What is an Insurance Credit Score?
Insurance companies use insurance credit scores to determine your risk as a policyholder. It is considered a “soft pull.” If you have a high score, you are considered less likely to turn in a claim. However, if you have a lower score, you are considered more likely to turn in a claim. This is all based on actuarial analysis of various data such as payment history, outstanding debt, and your credit mix.
Your insurance credit score plays a significant role in calculating the cost of your homeowners and auto insurance premiums. Below are some of the most crucial factors and how they are weighted:
- Payment history 40%
- Outstanding debt 30%
- Credit history length 15%
- Pursuit of new credit 10%
- Credit mix 5%
5 Tips to Protect Your Score:
- Pay all your bills on time.
- Keep your credit utilization rate at or below 30%.
- Pay down debt quickly.
- Don’t apply for retail credit cards just to save a certain percent on your first purchase with the card. These types of cards will lower your insurance credit score.
- Apply for a car loan from a bank or credit union rather than going through the dealership.
Learn more about insurance credit scores.
Anyone Can Make A Difference
I spend a lot of time volunteering, especially with teen and youth organizations in the community, such as Focus on Youth and Edge Teen Center. It’s something I’m passionate about. There is a lot of need in the community, but people often don’t know how to help or where to get started. One person can make a difference, but many people together can make even more of a difference.
One of the things I love about RiskSOURCE is the Cares program – we receive 30 paid hours per year to volunteer, along with team volunteer/fundraising efforts that we do together. We’ve worked with many different nonprofits over the years and always encourage others to get involved – whether as individuals or for advice on how to start their own Cares program at work. Below are some examples.
Recently we helped Reach Out Lakota with their Back to School program. This involved helping to organize and distributes the thousands of school supplies that were collected for local students in need.
We also did a donation and fundraising drive to bring supplies down to the Hand in Hand Ministries’ Auxier, Kentucky food pantry.
Another annual initiative is every fall we do a basket raffle for charity. Our team donates items and then raffles off the baskets to raise money for a local nonprofit.
The reason I’m highlighting all these things is to show that there are so many ways to get involved with what matters to you. For me, part of going beyond insurance as an agent means caring not only for my clients, but my community as well.
Benefits of Using an Independent Insurance Agent
Independent insurance agents represent several different insurance companies or carriers, versus just one single company. What this means for you is that that you have more coverage options. You have choices. Since RiskSOURCE is an independent insurance agency, we can find coverage best suited for you and advocate on your behalf to the insurance companies.
When you use an independent agent, you are more likely to get unbiased advice. Independent agents are familiar with all the different policies from various insurance companies versus just one. They hear about other client’s experiences with insurance companies – both positive and negative. Knowing your situation, they can guide you in the right direction.
When you have a local, independent agent that gets to know you, you have an advocate. They know the risks of your specific area and have more information to use to help you obtain better coverage. Independent agents familiar with you can advise you as your life circumstances change.
We’d love to hear from you – please reach out! We are here to help.
