local auto bodyshops. Local churches. Local charities. Local businesses. An 800 number does not know where your zip code is let alone where Fort Wayne, Indiana is. Locality is important in a time of trouble.
- Simplification – Insurance can be a very simple subject if you never have a claim. Being in the industry for over a decade I personally know that it can get very complicated very fast. A good independent will be a teacher at heart, be available for you, and be your advocate.
Which independent agency can I trust?
- Find an agent that will empower you
- Ask – who they are? Ask – why them? Ask – who they represent?
- If they don’t ask about you, find a better one
Jeremy Hyde | Colligan & Company
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You produced some decent points there.
Best agency in Indiana!!
Appreciate the recommendation. Will try it out.
Greetings! Very helpful advice!
Thank you for the insurance write-up. Home and auto insurance can be difficult to find a trusted source. Rose
I like what you guys are up to also. Such good work and insurance helpfulness! Carry on the superb works guys!
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I really like your blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site record and will be checking back soon.
This actually helped me, thanks!
Good post.
Nice article
Thank you for this article. I’d also like to talk about the fact that it can often be hard if you are in school and merely starting out to establish a good insurance relationship. Independent insurance agents seem to be the way to go if you trust them. There are many learners who are just simply trying to make it through life that I think you can help.
My brother recommended I might like this blog. He was entirely right. You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! So many people waste time shopping for insurance for them self? Why, when you can have an independent and qualified person to do it for me?! Thanks!
Thanks for the insurance advice
I’m not sure why someone would use State Farm!!
I’m happy to use an independent agency rather than State Farm and AllState.
That is an insurance benefit for clients
Very informative. I’ve wondered how independent agencies work compared to AllState, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, etc. I wonder why the general public does not take more advantage of this? You mentioned TV commercials… You must continue your writing. I am confident you have a great readers’ base already!
Thank you. It makes sense, I can do it all myself and use AllState or State Farm or even Geico or I can use an independent agency that has options and professional help!
Thanks for the info, after changing from State Farm, I would recommend it because of the options… as long as you trust the agency.
I feel a lot more at ease coming to Colligan since I know I can make changes in the future without having to fire you!
Glad to see a quality independent insurance agency in Fort Wayne
I would use an independent insurance agent, it seems like an intelligent thing to do.
Colligan is a solid Fort Wayne insurance agency
It’s important to work with an insurance agency that you trust too!
If you need insurance in Fort Wayne, call Colligan
Glad I found Colligan Insurance in Fort Wayne!
Thank you for helping me with my home and auto insurance Colligan agency
Being local is going to help your agency too
I’m glad to have a single expert on my team for my insurance.
Go with an independent agent that has good carriers!
I need a trusted insurance agent, it’s good to have help
Thanks for your work in Fort Wayne. I recommend your insurance agency.
Good insurance info
I’m glad I moved my home and auto insurance to you from Metlife
It’s nice to have local agencies like Colligan Insurance
Don’t believe the commercials, go with a local independent agency like Colligan Insurance!
I’m glad to have an independent insurance agent like Colligan
Thanks for the info
My brother is with AllState so it will be impossible to leave him but I think an independent agency is the better choice.
There are good agents in bad agencies so it’s also important to know the difference and the true value of your insurance.
I hope everyone has an agent they trust and will give them good insurance info
thanks for your insurance info
I’m glad there is a local independent agency that is small enough to care and big enough to handle my insurance needs
Hello, after reading this remarkable insurance article i am too delighted to share this info with my friends.
Excellent insurance blog post. I certainly love this site.
Continue the good work!
It seems since if you trust your insurance agent
I do consider it an advantage to work with your agency
Thank you for your insurance information
Fort Wayne has a quality insurance agent in Colligan!
Nice summary article – I’d also recommend using a local insurance agency right here in Fort Wayne
Thank you for this article, makes better sense now
You really need to trust your insurance agent. Bottom line. And if it makes you trust your agent more when they have a bunch of insirance companies then fine. There are good agents that are stuck with only one market but I understand if its harder to trust them if they are really just pitching their corporate product. Best scenario is finding a solid agent/agency and working towards trust. Thanks for your work. Also I think most independents can do business insurance much better so if you are a business owner then really find an independent that suites your needs.
Colligan is a solid independent agency for commercial insurance like workers compensation
Thank for the advice on what I should look for in an insurance agent
Most businesses use independent agents I would think Allstate does not have much appetite.
If State Farm didn’t advertise so much independent agents would rule, it just makes so much more sense to use an agency with a lot of options to do the work for you.
