When it comes to protecting your assets, livelihood and loved ones in Minnesota, insurance isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a strategy. That’s where InsuredMN (National Insurance Brokers – Hice Agency) steps in, providing independent brokerage services focused on your unique risks and goals. In this post, we’ll explore:
- What InsuredMN offers
- Why independent brokerage matters in Minnesota
- The typical process of working with them
- How to evaluate an insurance broker / agency
- Key considerations for individuals, families, and business owners
By the end, you’ll better understand how working with InsuredMN might fit your insurance-planning needs.
What InsuredMN Offers
InsuredMN positions itself as a full-service independent insurance brokerage serving Minnesota with broad coverage options and local presence. According to their website:
- They represent over 40 insurance carriers and sample over 300 insurance products to compare and tailor coverage.
- They offer a wide range of personal and business coverage lines: auto (liability, collision, comprehensive), home/property (including high-value homes, water backup, flood considerations), life (term, whole, universal), health (individual, family, Medicare supplements), business & specialty insurance (general liability, commercial auto, workers’ compensation, specialty recreation/risk lines) and recreation assets (boats, RVs) for the Minnesota lifestyle.
- They emphasize local presence and responsive service with multiple offices in Minnesota (e.g., Baxter, Grand Rapids, Bloomington, Clearwater) and focus on being on your side—not tied to one insurer.
- They also provide educational content and resources—blog posts explaining insurance basics, regional risks (weather events, seasonal recreation, vehicle exposures) and broker-vs-captive agent differences.
In other words, InsuredMN aims to be a broker that helps you navigate the complexity of insurance—to find the right coverage, not just the cheapest policy.
Why Independent Brokerage Matters in Minnesota
Insurance needs in Minnesota bring special considerations—and choosing an independent broker like InsuredMN offers meaningful advantages:
- Carrier diversity = more choice: Because independent brokers are not locked into a single company, you benefit from comparisons across multiple carriers. This enhances chances of finding better rates, better coverage and fewer gaps. For example, InsuredMN highlights access to 40+ carriers.
- Local expertise & risk awareness: Minnesota’s climate and lifestyle mean you face risks like severe storms, winter weather damage, lake-home exposures, seasonal recreation (boats, cabins, RVs) and unique business exposures. InsuredMN’s content specifically mentions understanding those risks.
- Tailored coverage & ongoing review: Life changes—but insurance often doesn’t unless reviewed. Independent brokers can proactively review your policy, update limits and ensure your coverage keeps up with new cars, houses, businesses, or lifestyle changes. Their blog emphasizes this.
- Advocate mindset: When you’re working with a broker who acts in your best interest, you’re more likely to get advice that looks out for you—not just what fits inside a single company’s offerings. InsuredMN emphasizes this feature.
If you’re looking for smart, locally-aware insurance guidance in Minnesota, independent brokers like InsuredMN bring more flexibility and potentially better alignment than captive agents.
Typical Process: Working with InsuredMN
Here’s a simplified roadmap of how a relationship with InsuredMN might unfold:
- Initial consultation / discovery
- You talk with a broker about your life stage, assets (car, home, recreation gear), business exposures if relevant, budget, and current insurance status.
- They ask about recent changes: new vehicle, home improvements, business growth, family changes.
- Market review & carrier comparison
- The broker pulls quotes from multiple carriers across different lines (auto, home, business, life) and compares coverage levels, deductibles, endorsements, exclusions, bundling options.
- For example, InsuredMN mentions working across 40+ carriers and 300+ products.
- Recommendation & explanation
- The broker presents you with coverage options: what changes with each carrier, which endorsements are included/optional, what you’re paying and why.
- They explain trade-offs (cheap premium vs coverage gaps, deductible vs out-of-pocket, bundling vs separate policies).
- Policy selection & implementation
- Once you decide what fits your risk profile and budget, the broker helps you submit applications, coordinate with carriers, ensure policy activation and document delivery.
- They also help you understand how to file claims, what your rights are under Minnesota regulation (e.g., via the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Insurance Division).
