ALLIED INSURANCE JOINS TRUSTED CHOICE®
Branding Movement Taking Hold with Consumers
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Nov. 10—Allied Insurance, a property and casualty insurer that currently conducts business in 27 states, is the newest company partner of Trusted Choice®—the national marketing brand that informs consumers about the benefits of using independent insurance agents and brokers.
“The addition of Allied Insurance comes at a time when awareness of the Trusted Choice® brand is on the rise among the nation’s consumers,” says Trusted Choice Executive Director Jeffrey A. Myers. “Allied’s commitment to excellence makes it a great addition to the program.”
Trusted Choice® was created by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) and leading agency system companies to highlight the benefits independent insurance agencies and brokerage firms provide consumers—choice of companies, customization of policies and advocacy support. Just three years following its inception, nearly 4,000 independent insurance agencies and brokerage firms throughout the country are participating in the branding program as are 28 leading insurance companies.
“As a consumer marketing brand, Trusted Choice® is the perfect vehicle to position the independent agency distribution system as the preferred way for consumers to have their insurance needs addressed professionally,” says Kirt Walker, Allied Insurance president. “We strongly believe in and support the goals of Trusted Choice® and have always backed our agents 100 percent. We see Trusted Choice® as a means of further supporting our agents.”
Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, Allied Insurance provides home and auto protection to individuals and families, and provides commercial protection for business and farm owners. The company works with more than 4,000 independent insurance agencies in the 27 states where they currently are doing business. The company is expanding next year to four additional states.
“We are very excited to have Allied Insurance as a partner in the Trusted Choice® branding movement,” says Ronald A. Smith, CPCU, Trusted Choice® Board chairman and president of Smith, Sawyer & Smith, Inc., a Rochester, Ind.-based independent insurance agency. “Allied is a company that independent agents and brokers love to work with and they hold the company in high regard.
“Having Allied Insurance as part of Trusted Choice® is positive news that will lead to further positive developments in the form of increased agent interest. We already have witnessed the passion the company has for Trusted Choice® and are excited for the future,” says Smith.
A total of 27 insurers are Trusted Choice® company partners: Allied Insurance, America First Insurance, Capital Insurance Group, Central Insurance Companies, Colorado Casualty, Consumers Insurance, Encompass Insurance, GoAmerica Auto Insurance, Golden Eagle Insurance, Hawkeye-Security Insurance, Indiana Insurance, Kemper Auto and Home, Main Street America Group, Maine Mutual Group, Markel Insurance Company, MetLife Auto & Home, Montgomery Insurance, National Security Fire & Casualty, Ohio Casualty Insurance, Peerless Insurance, Drive Insurance from Progressive, Rain and Hail Insurance Service, Safeco Insurance, Selective Insurance Group, Summit Insurance (R.I.), Unitrin Multi Lines Insurance and Unitrin Specialty Lines Insurance. InsurBanc, a federal thrift bank created by the Big “I,” is a Trusted Choice® strategic partner.
The Trusted Choice® brand is being promoted nationally through a combination of advertising, company ingredient branding, public relations, member agency marketing and Internet communications. Six advertising flights this year in March, April, June, August, October and December, as well as public relations outreach activities, are educating consumers about the value of a Trusted Choice® agency. The next ad flight will run from Dec. 6 through 19 on several major national cable networks.
All media direct consumers to www.TrustedChoice.com, where they will find a helpful Agency Locator and the latest consumer information on relevant insurance topics.
Trusted Choice® is the consumer marketing identity for thousands of independent insurance agencies and brokerages and their branch locations. These firms offer a choice of insurance companies and policies, customization of policy coverage, and consumer advocacy support. Founded in 1896, IIABA is the nation’s oldest and largest association for independent insurance agents and brokers. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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