Home, auto and commercial business safeguarding: Merritt Hall Insurance President Danny Crum, PWCA, assures the company's coverage is ideal for those who want "reliable and unrivaled protection."
Danny says the Merritt Hall team provides clients with a hands-on approach to risk management. "We're a one-stop shop for all insurance needs. As we come alongside our clients and discuss their goals and objectives, we help them reach those goals with comprehensive insurance plans to protect what matters most to them."
Merritt Hall Insurance offers services in a variety of categories: Auto, Home, Agribusiness, Business, Cyber Liability, Workers Compensation, Recreational Vehicles and Umbrella packages. Jim Hall co-founded Merritt Hall in 1987, with James Lewis serving as the current CEO.
"Several key elements that are helpful with our client relationships are empathy and trust, along with asking the right questions," explains Danny. "We put ourselves in our clients’ shoes and look at things from their perspectives. Then earn their trust that we're going to do what's best for them, their family and their business."
Danny graduated from Indiana State University, and spent five years with a small corporation before moving to Merritt Hall to make insurance his career. He says he works in all departments with a focus on commercial property and casualty, with a specialty in several niche markets. To maintain an insurance license, he and his team are required to do 24 hours of continuing education over a 2-year period; 3 of those hours must be in ethics.
He says working with a local, independent insurance agent, such as Merritt Hall, offers several benefits:
1. Personalization: Independent agents can provide personalized service and tailor coverage to specific needs, ensuring clients are not over- or under-insured.
2. Choice: With access to multiple insurance carriers, clients have a variety of options and competitive rates from which to choose.
3. Local Expertise: Local agents understand unique risks and the area's regulations, which can be invaluable when selecting the right coverage.
4. Advocacy: In the event of a claim, an independent agent can advocate on a client's behalf, helping them navigate the process and ensure they receive fair treatment.
5. Relationship: Building a long-term relationship with an agent means they get to know clients' evolving needs, making future insurance decisions easier and more efficient.
"We act as your personal advisor, helping you make sense of the often-complex world of insurance," Danny adds.
He says he loves to meet people and build relationships. "A lot of clients have become friends, and it's allowed me to watch their business and families grow."
The second aspect he says he likes is the variety of needs. "No two clients are the same, everyone’s risk is different, every family is different, so my days are never boring. I'm always solving problems, working on new ventures, or helping protect a family's legacy business. It makes it exciting to get up and go to work every day, and I truly enjoy what I do."
One of the newer, intriguing areas is cyber liability insurance. Danny says it protects businesses from financial consequences of cyberattacks and data breaches, typically covering expenses related to data recovery, legal fees, customer notifications, crisis management and ransom payments
"As technology evolves, so do threats; cyber liability insurance has had to adapt. Initially, policies focused on unauthorized access and data loss. Now, they cover a broader range of incidents, including ransomware, social engineering attacks and business interruption due to cyber events," Danny explains.
"Insurers are also offering pre- and post-breach services, such as risk assessments and cybersecurity training, to help businesses mitigate risks."
For 2025, Danny says they anticipate a flattening of property insurance rates, probably by mid-year, after several years of increased rates. "Weather caused big losses and insurance carriers had to raise rates to adjust for this. We're hoping for some relief this year from the increase in rates over the last several years."
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"They have strong ties with the community, and it shows. It’s nice to do business with people who really care."