An independent agent is a person who doesn’t work strictly for one insurance company. They can give you information about a number of policies from multiple companies, which broadens your choices and may help you land a better deal. Often, these people work solely on commission.An agent who works for just one insurance company is sometimes called a “captive” agent. If you want a go-to person who can guide you through each step of the process, consider a captive agent. Bear in mind, however, that the options a captive agent presents may be more limited.