- Ongoing review & support
- The broker conducts periodic reviews (annually or after major life/business changes), looks for renewal deals, checks for changes in coverage needs or policy paperwork.
- They assist when claims happen—helping you navigate the process rather than leaving you to deal directly with the insurer alone.
By engaging in this process, you’re less likely to fall into gaps of coverage or pay for unnecessary overlap, and more likely to have policies aligned with your current life/business circumstances.
How to Evaluate an Insurance Broker / Agency
If you’re comparing InsuredMN with other agencies (or assessing whether to engage them), here are key criteria to consider:
- Licensing & professionalism: Are the brokers licensed in Minnesota? Are they members of recognized trade associations or networks? You can check via the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
- Carrier access: Do they work with multiple carriers rather than being tied to a single one? InsuredMN notes access to 40+ carriers.
- Range of coverages: Do they handle personal lines (auto, home, life, health) and business/specialty lines (commercial auto, liability, recreation vehicles)? InsuredMN’s service list is broad.
- Local footprint and responsiveness: Do they have offices or presence in your region? Can they respond quickly? InsuredMN has branches in Baxter, Grand Rapids, Bloomington, etc.
- Education & clarity: Do they explain policies clearly, talk you through trade-offs, and provide resources (blogs, guides)? InsuredMN produces educational content.
- Claims support and service reputation: How do they handle claims advocacy? What do client reviews say? While specific reviews weren’t deeply covered here, the blog emphasises value in broker support.
- Cost vs value vs coverage fit: The cheapest policy isn’t always the best—coverage gaps or weak service can cost far more later. InsuredMN emphasises this point about avoiding over- or under-insurance.
When interviewing or comparing any broker/agency, some good questions to ask include:
- “Which carriers do you use and why?”
- “How often will you review my coverage?”
- “What happens if I have a claim—who supports me?”
- “Are there policy gaps I should be aware of (especially for Minnesota risks)?”
- “How do you charge or how are you compensated (commission, fees)?”
- “What special coverage do you recommend for recreation/home/seasonal risks in Minnesota?”
The answers should give you confidence—not just a policy purchase, but an ongoing relationship.
Key Considerations for Individuals, Families & Business Owners
Here are tailored bullet points depending on what kind of client you are:
For Individuals / Families:
- Review your auto and home insurance each year, especially if you’ve had changes (vehicle upgrade, teen driver, home remodeling, adding a recreation asset).
- Ensure your home policy accounts for Minnesota’s risks: snow/ice damage, lake-home exposures, water backup/flood possibilities. InsuredMN’s personal-insurance guide covers this.
- Consider bundling home + auto + life for potential discounts—but ensure coverage fit remains solid, not just cheaper premium.
- If you have second homes, cabins, boats, ATVs or RVs—ask about recreation or seasonal-asset policies and endorsements.
- Understand life insurance (term vs permanent) if you’re protecting a spouse or children, or have a mortgage.
For Business Owners:
- If you operate a business, ensure you have the right liability, commercial property, workers’ comp, commercial auto and specialty coverage. Independent brokers like InsuredMN emphasize business lines.
- Make sure your inventory, premises, equipment and exposures are properly valued and described—especially with seasonal businesses.
- Ask your broker to review your policies annually to adjust for growth, asset additions, staffing changes or new operational risks.
- Ensure you have the right liability limits—and consider umbrella/excess liability if you have significant assets or exposure.
General Considerations:
- Life changes (marriage, children, home purchase, new vehicle, retirement) trigger insurance reviews. Don’t assume “if it’s the same policy it’s still fine.”
- Ask about policy exclusions, endorsements, and coverage limits—especially for special assets or risks common in Minnesota (e.g., lakeside properties, weather damage, recreational vehicles).
- Make sure you maintain clear records, know how to file a claim, and know who your broker is when day-to-day changes occur.
- Use the broker’s education tools and be an informed consumer. A good broker helps you understand what you’re buying—not just sign a form. InsuredMN underscores this.
- Minnesota Department of Commerce – Insurance Division
