Behind the scenes of the buying process
Why buying insurance still feels confusing, how carriers actually evaluate risk, and why the marketplace is never static.
New book · Samuel J. Summers
The Commercial Insurance Buyer’s Playbook
How to buy smarter coverage, avoid costly insurance gaps, and get better results from your agent. Most business owners believe they understand their insurance until the moment they need it.
Inside the Playbook
Twelve chapters in four parts, plus an appendix of coverage deep dives and a glossary of terms to know.
Coverage nuances most buyers don’t see until it’s too late
Where coverage gaps hide, what happens when theory meets a real claim, and the cost of over- and under-insuring.
Brokers, agents and the incentives you don’t see
What an agent is paid to do, the questions to ask when selecting one, and when an agent adds the most value.
Taking control without becoming an expert
How to prepare for renewal strategically, build an internal decision framework, and recognize a good program.
What you will take away
You will learn
This is not a guide to buying the cheapest policy. It is a guide to buying insurance intentionally, understanding tradeoffs, and protecting your business when it matters most.
- How the insurance market evaluates your business before quoting terms
- Why shopping insurance the wrong way drives premiums higher
- How agent incentives affect service and outcomes
- Where coverage fails most often, and how to prevent it
- How to turn insurance from a reactive expense into a strategic advantage
Reader reviews
What readers say
“As a risk management professional, I truly wish all business owners and insurance decision makers could have a copy of this book! In every day language the author explains many important and little-known concepts that place the business owner in the driver’s seat.”
“There really aren’t a lot of good resources out there on this topic, especially ones that are actually easy to understand. Sam did a great job explaining what business owners should really be looking for beyond just price.”
“What stood out to me is how well it explains… understanding what you actually have, where the potential gaps are, and asking the right questions before there’s a claim.”
“I always try to find books that can break down complex ideas into manageable pieces of information and this is the book for commercial insurance.”
Free resource
Five questions to ask your agent
A one-page renewal handout: how to tell whether your agent is representing you or just processing your renewal.
Formats & pricing
Choose your edition
Available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover and Kindle.
| Edition | Price |
|---|---|
| Kindle | $9.99 |
| Paperback | $24.99 |
| Hardcover, case laminate | $34.99 |
| Hardcover, dust jacket | $39.99 |
ISBN 979-8-9962219-6-7 paperback · 979-8-9962219-9-8 hardcover · 979-8-9962219-8-1 paperback (IngramSpark)
About the author
Samuel J. Summers
Samuel J. Summers is an Equity Partner and Commercial Lines Producer at Sihle Insurance Group in Tampa, Florida, and the founder of Samuel J. Summers Inc. He wrote this book to give business owners the same clarity he brings to every client conversation, before a gap in coverage costs them. His practice focuses on large property, construction and high-hazard casualty, and specialized workers’ compensation for clients across the country.
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