20+ Carriers. One Agent. Better Options for Rhode Island.
As an independent agency, we work with more than 20 top-rated insurance companies — which means we shop the market on your behalf, not on behalf of any single carrier. When your renewal comes up, we compare. When your situation changes, we adjust. You get the right coverage at the most competitive rate we can find, and you never have to change agents to change carriers.
Every company on our panel is rated by AM Best for financial strength. These are carriers we'd recommend to our own families — because in many cases, we have.
What It Means to Work with an Independent Agency
Captive agents — those who work for a single insurance company — can only offer you what that one company sells. If their rates go up, your options are limited. If their product doesn't fit your situation, you may not hear about it.
We work differently. As an independent agency, we hold appointments with more than 20 carriers across personal, commercial, and life insurance lines. That independence belongs to you as much as it does to us.
- Your rate is compared across multiple carriers — not just quoted from one.
- If a carrier raises rates at renewal, we can move your coverage without you losing your agent.
- You get access to national carriers like Travelers, Nationwide, Allstate, and Progressive alongside regional specialists like Beacon Mutual.
- Every carrier on our panel is evaluated for financial strength — so you're covered by a company that can actually pay a claim.
- Our relationships with carriers have been built over 40+ years of doing business in Rhode Island.
Financially Strong Carriers You Can Count On
A low premium means very little if the company behind the policy can't pay when something goes wrong. That's why every carrier we work with carries an AM Best rating — an independent measure of financial stability and claims-paying ability.
AM Best ratings are the industry standard for evaluating insurance company strength. When we place your coverage, we're placing it with companies that have earned that credibility — not just companies that offered the lowest commission.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Carriers
Why does it matter how many carriers an agency works with?
More carriers means more options at every renewal. Instead of accepting whatever rate one company offers, we compare your coverage across our full panel and bring you the most competitive option available for your situation.
Are all of your carriers financially rated?
Yes. Every carrier we work with is rated by AM Best for financial strength and claims-paying ability. We don't place coverage with companies we wouldn't trust to pay a claim.
Can I switch carriers without switching agents?
Yes. Because we're an independent agency, our carrier appointments aren't tied to any single company. If a better option becomes available — at renewal or at any point — we can move your coverage while you stay with us.
Do you work with carriers for both personal and business insurance?
We do. Our panel includes carriers across personal lines — auto, home, boat, flood, umbrella — as well as commercial coverage for Rhode Island businesses. We also have life insurance and annuity carriers available through our in-house life specialist.
Change Your Carrier. Keep Your Agent.
One concern we hear from people considering a switch is whether they'll lose access to their current carrier — or have to start over with someone new. With Podmaska, that's not how it works.
Our carrier relationships belong to the agency. If a better rate or a better product becomes available through a different carrier, we make the move on your behalf. Your coverage changes. Your agent doesn't.
That continuity matters in a state as relationship-driven as Rhode Island. We've been here for 40 years. We're not going anywhere.