» You can buy many insurance products without help from an agent.
» Typically potential policyholders will be contacted by mail, or they can call a toll-free number to apply for a product.
» The advantage of this type of distribution system is that expenses are usually much lower because there are no agent commissions to be paid.
» These savings can be passed onto the consumer through lower premiums.
» The main disadvantage is that the policyholder does not receive as much, or sometimes any, personal service either when buying a product or filing a claim.