That is what I think when I think of an insurance agent.  See when you sign up through an agent you essentially hire a resource, an advocate, a personal shopper, a friend, a source of funds for your charity, a referral source, a new connection, etc.  You also spend locally and help strengthen your local economy.  Yet you do not pay for any of this the insurance company providing the coverage does.  Why would you not want to hire all those people for no additional money than what you already spend on insurance?  I have no idea.