John “J.T.” Dozier, president of Dozier Insurance Agency in the Eighth and State Plaza, says people need to consider three things when they shop for insurance.
“You need to feel good about the coverage, the premium amount and the service you will receive from the company,” says Dozier. “If you take out any one of those three parts of the triangle, you will not be satisfied with the insurance product you’ve purchased.”
Dozier is a third-generation insurance expert. His grandfather started a small insurance agency in central Missouri in the early 1950s. Dozier’s father worked in that agency before starting his own business in Quincy in 1972. Dozer joined him in 1980 and now serves as President and CEO of the company, which will mark its 40th anniversary of continuous operation in Quincy in March of next year.
As an independent insurance agent, Dozier works with over 10 property and casualty companies. Some are well known companies, such as Travelers, Progressive and Hartford, and others are lesser known but are still very secure. He assists clients looking for home, auto, life, health, Medicare supplemental and commercial insurance.
“Being independent gives me more products and better pricing,” says Dozier. “I look for special discounts from the various companies that are made for specific situations. That flexibility allows me to be able to do more for my clients.”
Advances in technology have also allowed Dozier to do more for his clients. In the early 1970s, the only technology in the office was a telephone and an adding machine. Premium quotes for each company could take up to 30 minutes to calculate by hand and there was a waiting period of several days before a client knew if they were accepted and if the premium quote needed to be adjusted. Today, with computers and the Internet, Dozier enters a client’s information and gets quotes from several different companies within minutes. Once paid for, the coverage is immediate.
“Can someone go online and get insurance for themselves? Sure,” Dozier says, “but who are you going to call when you have a question about your coverage, when your life situation changes and you need to adjust something, or when you need to file a claim? We offer service that is invaluable to our clients…and it’s always more comforting to deal with someone you know when an emergency arises. Do your research on the Internet, but then go to a local company for the actual product, many times at the same price.”
When a prospective client calls the Dozier Insurance Agency for a quote, Dozier has three goals.
“The first goal is to make sure that they are insured. Limited or expensive insurance is better than no insurance at all,” he says. “The second goal is to make sure that they are paying the most reasonable price. We don’t have the lowest price every time, and we will advise the client to stay with their current provider if that coverage is better.
“Finally, we’d like for them to do business with us—a locally owned company that has roots in and a commitment to our community,” says Dozier, who is a long-time member of the Chamber’s Ambassador Club, Rotary, Scottish Rite Free Masons, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Project Red Ribbon. He also has been involved in Scouting and the Jaycees.
For a free insurance quote, call Dozier or Office Manager Kelley Brace Dallmier at (217) 224-3121 or visit them online at www.dozierinsurance.com.
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