I’m glad to put my commercial insurance with an independent agency. More options, better advice too
Thanks for the blog and for what you do in Fort Wayne
Thanks for the good info about independent agents
Good info on what to look for in a commercial or business agent
Yes, for sure a quality independent agent with quality markets is the way to go
Colligan, thanks for the blog and info on independent agents
I’m glad I found your agency…we need to talk about my commercial insurance and then maybe my home and lake home
There needs to be more insurance agencies like you guys
I like it when folks share opinions and this is a good agent in Fort Wayne. Great website, stick to it!
Fort Wayne needs more independent agents like you. Thank you!
Nice post and I agree, many people can benefit from a good independent agency.
Thank you Colligan for spelling out some of these differences
The big difference… Options!
Hi my friend! I wish to say that this article is amazing, great written and come with almost all significant info about insurance agencies.
Colligan is a good independent agency, right size, right people
Your content is important to people that actually care about what they buy.
Go with a trusted independent agency
I found your agency through Google and I am glad I did. Thanks Colligan.
Good post however I was wondering if you could write a little more on this insurance topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Thanks!
I’m glad your agency is independent, the options make it convenient if there is a problem.
What does it take to get more insurance traffic? I think I can help you with my business too.
Hello, your writing style is understanding for insurance language :), keep doing what you’re doing!
This is a nice short response to State Farm and Geico type insurance. Good job to a Fort Wayne agency.
I was on yahoo and found your agency. Thanks for what you do.
Gotta go with an independent. Go with Colligan
Good info on why an independent agency should be worth exploring.
Nice article, thanks for writing it and helping people with insurance.
An independent agency with a good history is key
Having insurance choices with one agent is nice
Great post. And useful. I’d say with an independent you need to trust the insurance carrier too plus the agent.
Personal service too!
Good info and happy to work with a small expertise driven agency like Colligan
I like how you guys do business and look forward to doing it with you.
Good post. I think it’s important to discuss and know.
It’s good to have a good independent agent in Fort Wayne
It’s hard to be State Farm on personal insurance, I love their commercials
Thanks for the info, makes sense
Thanks guys, appreciate how you do business
It’s soooo much easier!
Independent agent is the way to go… don’t mess around
Colligan is a good place to go for insurance
If you can find an independent agent you trust and like, go with it
Well done and way to get some really good carriers under your agency
Good info and written properly…
It’s good to have options with someone you trust
I am really thankful for you guys. Good work
Thanks for the info, good to have an agency like Colligan’s around Fort Wayne…
Go independent w Colligan.
This is relevant… too bad you guys don’t spend the money for commercials too
I think it can be easier to trust State Farm because they are every where, but I think you can also get more value from an independent agency.
It makes a lot of sense to work with an independent agency, but you should learn about the agency and its carriers.
Thank you, good article and well done Colligan for being this kind of insurance agency
I trust you guys, thanks for helping
Thank you for this information… helpful
Insurance is more complicated than it seems and that’s why I want a team on my side.
Independent insurance means they work for me~ That’s cool
I respect these guys at Colligan. Insurance the best way you can.
For those of you who like to enjoy a change of mind, Colligan Insurance will do it the right way.
I wonder how you guys stay competitive with the 800 number insurance companies
It’s complex but one agent with options builds the best way
Unquestionably believe that which you said.
I like the options and who I work with at Colligan! Go Jeremy! Thanks!
I wonder how many people have a tendency to just stay where they are…
My relatives each time state that I am just killing my time here at web, but I understand I am just getting familiarity each day by reading this pleasant content.
There are much bigger agencies its just that the service gets bad
Thank you for sending me this info, I understand better…
Good options, good choice
You gotta be smart about this kind of stuff, good insurance blog
thanks guys… Jeremy and crew I love working with you.
What’s up to every single article, it’s truly a great thing for me to go to see this web page, it contains priceless Information.
I have State Farm… it makes sense but hard to make a change after all this time.
It’s the best way to do insurance
The best way to protecting you family is working with an agency like Colligan
Typically the newest and the majority of agents are money driven, you guys are client driven. Nice!
Thanks insurance nerds now I don’t need to be one :)
I’ll definitely come again again.
Good info for Fort Wayne people.
It’s hard to come by knowledgeable people in this particular topic, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Thank you for the info
Wow! Finally I got a weblog from which I can really take useful insurance info.
