Premier Planning Services Ltd. is an independent insurance and retirement agency out of Fremont, OH. The agency is owned by Robert Mooney, Paul Kozak, Jeff Mooney, and Derek Warren. Lucinda Gutierrez manages the Property & Casualty Division.
What is the biggest challenge your agency faced in the past year?
The biggest challenge we faced was learning how to do business differently on short notice. Our agency is “old-school” and most of our clients are 65 or older. Initially, we started by implementing CDC Guidelines to accommodate our clients so that they could still come into our office and meet with us face-to-face. In addition, we also had to quickly learn how to use virtual meeting tools. This meant learning to be flexible because while some of our customers were open to Zoom meetings and electronic applications, others preferred to meet in person. Thankfully, our office remained open throughout the past year.
Do you have a new tip or best practice you have learned and want to share?
We love Agency Zoom! Not only is this program super affordable but it is also useful with other lines of insurance we sell. Agency Zoom has helped to improve our property and casualty insurance sales and marketing campaigns. In addition, we are seeing a benefit in helping us retain our current book, facilitating “Win-Back” campaigns, and increasing client engagement by adding those “high touches” such as birthday emails or cards. This program takes much of the recurring sales tasks off the producer’s hands and provides a lead management process to track and hold a producer accountable.
Why are you an SIA of Northern Ohio member?
Having an existing book of business with our Medicare Clients, SIA of Northern Ohio was a perfect fit for us, since they bring value over a long-term time frame. We wanted to grow our P&C division with the right affiliation, one that could get us the best Insurance company contracts so that we offer additional lines-of-business to our Medicare clients. We wanted to work with an experienced staff to help our own agents grow their product knowledge helping us better serve our clients. SIA of Northern Ohio has been there every step of the way to help us grow our business.
What makes your agency unique?
We are a Medicare-driven agency, who annually helps senior citizens find the best plan for their situation. We also help them with their retirement planning. Adding the P&C insurance division in 2018 has allowed us to become a “One Stop Shop” for anyone seeking a comprehensive agency that helps with ALL insurance needs. We take customer service seriously and listen carefully to each one of our clients. We take pride in our attention to detail to address every insurance need that a client may have. Also, we have two bilingual producers who assist with Spanish-speaking clients, as well as American sign language clients. Premier Planning Services works on our client’s side when they have a loss and follow through to see that they get excellent service, along with fair and prompt settlement.
What causes does your agency actively support?
Showing support in the local community is important to everyone at our agency. We actively support our Kiwanis Club of Fremont OH, Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Fremont, Inc., VFW, Fraternal Order of the Eagles #712, and our Sandusky County of Young Professionals. Many of these organizations host multiple community events throughout the year in which we enjoy participating. This includes farmers markets, car shows, and festivals. This gives us an opportunity to gain our prospects’ trust and make a positive first impression. We also always love connecting with our current client base outside of our work environment.