Insurance policies protect you against bad luck. Really bad luck—the kind that could cost you a ton of money if you had to dig into your accounts to pay it.

An insurance agent is someone who is licensed by your state to sell you those insurance policies. You don’t pay insurance agents directly. They receive a salary from an insurance company or a commission when they sell you a policy.

Most agents sell all types of insurances—including auto, life, homeowner’s, disability, long-term care and health coverage. But many agents are master salespeople, so you need to know as much as possible about coverage and be prepared to ask good questions to ensure you get a policy with the most coverage for the lowest possible annual premium.