Southwick Insurance’s Daniel Hess has seen it all in his 40-plus years in the insurance industry. After a brief stint as a middle school teacher, Dan quickly found that the insurance industry was a great fit, and within three years of starting in the field, he founded the agency that has been his 9 to 5 home for 38 years.
Dan’s competitive drive has kept him engaged over the years. “Sales is basically competition – we’ve always been competitive for our clients.” Providing a full-service agency where clients can sit face-to-face with their agent sets Southwick Insurance apart from the online providers. But it’s in the toughest moments that the personal touch truly makes the difference for Dan’s clients. He estimates that he’s been to approximately 100 house fires and has been there when the client is standing beside a ruined property in need of housing and help. “We’re there for the client then when they have nothing – we provide money right away and get them set up for temporary housing.”
Dan sees insurance as a complicated product – one that requires expertise for best coverage. “All the policies are written by attorneys – it’s like going to court without a lawyer—I wouldn’t advise that,” notes Dan. Oftentimes, people will go online and try to buy their own policies, only to find that the online companies don’t give sufficient coverage. “It’s about service and professionalism with pros who do it every day,” he says. “You’ll save in the long run.”
Southwick Insurance’s clients receive a yearly update on coverages to keep up with homes and auto prices. “It’s important to make sure that you’re with an agency that can shop for you,” says Dan. “You don’t want to be with an agency that has one or two lines – we have 12 companies. We can shop and get the best rates and adequate coverage.”
Southwick Insurance covers approximately 9,000 clients, providing service in the personal lines agent: home automotive, umbrella, and boat coverages are where the agency specializes. Southwick Insurance serves Ukrainian, Russian, and Spanish speaking clients. It’s a family business, with Dan’s daughter, Cyrena, and son, Tyler, helping out. “My children are following in my footsteps,” says Dan. “We’re here to stay.”
Southwick Insurance is located at 562 College Highway in Southwick. Call Dan at (413) 569-3522.