The life of an independent insurance agent is all about being the middle man. You only have to listen to a GEICO ad to know that is true. Cut out the middle man and save 15 percent.

Unfortunately, like Rodney Dangerfield, independent agents dont get no respect for the most part either.

Thats a real one-two punch that just drains the life out of an agent. Its no wonder agents are not encouraging their children to join the family agency and why so many are looking forward to selling their agencies and retiring.

Independent agents are caught in the middle of so many issues, and when it comes time to blame someone, they are usually the scapegoat.

When Katrina victims realized they didnt have coverage for flooding, it was the agents who were blamed for not selling them the coverage. It wasnt because consumers rejected the coverage, choosing to save money with lower premiums while assuming the government would take care of them if the the worst case scenario arrived, which it did with Katrina.

When megabrokers and insurance companies got caught cutting inappropriate deals to steer clients for cash, they didnt suffer. It was the Main Street agents who lost the contingent commissions they worked so hard to earn every year. Most agents worked very hard selecting customers who had a better-than-average chance of not having a loss and placing them with quality insurance companies at a competitive rate.

When consumers located in coastal areas cant get coverage, or have to pay significantly more for property insurance that provides less coverage, no one blames the companies, the regulators, or the legislators. They blame their insurance agents. The agent is the one who hears the complaints and criticism.

When consumers cant get a quick, accurate, and bindable quote for their insurance they dont blame the companies, they blame the agent. They make the agent pay by going to a direct response company or a direct writer who can do what the independent agent cant. What consumers dont know is that many times what they believe is a positive buying experience will come back to haunt them later. They find out too late that they purchased inadequate or inappropriate coverage and they and their families suffer financially after a serious loss.

Consumers dont care that independent agent companies are dragging their feet on this important issue. They especially dont care when they can buy the coverage directly from that same company, getting a quick, accurate, and bindable quote. Many consumers dont understand the value that access to multiple companies and professional advice and service from an independent agent brings to the insurance buying proposition.

The same holds true with the replacement cost estimators used by independent agents to evaluate homes and commercial property. When the final results for various carriers on the same property provide such a wide range of values, the customer blames the independent agent, not the insurance companies or the vendors who provide the estimators.

I could go on and on with example after example. My point is this; most independent agents provide extraordinary advice, coverage, and claims service to their clients. They have only the best interest of their client at heart when they provide them insurance coverage. Although they are contractually bound to the companies they represent as agents, they put the well being of their clients first in all decisions. If you ask most independent agent clients with whom they are insured, they will almost always indicate their agent or their agency.

Its because of this special relationship and an unusually strong desire to properly protect their clients that independent agents are willing to accept being the infamous middle man and not getting no respect.

I hope some day soon independent agents can find a way to better communicate the important services they offer and that consumers will come to appreciate the invaluable service they provide. If not, independent agents could become extinct or eventually be limited to handling only sophisticated commercial insurance. If that should happen, consumers may find out too late what an important advocate and partner they let slip away.

As IIABNY member advocate and assistant vice president of member programs, Jamie Deapo acts as communicator between agent, company, and trade association. His 15 years of experience as an independent agent coupled with a background in underwriting and marketing for insurance companies has given him a well-rounded perspective. A daily dose of conversation with independent agents from every corner of New York helps him understand the issues and concerns of the day. Deapo is also the outspoken voice on IIABNYs Word on the Street Podcast. Listen to these candid conversations at www.iiabny.org, by clicking on the News link on the left-hand side of the homepage, then Newsletters and Publications and Word on the Street Podcast.