We rely on trusted professionals, our agents

Unlike other industries in which there is a cost of manufacturing the product based on things like material and labor, the insurance industry must price a product without knowing its cost at the time of the sale. One interesting aspect of insurance compared to other industries is pricing. For example, there are stock companies, which are owned and operated by shareholders; there are mutual companies, which are owned and operated by policyholders; and then there are reciprocal exchanges, which are owned by policyholders and managed by an external attorney-in-fact. Things are taken care of by one company and one agent.

With dedicated insurance agents serving them, our customers have less worry about gaps in their coverage. Farmers helps provide some of that value. In today's society, people value quality of life. We help give our customers peace of mind so they can live their lives without worrying about all the things they've worked so hard to acquire. By providing a one-stop shop for customers, we take care of the vast majority of our customers' insurance needs, making it easier for them and reducing a lot of uncertainty in their lives. And there are companies that operate under a specific legal structure. Some are just single-state or regional operations. In the United States, there are companies that specialize in certain geographic areas. Companies can also differentiate on many factors besides lines of business, types of products, form(s) of distribution, cost and service. The Farmers customer does not have to go-it-alone as many Internet and "1-800" customers have found that they have had to do. The agent is a trusted professional who helps the customer make decisions concerning his or her insurance needs.