The value has to be real.
I believe in the goodwill of people. Most people are trying to make a responsible decision for themselves and their families, and they deserve a straightforward conversation.
In my time working with Allstate, I’ve heard plenty of sales training about “building value,” upselling, and adding products such as a personal umbrella policy whether or not the need is clear. Additional coverage can be valuable, but I want a real reason for recommending it. I am not interested in loading a policy with every available option just to make a larger sale.
Sometimes switching makes sense because the rate is extremely competitive. Sometimes the difference is the coverage, advice, and help available from my agency and service team when you need documents, information sent to a mortgage officer, or support during a claim. That service matters, but no agent or service team can guarantee how a future claim will be decided. Coverage always depends on the policy terms and the facts of the loss.
Insurance is a conversation about risk tolerance.
You’re paying for something you may never use. If you do need it, I want you to understand the coverage you selected, the resources available to you, and the costs or losses you may still have to handle yourself.
There is no point in building the most expensive version of a policy if the premium itself becomes a financial burden. My job is to explain the tradeoffs. That includes limits, deductibles, and uninsured or underinsured motorist choices such as UMBI or UMPD where those options are available.
I am willing to show what a policy looks like with an optional coverage reduced or removed when the law and carrier allow it. I will also explain plainly what would not be covered in the situations that protection was designed for. Any required state or carrier selection and rejection forms still apply. A lower premium is not helpful if you do not understand the risk you are keeping.
Coverage can often be revisited later as your needs and budget change, subject to the options, pricing, and requirements available at that time. A later change cannot apply backward to a loss that already happened.
I don’t need to pressure you into a policy.
I’m fortunate to work for Kory and Lindsey Rykman, who supply me with a lot of opportunities to help people. I say this plainly, not dismissively: I work efficiently, I make a healthy living in a state with high insurance premiums, and I do not need to pressure anyone into buying from me.
When I follow up, I ask you to compare your current coverage with what I quoted and tell me whether the price is high. The main times I lean on traditional “objection handling” are when the savings are unusually large and the only hesitation is the expected hassle of switching, or when someone has a service problem that I know my agency can address. Even then, I explain the process and let you decide.
I’ve had deep conversations, and some disagreements, with former agency owners and sales managers about this approach. I still believe it is the right way to treat people. My faith is important to me, and I trust that God will provide while I focus on doing right by the person in front of me.
I respect your time and want a clear answer.
I shop for auto, property, life, and health insurance. I buy cars, and I’m on the receiving end of sales conversations just like everyone else. That is why I am not a fan of repeatedly calling someone or withholding a quote until I can get them on the phone to “close” them. I do not believe good selling or closing requires me to make the process harder for you.
A great deal can be handled through text and email. Once the details are in place, a focused 15–30 minute call can often be enough to adjust the coverage and set up the policies. Some homes, drivers, coverage questions, or payment arrangements take longer, and I will be honest when they do.
I do the homework before asking you to repeat it.
When I quote a home, I start with local property records through qPublic where the jurisdiction participates, along with available property information on Zillow and Realtor.com. They help me understand the property, but they are only starting points. An assessed value, listing price, Zestimate, or other market estimate is not the cost to rebuild a home.
I use the carrier’s replacement-cost estimator and then verify the property details with you. That includes whether the foundation is a basement, crawl space, or slab; what percentage of a basement is finished; the construction features; and whether the roof was replaced in the last 12 months. We can confirm those details by text, email, or phone. The result is a replacement-cost estimate based on the verified information, not a promise of an exact future rebuilding cost.
There’s a practical reason I ask about your current policy.
I ask what you currently pay and who services your mortgage because I think about this as a consumer. With your permission, and only where the lender’s authorized process is available, I may be able to verify current insurance information through MyCoverageInfo for some loans serviced by companies such as PennyMac, Wells Fargo, or PNC. That access is not public or unrestricted, and it is not available for every lender or loan.
When that authorized route is available, it can save an hour or two of back-and-forth and help me make a useful comparison sooner. If it is not available, I’ll ask you for the information directly. If switching does not make sense now, I would rather say so and, with your permission, follow up later than spend hours trying to force a result that does not fit.
I’m a customer, too.
I will pay more when the service, advice, and coverage are worth it, but I have a limit. I understand that you do too. I try every day to look at the quote the way I would if I were the person receiving it.
I know an efficient process can sometimes feel less personal, but the intention behind mine is the golden rule: I treat you the way I would want to be treated. If I’m asking you to pay $1,000 or $2,000 more, let’s be realistic: you probably are not going to switch unless the difference genuinely makes sense to you. I understand that. My job is to explain the options honestly and respect your answer.
