How Should I Choose A Life Insurance Agent?

At first glance when contemplating this question, the inclination is to go that much deeper and potentially even asking a couple or different type of questions to get to the heart and core of the matter so, here goes.

How do you make sense of all the brokers, agencies, online providers, niche specialists, affiliates, commission/non-commission providers, professional, licensed providers and life insurance agents that come a knocking, in directories or when you need them most?
How do and should I choose not only a, but the BEST Life insurance agent, for my needs and requirements?
What is the ideal way and which screening criteria or rules of thumb are there choose the right and best life insurance agent?

These issues and choices are important, if not some of the most crucial ones you can, will and should make for you and your family, loved ones and those you care about - AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MARKETING OR "FEAR-CAMPAIGN" type selling or influencing - it is the reality. If you do not sense your provider, champion or advocate positioning this FIRST AND FOREMOST, but rather pushing products, signatures and commission, it is probably NOT the best person to be working with on this for you and your particular set of circumstances, finances, family and future. In the event of your death… even this phrase makes most of us squirm and we are immediately vulnerable, so picking someone that understands the gravity of the situation, has respect for you in this process as a unique individual, wanting to do the most you can, the right thing, rather than just signing a piece of paper or getting inundated with process, information and mechanics, would also be a good/better/BEST choice - we would argue!

Individual or group - who is the representative/person in front of you - as a person, in his/her professional capacity, buying power, role etc. Licensed, regulatory requirements - check and verify (check with the state insurance department, buy local to optimize your protection if/should something go wrong), or worse bankruptcy.

Products that are right and best suited to your needs, (not that of the company), seeking collaboration type partners and win-win scenarios are best.
Confirm who you are dealing with, underwriting, company, issuers of the policy.
Get the contact information and do a background, references check PRIOR to signing any agreements
Financial strengths and long-term performance, branding and other details, ratings, rankings, guaranteed deposits (FDIC) ISMA standards and ethics code subscribers are better.
Check into their claims, pay-out, settlement, refusal to pay type histories, customer/consumer reviews and opinions - these can be insightful and powerful credible input that might sway your decision one way or the other
Getting the answers and solutions, information, data that you need in a timely, accurate fashion (service-levels, access, availability)

Cost and competitiveness, pricing, market positioning and reputability all matter and can make the world of difference as well, so be sure to check into it in more detail and in-depth, BEFORE getting your feet wet with any one company or agent! Look for someone, individually and as an organization that will do the right things, at the right times, time and again, for the right reasons, right the first time, affordably, ethically and consistently, fairly!

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