In today’s episode of Agents Influence podcast, Jason Cass chats with Ed Higgins, owner of Thousand Islands Insurance Agency. Ed Higgins has been working on a plan to alert state regulators to the fact that online and TV insurance commercials are misleading and are not a true representation of the policies they are selling. . Higgins, agent since 1974, who has been on the cutting edge of technology for decades, also talks about agents need to do to provide more value and a better experience to customers than the primary providers.

Show Notes:

• Who is Ed Higgins?
  • He’s an Android user.
  • Firm believer in hard work, customer focus and technology contributing to success.
  • He believes in winning.
• Why adding value is so important.
  • The business is a valuable contribution to the economic framework.
  • It’s important to be an active part of the claims process.
• What Ed is working on before he retires.
  • There is a growing premise that all insurance is the same and you should just find the cheapest option.
  • Agents need to work strongly with the insurance providers to provide them with a better experience.
  • Consumers don’t understand enough about coverage, they’re just focused on price.
  • The consumer is not being protected by regulators.
• How to develop insurance programs for people.
  • We need to change as the world changes, but people will always need individual counseling on their insurance needs.
• We are asking for several things
  • A disclosure that says that all policies are not the same and warns the consumer.
  • It’s important that the full disclosure details of your coverage should be disclosed.
  • Regulators should put policies online so consumers can view them and compare/contrast.
• How to understand your competitor.
  • Try to understand what they do, find out how to create value to compete.
  • The analysis resource that will soon be available to agencies.
• Not only are people not being educated, but they’re also being deceived.

3 Key Points:

1. The value of the client is more important than the value of you.
2. Agents need to work directly with insurance providers to provide their customers with a better experience.
3. Contact every thought leader you know with a hand in the industry to sign on and endorse the document that’s trying to get things done.

Key Quotes:

• “You have to take the time to explain things to a new client, that’s where technology becomes important.” – Ed Higgins
• “A quality insurance program is not a soundbite.” – Ed Higgins
• “As the world changes, we need to change with it.” – Ed Higgins

Resources Mentioned:

• Contact Ed Higgins at Ed@TIAgency.com or on his cell at 315-783-0651
• Ask Bill a question by emailing: insurancecommentary@outlook.com

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