Thanks for putting this together, I understand the insurance differences better now
This is good information to understand what insurance is…
Its better for you to work with someone who knows what they are doing and is not tied to one option only
You got to have an advantage and these guys do
It’s a big time advantage for me as the client knowing you can help
We trust you guys, thanks for the good work
Thank you for your work in the Fort Wayne
Nice to have one agent have options
I think it’d be important to know who you work with
It’s amazing how much better you can trust folks with they aren’t selling you something
There need to be more independent agencies
I really enjoy having options, but its also important that they are good options
I really appreciate this article, makes sense
Good article, thanks for the info. I wonder why more people don’t go this route?
Thanks, glad there is an agency in Fort Wayne like Colligan Insurance!
If there are good insurance company options, then yes, this makes sense
I trust you guys, thanks
Independent agents are the way to go if they have a good track history and good companies
Options with one agent got to kill State Farm?
Thanks you guys are good at what you do.
Thanks for your website Colligan agency
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
Thanks good blog go insurance guys
Good insurance blog
Thanks guys
Good firm arguments by telling everything regarding why folks should consider your agency.
good stuff!
good blog, I’ll follow you for your good articles
Colligan is a good independent agency
You guys are good…thanks for the advice and options. We trust you
I definitely see the advantage of working with you all
I gotta admit, I should use your independent insurance agency
I’ve been exploring for a bit for virtually any high quality articles or blog posts on this type of area. Exploring in Yahoo I eventually came across this website.
makes sense. more markets. more options
Thats some nice writing and I definitely understand it. Thanks
Great blog. Insurance is a tough subject, keep writing
I had State Farm on my auto and AllState on my home for years, then my fire claim made me have deductibles on both! Ugh~
As long as they have good carrier options, then it makes sense
There are a lot of good insurance carriers out there
independent agency like Colligan is a good choice
Options and advice sounds like a good combo
Don’t wonder about this, put on your adult pants and do the right thing
State Farm? AllState? Farmers? Nope, Colligan :)
If you don’t recommend changing carriers why not use a captive, I guess you answered that in your article too…
There is a reason there are a lot of comments here, this is important
Why go through all the hassle, work with one insurance agency
There is a good advantage to working with independent insurance agents
I’m glad Colligan is an independent agency, I already trusted you but it just helps
I think you have some good things to say
Definitely a value advantage to an independent agency, though I’d hope not to have to change
I’m thankful for agencies like yours
There is a big advantage when the agent doesn’t have an agenda
Makes sense, there are a lot of good insurance companies, but it makes sense
I’m grateful for this insurance content
AllState has my back, thanks
I can appreciate these statements, but I’ve had State Farm for 30 years and no big problems
Thanks for the article, I think the difference is mighty and I’d love to work with you. Moreso because I trust you
Good info, I’ve been with State Farm for 32 years so it would be hard to leave them…
Big time advantage with good quality insurance companies
I can’t believe people fall for State Farm, what a scam
good info, good insurance agency
There’s clearly an advantage, it can be hard to tell sometimes though
Hello! This article is awesome, nicely written and I would like to see more posts like this.
i need to work with you, good value here
sweet advantage you guys have
Good job on this
Nice article, makes sense, but I bet it’s hard to compete with State Farm too
Good, info, but you need good companies too
Thanks for the preview of an independent agency, good idea and good reason
Spot on with this write-up, I really suppose this web site wants rather more consideration. I’ll in all probability be again to read much more, thanks for that info.
Good. Short and to the point info
Independent is the best, with the right agent and right carrier options
I agree, thanks for info
solid insurance blog, good work thanks jeremy
Good stuff, why go with State Farm? When you have good people, good carriers, and options?!
Yes, quite an advantage in the competitive insurance marketplace
Insurance companies can be confusing… thanks
Good info regarding independent agents, should maybe address pitfalls too, because I’m sure there are… like what if the agent doesn’t know what he is doing, or they have bad insurance companies…
Good info, good agency… the agency, the agent, and the companies matter!
Colligan is a great local agency
Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it for insurance
Good options, good agents at Colligan
Nice info
I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site :)
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This is an excellent article, and one insurance buyers should read
A good independent with good options is the best way to do this
It’s really important…single source trusted independent insurance agency is the place to be
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic blog post.Really thank you! Much obliged.
Great amazing issues here. I’m very happy to look your post and mostly agree. Thank you a lot and i am having a look forward to contact you.
Good info on independent agents
Hello Colligan Insurance guys! Here’s my comment especially for you! :)
I’ve wondered how small agencies come up with content, good job
Good, strong… independent advice