Straight Answers, Real Numbers.

I'm a local business owner in Wentzville with 14 years in insurance and a 5.0 rating across 68 Google reviews. I personally shop 20+ carriers for you, you deal with me directly instead of a call center, and I re-shop your coverage at renewal so your price stays competitive.

An independent insurance agent is licensed to sell policies from many insurance companies instead of just one. I work with 20+ carriers, including Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Safeco, Progressive, Nationwide and The Hartford, so I can shop your home and auto coverage across all of them and find the best fit for your situation, not just the one company I work for.

Yes. Earnest Agency LLC is located at 5 Tiffany Lynn Ct, Wentzville, MO 63385, and serves O'Fallon, St. Peters, St. Charles, Lake St. Louis, Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie and the rest of St. Charles, St. Louis, Warren and Lincoln Counties. Most clients handle everything by phone, text or email. Call or text 636-633-6881 to set up a time.

Earnest Agency LLC writes with 20+ carriers in Missouri, including Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Safeco, Progressive, Nationwide, National General, Foremost and The Hartford, plus private flood markets. That lets me match your home, auto or business to the company that prices your situation best.

A captive agent works for one company, like State Farm, Allstate or Farmers, and can only offer that company's price, even when it stops being competitive. An independent agent represents many companies. When your rate goes up at renewal, I re-shop your policy across my carrier network instead of telling you to accept it.

No. Carriers pay agents a commission that's already built into the premium, so you pay the same price whether you buy direct or through an agent. What you get with me is someone who shops the market for you, reviews your coverage every year, and handles policy changes and claims questions.

People use the terms interchangeably. Both shop multiple insurance companies for you. The key point is that you get options from many carriers instead of one, and one local person handling everything.

Earnest Agency LLC is based in Wentzville and serves more than 1,000 households across St. Charles, St. Louis, Warren and Lincoln Counties, including O'Fallon, St. Peters, St. Charles, Lake St. Louis, Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, Foristell, Wright City, Warrenton, Troy, Winfield and Moscow Mills. I'm licensed throughout Missouri and have been in the business for 14 years.

Yes. I write boats, motorcycles, RVs, ATVs and other toys, along with life insurance, umbrella policies and small business coverage, so everything can be handled in one place.

Yes. Earnest Agency LLC runs a new giveaway every month for Missouri residents 21 and older, limited to one entry per household. See this month's giveaway and enter here.

Missouri law doesn't require homeowners insurance, but if you have a mortgage your lender will. Even with the house paid off, your home is usually your biggest asset, and a homeowners policy is what protects it from fire, wind, hail, theft and liability claims. See how I shop homeowners coverage.

It depends on your home's rebuild cost, age, roof, claims history, credit-based insurance score and deductible choices. Two similar houses on the same street can get very different prices from different carriers, which is why comparing quotes from several companies matters so much.

Home insurance rates have been climbing across St. Charles, St. Louis, Warren and Lincoln Counties, driven by hail and wind claims and higher building costs. Your dwelling coverage also rises each year with construction costs. If your renewal came in higher than expected, let me see what else is out there before you just pay it.

Yes. Standard homeowners policies cover windstorm, hail and lightning damage unless your policy specifically excludes them. What catches people off guard is the deductible. Many Missouri policies carry a separate wind/hail deductible, and some older roofs are only covered at actual cash value.

Many Missouri policies have a separate deductible for wind and hail, often 1% to 2% of your dwelling coverage instead of a flat dollar amount. On a $350,000 home, a 2% wind/hail deductible is $7,000 out of pocket. Check this number before storm season, not after.

Replacement cost pays what it takes to put a new roof on today. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation, so on an older roof you could be covering thousands of dollars yourself after a hail claim. Many policies quietly switch roofs to actual cash value as they age. I'll tell you exactly which one you have.

Your dwelling coverage should match what it would cost to rebuild your home today, not its market value or what you paid for it. Home values and construction costs have jumped in our area, so if your limits haven't been reviewed in the last couple of years, there's a real chance you're underinsured. I review that number with you on every quote.

No, standard homeowners policies exclude flood. Flood coverage is a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood carrier. Most flood policies have a 30-day waiting period, so buy it before you need it.

Often, yes. Private flood carriers price each home individually and frequently beat NFIP rates, especially for homes that aren't in the highest-risk zones. If you're anywhere near the Missouri or Mississippi, or you've been told flood insurance is out of reach, I can shop both and show you the difference.

Not automatically. Water backup coverage is usually an endorsement you add to your policy. For homes with finished basements, which are common across St. Charles County, it's one of the most valuable coverages you can add.

Wentzville and the rest of St. Charles County sit within reach of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, and standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake damage. Missouri requires insurers to offer earthquake coverage, and it can often be added for a modest cost. It's worth pricing out.

Yes. The HOA's master policy covers some of the building, but what it leaves out varies a lot from one community to the next. Your own policy needs to fill the gaps without paying for coverage the HOA already has. I review the master policy and build your coverage around it, and I can move fast when you're close to closing.

