Although learning about insurance may not be at the top of your list of things you love to do, if you have ever asked “What about (insert your insurance question here)?” then you need to read on. Getting the correct information starts with where you go to get it.
So, where do you get your information? Back in the day, we had these things called encyclopedias that were large books filled with information from A to Z. They were as updated as could be based on when they were printed. That could be years, but alas, they were a great resource for accurate information.
Another place to go: the Yellow Pages, which focused on where you could buy things or hire services. They listed local businesses — everything from grocery stores and pharmacies to gas stations and insurance companies. Some of those businesses even paid to display a big advertisement to make you more likely to call them.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
You might also have asked your neighbors, friends or family for recommendations. Who hasn’t done that on just about anything? Where is a good Italian restaurant? Who can fix my flat tire? And yes, where is a place to get insurance at a fair cost?
Online sources vs your friends and relatives
But that was in the past. Now you have a plethora of online sources to consult with. And online sources are better and more informed than your friends, right? Well …
Let’s start with the internet as a whole. Some online sources may be better, or worse, than others, so be sure that you know who or what those sources are.
When you search online for, say, an auto insurance quote, what are you going to get? First, paid advertisements show up at the top of your search results. Sometimes you can tell pretty easily that it is an advertisement. Sometimes it isn’t as clear.
I think we can agree that where a company or person comes up in search results does not necessarily have much to do with the legitimacy of the information provided. Someone paying to be at the top of the results when you search for auto insurance quotes doesn’t make them a good auto insurance insurer or broker.
Looking for expert tips to grow and preserve your wealth? Sign up for Building Wealth, our free, twice-weekly newsletter.
How about social media? Facebook, X, Instagram, Nextdoor, Reddit, etc., all allow anyone to put their opinion out there, whether it’s based on fact or not. It could be a doctor, a lawyer, a physicist, an insurance expert, an elected official, a 10-year-old kid, a scammer in Nigeria, the Chinese or Russian government, you name it. Some of these sources are not even people — they are code known as bots that pose as people to push out information en masse.
Where to go, then?
So where should you go to get reliable information?
Ask your family and friends. Not only do these people, we hope, want what’s best for you, but they also have firsthand knowledge of working with the insurance agent or broker they are referring you to. Nothing can beat firsthand experience.
Read nationally recognized magazines and websites, such as U.S. News and World Report, MarketWatch, Car and Driver and Kiplinger, or check other reliable sources, such as NerdWallet and AM Best, to see what they are saying about insurance companies. Are the insurers taking care of their policyholders? Are they paying their claims?
Remember: Your insurance information is only reliable if you get it from a knowledgeable source.
Want to learn more about insurance? Visit KarlSusman.com.
Related Content
- Four Reasons It May Be Time to Shop for New Insurance
- Home Insurance: How to Cut Costs Without Losing Coverage
- What Claims Adjusters Are Thinking vs What They're Saying
- Why Homeowners Insurance Has Gotten So Very Expensive
- Are You Tempted to Drop Your Homeowners Insurance?
-
Stocks Keep Climbing as Fed Meeting Nears: Stock Market TodayA stale inflation report and improving consumer sentiment did little to shift expectations for a rate cut next week.
-
Your End of Year Insurance Coverage Review ChecklistStop paying for insurance you don't need and close coverage gaps you didn't know about with this year-end insurance review.
-
Crypto Trends to Watch in 2026Cryptocurrency is still less than 20 years old, but it remains a fast-moving (and also maturing) market. Here are the crypto trends to watch for in 2026.
-
Stocks Keep Climbing as Fed Meeting Nears: Stock Market Today
A stale inflation report and improving consumer sentiment did little to shift expectations for a rate cut next week.
-
Your End of Year Insurance Coverage Review Checklist
Stop paying for insurance you don't need and close coverage gaps you didn't know about with this year-end insurance review.
-
Crypto Trends to Watch in 2026
Cryptocurrency is still less than 20 years old, but it remains a fast-moving (and also maturing) market. Here are the crypto trends to watch for in 2026.
-
Time Is Running Out to Make the Best Moves to Save on Your 2025 TaxesDon't wait until January — investors, including those with a high net worth, can snag big tax savings for 2025 (and 2026) with these strategies.
-
I'm an Insurance Pro: If You Do One Boring Task Before the End of the Year, Make It This One (It Could Save You Thousands)Who wants to check insurance policies when there's fun to be had? Still, making sure everything is up to date (coverage and deductibles) can save you a ton.
-
4 Smart Ways Retirees Can Give More to Charity, From a Financial AdviserFor retirees, tax efficiency and charitable giving should go hand in hand. After all, why not maximize your gifts and minimize the amount that goes to the IRS?
-
Small Caps Hit a New High on Rate-Cut Hope: Stock Market TodayOdds for a December rate cut remain high after the latest batch of jobs data, which helped the Russell 2000 outperform today.
-
Should You Tap Your Home Equity Before 2026?As borrowing rates and tax law shifts converge, here's what homeowners need to know before pulling equity out of their home.
