ANGOLA – An insurance company almost like Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Beth Groves has opened an independent office that, although still connected to the parent company, is itself.
In Steuben County, Groves is the first and only owner of an insurance agency connected to the main office.
“I’ve been with the Farm Bureau, this year it’s been 22 years,” said Groves.
In July of this year he was approved for an Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance program that was designed to expand the network of agents throughout the state to depending on the number of people in the villages.
“We may be able to open an additional agency,” Groves said. “Angola met the debt standards.”
Groves applied for the program. He said, when you become an entrepreneur, “you see things a little differently than working for a big company.”
Groves then prepared a 13-page long business plan focusing on continued excellence in service and a good location for his independent office which he presented to the parent company, and the plan was approved.
“We went through it, looked at all the numbers and decided we would support an additional agency,” Groves said.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance is an insurance company that provides home, farm, health, business, life and other insurance plans. Unlike many other insurance agencies Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance is an Indiana based organization.
“There is a Bureau of Agriculture in every state, almost every state, but we are operating independently,” said Groves.
The advantage of handling claims independently in all states in other states, such as Florida or California, does not affect the bottom line of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, unlike national insurance companies where what happens in one state affects the bottom lines in it. others.
When the Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance decided to expand it decided for a program to encourage agents in some communities to open their own agencies with support from the parent company.
Freelancers allow the parent company to expand its operations at lower costs because independent agents are responsible for rent, equipment and staff. Groves has two employees – deputy Mike Nahrwold and office manager Monica Houser.
Groves’ benefits include a competitive compensation rate and the thrill of running his own business. In addition, his advertising budget works for himself now, but at first he worked in the company’s office with other agents, although he still paid the advertisement of an independent contract, the customers were distributed among the members to each other. linear basis.
The advantage for the community is having independent people who run their businesses in small communities compared to the big companies that are there. There are shops in small and big villages and they should manage accordingly.
“We have the luxury of being a slave agent and an independent agent in the house,” Groves said.
Groves still receives help from headquarters to review his policy decisions and provide support. In the event that a customer wishes to use another insurance company Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance has a broker that works with them to refer people to other insurance companies.
Groves credits his career success to the supervisor he started working for in his early 20s – Paul Stepp, now retired from the insurance industry. Stepp was an amazing mentor, who encouraged her to continue to grow, she said.
Groves lived in Indiana. He was born in Fort Wayne and moved to the Angola area during middle school, attending Prairie Heights. She and her husband, Shane, have six children between them.
“We have a crazy blended family,” Groves said.