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Insurable Interests

Vol. 4, Issue 1 • September 2008

Looking Back -- And Forward

By David Miller

This year marked my five-year anniversary with Bensman Risk Management. It also provided me with an opportunity to reflect on the changes in our organization and to reflect on my professional growth within the organization.

Five years ago, Bensman Risk Management employed three people and was located in Northfield, Ill. Within a week of my hiring, we were down to two. I tried not to take it personally, but I found myself double-checking to make sure I put on deodorant each day.

Our client records were in large paper files, and the phrase “I’m looking for so-and-so’s file” was heard several times a day. Files were stacked everywhere, and we went through printer paper by the truckload.

At first, it was a difficult adjustment for me, having come from the sales and marketing department of a multinational insurance conglomerate. Life on the other side of the desk was faster, more challenging and more wide-ranging. Less than a week after my start date, I found myself trying to find someone willing to insure a vacation home in the Caribbean and pleading with an insurance company to continue providing coverage for a home in Nantucket.

Five years later, Bensman Risk Management employs six people, our offices are in Bannockburn, Ill., and we operate on a state-of-the-art client management database. The paper files are gone, and I no longer look like a deer staring at headlights.

A few things that have not changed are our dedication to serving our clients, our focus on risk management solutions and the pride we take in our profession. This may sound trite, but our goal is to provide levels of service and advice that are increasingly rare in the price-focused world of personal insurance.

We know that “a 15-minute phone call could save you up to 15 percent on your auto insurance,” but do you really want a gecko giving you claim advice? If you call our office with a question about a possible claim, our experience provides you with the kind of additional information that allows you to make a truly informed decision. We always have your best interests in mind, and we function as your advocate.

Those of you who have called our after-hours emergency number have spoken to us at 1:30 in the morning with water rushing into your basement, looking for guidance. Or you have called on a Saturday afternoon, asking for a duplicate auto ID card. Either way, we felt it was important to implement this service to provide you with peace of mind.

If you were confused about an invoice, or may have overlooked one, you have likely heard from Amy Rakestraw. One of Amy’s primary responsibilities is billing coordinator. We know that our clients can lead very hectic lives, and we never want to see a claim denied or delayed due to a billing issue.

An unexpected benefit of assisting our clients has been the personal interaction it brings. We’ve wished you happy birthday, learned of your child’s graduation from college or congratulated you on the birth of your first grandchild. We thank you for making us a part of your lives, and we look forward to continuing our relationship.

It has been a very fast, very rewarding five years.