The biggest savings usually come from bundling home and auto, adjusting your deductible, a newer roof, and security or smart-home devices. The other big lever is shopping carriers, and I can compare 20+ companies in one conversation. It takes about 5 minutes to find out if you're overpaying.

Call or text me at 636-633-6881 or request a free quote online. Have your address, your current declarations page and your roof age handy. I'll compare carriers and walk you through the options, usually the same day. There's no cost and no pressure.

Missouri requires liability limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, $25,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000/$50,000. Those minimums are low compared to what a serious accident costs, so I recommend at least 100/300/100 to protect your assets.

Auto rates have climbed across Missouri and nationwide because of higher repair costs, more expensive parts, longer repair times and more severe weather. Even if you're claim-free, carriers adjust rates based on overall losses in your area. As an independent agent, I shop multiple carriers at renewal to make sure you're still getting the best available rate.

Almost always, adding them to your policy is cheaper than a separate one. To keep costs down, use good student discounts and defensive driving courses, and put your teen on the oldest, least valuable car. Call me and we'll run the numbers for your situation.

For most households, liability limits of at least 100/300/100 ($100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, $100,000 property damage), matching uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and comprehensive and collision on any vehicle you couldn't afford to replace. I tailor it to your vehicles, drivers and assets.

Liability only pays for damage you cause to others. Comprehensive covers your own car for theft, hail, fire, animal strikes and falling trees. Collision covers your car when you hit something or it rolls over. If you couldn't easily replace your vehicle out of pocket, or you have a loan or lease, you need both.

Bundle your auto with your home, keep a clean driving record, and choose deductibles that fit your budget. Depending on the carrier, you can also save with paperless billing, paying in full, good-student discounts and telematics programs that track safe driving. Shopping carriers is still the biggest lever, and I compare 20+ at once.

A speeding ticket typically raises your rate at your next renewal, and most carriers keep it on your rating for three to five years. How much it costs depends heavily on the carrier, since each one weighs violations differently. That's exactly when shopping across multiple companies pays off.

Yes, and it happens more often than people expect. Carrier pricing changes constantly, so if nobody's checking your policy, you're probably leaving money on the table.

Most carriers give a multi-policy discount on both the home and the auto when you bundle. The savings vary by carrier, which is another reason to compare. Sometimes the best price is splitting home and auto between two companies, and I check both ways.

Yes, in most cases. Missouri requires workers' compensation for businesses with five or more employees, and construction-industry businesses must carry it with just one employee. Even when it isn't required, it protects you from paying an injured employee's medical bills and lost wages out of pocket.

Most small businesses start with a Business Owner's Policy (BOP), which combines general liability and business property coverage at a lower price than buying them separately. From there you may need workers' compensation, commercial auto for vehicles titled to the business, professional liability, or cyber coverage. Tell me about your business and I'll build the right package.

General liability covers third-party claims, like a customer slipping in your shop or damage you cause at a client's property. A Business Owner's Policy (BOP) bundles that same general liability with commercial property coverage for your building, equipment, tools and inventory, usually at a lower price than buying both separately.

Commercial general liability (CGL) covers third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage and personal or advertising injury, like libel or slander. If a customer slips and falls at your business, it pays their medical bills, and if you're sued, it pays your legal defense.

For contractors, general liability covers damage you cause to a client's property and injuries to third parties on the job site, plus your legal defense. Most general contractors and homeowners will ask for a certificate of insurance before you start work. I can issue certificates quickly so you don't lose jobs waiting on paperwork.

If the vehicle is titled to your business, or you use it mainly for work, hauling tools or equipment, or transporting employees, you need a commercial auto policy. A personal auto policy can deny a claim that happens during business use.

Yes. You can switch any time, and your old carrier refunds the unused premium. I set up the new policy first, then handle the cancellation paperwork so there's no gap in coverage.

No. I send the new policy information to your mortgage company so escrow pays the new carrier. Any refund from your old carrier usually goes back to you or into escrow.

Every year at renewal, and any time something big changes: a new roof, a remodel, a new driver or a new vehicle. I re-shop my clients' policies at renewal so you're not stuck paying a price that's stopped being competitive.

You can file directly with your carrier's 24-hour claims line, and you can always call me first. I'll help you decide whether filing makes sense, point you to the right number, and stay involved if you need help along the way.

Your Initial Enrollment Period starts 3 months before your 65th birthday month and ends 3 months after it. Missing it can mean permanent late enrollment penalties. If you're still working and covered by an employer plan, you may be able to delay without penalty. Call me before your 65th birthday and we'll map out the right timing for you.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare, lets you see any doctor who accepts Medicare nationwide, and keeps costs predictable with a higher premium. Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare, often adds dental, vision and drug coverage for a low premium, but usually limits you to a network. The right choice depends on your health, doctors, budget and travel. See Medicare options.