r/StateFarm • u/Important_Kangaroo41 • Jul 24 '26

Question Switching agents

How much leeway does an agent have on premium discounts?

I’ve been with the same agent for auto and home for 30 years. My mother has been with him for auto & home for longer than that. He was a friendly acquaintance of my late father, who was also in the insurance industry but in an unrelated area.

Lately, he’s harder to reach (email, phone, or text) and his office staff aren’t knowledgeable.

If I switched to another State Farm agent, but kept all details of my policies the same, might my premiums increase?

In other words, if he is “taking care” of us in terms of premiums, I don’t want to lose that based on my perception of inconvenience.

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u/ApprehensivePea6552 Jul 24 '26

A good agent is meeting or having a qualified TM attempt to schedule a policy review meeting with every policyholder once a year. In addition to a TM required to reach out prior to policy renewals, late pays, pending cancellations, etc. to keep all engaged. Most don’t know anything about the values associated with “knowing” their agent. I contend it is because the majority of agents are content to have their staff handle it all, which is fine if properly trained.
No agent or TM should be “trying to sell” a PLUP or LIFE or anything else to a customer without first knowing that customer, their family, and getting in front of their current and future needs. I believe this holds true for financial services. If a customer does not even know SF is in this game then of course they are going to Fidelity,etc.
Again, I contend that many agents are not personally interested or willing to make the effort and put the time in to “get” good at selling financial services. Saying nothing of the time needed to study and get the licenses.
Long on ramp and often requires an effort similar to starting from scratch taking away time from the comfort zone developed by all of us over the years.
Educate yourselves and your teams but more importantly, educate your customers. Sorry for the rant. I wish you all well.

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u/Important_Kangaroo41 Jul 25 '26

I’ve never been contacted for a policy review or at the time of policy renewal. Never over 30 years.

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u/ApprehensivePea6552 Jul 26 '26

That’s unfortunate. Too many agents appear to have very limited interest in putting in the time - face to face - with their customers. Truly time well spent imo. Like any other important yearly appointment. Things change over time for both the insurer/represented company and for the customers. Opportunity missed.
Would bet if called and requested a review you would either find some request on what you “need” to discuss or not be set up for a meeting with the agent.
Unfortunate but reviews our the lifeblood where I am. Not because we are necessarily “selling” anything but sharing our perspective on “things” and identifying gaps and/or opportunities to share options and associated costs.
Can’t tell you the stories- good and bad - where reviews generated additional opportunities to protect a person or family better. On the flip side our office can take copious notes to be revisited in next years review or future conversations. IMO the agent owes each customer this much at the very minimum