BY JOHN CATTAU, MANAGING PARTNER OF KIRK CREEK INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC

With Robert Duvall’s recent passing, I had to flick on Mario Puzo’s The Godfather (for the 1,597th time).  You’ll recall, after the Don was shot, Hagen attempts to calm Sonny down (James Cahn): “Even the shooting of your father was business, not personal, Sonny!”

And that, Mario Puzo screenplay fanboys, may be the healthiest way to think about your insurance policy. 

Loyalty.  You might be fooled into thinking that sticking with the same carrier for years is a virtue, even when premiums climb. It feels like you are being disloyal if you ask for a quote. But smart consumers comparison-shop mortgages, cell phone plans, even garbage collection. Reviewing your insurance should feel just as normal.

And remember that insurance companies don’t price based on loyalty. They price based on risk models, claims data, and market cycles. The carrier that was most competitive for you three years ago may not be today.

Here’s the good news: You can shop your insurance at any time—even mid-policy. Most companies will refund unused premium if you switch. There’s no penalty for reviewing your options.

Shopping doesn’t mean chasing the cheapest number. It means reviewing the contract carefully: deductibles, replacement cost assumptions, liability limits, exclusions.

So this year, pretend that your insurance carrier is named Sonny, and repeat Michael’s famous follow up line to yourself (echoing Tom’s line earlier in the scene): “It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business.”  Because when it comes to protecting your home, car, and assets, it’s not personal.

John Cattau, Managing Partner of Kirk Creek Insurance Services, LLC is a New York State licensed insurance broker BR-1917908. He can be reached at 929-456-2265.  Visit www.kirkcreekinsurance.com for more information.