Don't worry, we've got you covered! - American Community Insurance Agency
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(Sponsored Content)
The new kid on the insurance block in Henrico County is ACIA - American Community Insurance Agency. The company is a start-up venture from Affinity Group Underwriters, an established insurance services company that has called Henrico home for 28 years.
Who is ACIA?
ACIA is a traditional, locally owned and managed independent insurance brokerage firm. They advise clients on the business and personal insurance coverages that they need – and don’t need! - and offer strategies for saving money on premiums. With connections to major national and international insurers (including Lloyd’s of London), as well as smaller state and regional specialist carriers, ACIA can find coverage for both the everyday and the most difficult risks.
Primary areas of expertise are commercial property & casualty insurance and employee benefits. Business insurance coverages include liability, premises, equipment, company vehicles and workers’ compensation. Group health, life, dental, vision and disability insurance, either paid by the employer or offered on a voluntary basis to employees, are part of ACIA’s employee benefits practice.
About the Owners
Brothers Steve and Tom Wyss are partners in both companies. The brothers grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin and are graduates of the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Before founding Affinity Group Underwriters (AGU) in 1997, Steve was a senior officer, first at health insurance giant, Cigna, and then at Manulife, Canada’s largest life insurance company. His international postings took him and his family to London, Paris and Toronto. Asked to describe their business philosophy, Steve Wyss said:
“We believe that personal, one-on-one communication still matters. We will actually talk with you, on the phone or in person. Today, it seems that every product or service interaction we have with a business is more and more impersonal. For us and, we think, for most of our clients, HI - Human Intelligence is still, by far, preferable to interacting with AI.”
While Steve started with insurance from the beginning, Tom's career in insurance began after working in radio and cable TV broadcasting in the Midwest and Hawaii. He then opened and ran his own successful American Family Insurance agency in Duluth, Minnesota. Subsequently promoted, he assumed regional management responsibilities with the company. In 1996, he moved to Naples, Florida to manage sales for a regional insurance brokerage firm and eventually, Tom joined AGU in 2012.
Entrepreneurs and start-up businesses are a particular area of focus for ACIA. Although the company works with companies of all sizes, they have particular expertise in meeting the needs of people and businesses that are just getting started. Tom Wyss observed,
“As entrepreneurs ourselves, we understand the immense challenges of building a successful business. Insurance companies often will only provide coverage for companies that have already achieved a certain revenue threshold or been in business for at least a year. We know how to find the insurers who will welcome new businesses.”
Coverage for your four-legged friends, too!
ACIA’s newest innovation is insurance for dogs and cats with Kanguro Pet Insurance! Just launched this year, the pet insurance program features coverage for hereditary and chronic conditions and access to unlimited, free, 24/7 TeleVet consultations.
ACIA invites you to stop by their main office at 4510 Cox Road, Suite 111 in Innsbrook, or visit the website for more details, including information about the Naples, Florida location.
