December 19, 2024 • 23 mins
What happens when a logistics expert and a banker team up to run an insurance agency? Meet Jeff Martin and Sami Went, the powerhouse duo steering Wethington Insurance in Walton, Kentucky. Listen as they recount the agency's journey from its inception in 1985 by Bill Wethington to Jeff's leadership takeover in 2021. Jeff reveals how his experience at Toyota molded his approach to the insurance business, while Sami shares her transition from the world of banking to becoming a dedicated insurance agent. Together, they prioritize customer service, offering a balanced mix of commercial and personal insurance lines with a keen eye on serving contractors, habitational properties, and light manufacturing clients.
You'll gain valuable insights into why maintaining an honest and human touch is crucial in the insurance industry. Jeff and Sami candidly discuss the importance of transparency and how it contributes to building trust and ensuring comprehensive coverage. They tackle the challenges of insuring youthful drivers and the common mistake of not disclosing all drivers within a household. By fostering open communication and asking the right questions, they strive to safeguard clients from claim denials and unnecessary expenses. Through their stories, discover how addressing difficult topics head-on can provide peace of mind and lead to better outcomes for everyone involved.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thank you, Charlie.
Yes, I am Mike Murphy, host ofthe Good Neighbor Podcast.
We are a podcast here inNorthern Kentucky.
We focus on local businesses,the owners, the influencers in
town, kind of like the moversand shakers, the people that
keep our northern Kentuckycommunity rocking and rolling.
Two people that I have with metoday in the virtual studio are
(00:36):
Jeff Martin and Sammy Wendt.
They are the people thatoperate Weddington Insurance
there on Main Street in Walton,Kentucky.
Many of you know them, Some ofyou don't, but after today more
of you will know them.
So, with that being said, JeffSammy, welcome to the show.
(00:58):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
So Weddington Insurance, how long have you
guys been in business?
Speaker 4 (01:06):
So a gentleman by the name of Bill Wellington.
He started the agency in 1985.
And then you know, basically hewas always in Northern Kentucky
partnered with some otheragencies and by the end of his
career I had purchased theagency from him in 21.
(01:27):
At that time it was justbasically me and two other
employees.
And then he semi-retired andonly does Medicare insurance now
and we do property and casualty, which is your typical auto
home business insurance.
So that's the portion of thebusiness that we do and he's no
longer involved in that part.
(01:47):
He just does the healthinsurance side.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Okay, so, jeff, what is your background, in
particular before coming intotaking over at Wellington there?
So?
Speaker 4 (01:59):
I was in logistics at Toyota in Georgetown right out
of college, and then about 17years ago is when I started
working for Bill Logistics atToyota in Georgetown right out
of college, and then about 17years ago is when I started
working for Bill.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Logistics Sounds exciting, yeah so exciting.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
That's what I thought I was going to do for a living.
That's what my dad, did I justonce.
You were into it.
I didn't enjoy it, so I took achance, started selling
insurance and it worked out.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yeah, we all end up where we're supposed to be.
I fully believe that, right,and by all accounts.
I mean, you know, jeff, you andI have not met until today,
correct?
I know you by reputation andpeople have always said nice
things about you, right?
Somebody that I do know isSammy.
Now, sammy, you and I met maybea couple months ago, but you've
(02:50):
quickly made an impression onme because, um, you are what
should I say?
You're kind of a firecracker ofa person, not shy.
You're fun to be around.
You represent Wellington verywell.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Well, thank you.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
So why don't you give us a little bit of your
background?
How did you come to end upwhere you are today, at
Wellington?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Yeah, so I was in the banking world after I graduated
from MKU and it didn't takelong for me to realize I was not
really meant to be in thecorporate world, and so I
actually got started at statefarm and I believe 2016.
So I started there, gotlicensed and then shortly after
(03:39):
that I went into the independentinsurance world and kind of
like what Jeff said.
I got into it and didn't reallythink that almost nine years
later I would still be an agent.
But here I am.
So I got good at it and now it'skind of one of those things
(03:59):
where everything's just likesecond nature and it'd be hard
to see myself doing somethingelse yeah, well good, I'm sure
your clients appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Uh, you've been here a while and hopefully you're
going to be here for many, manyyears to come.
So, um, when we look atwellington I know you guys are
personal lines, you're businesslines Do you do both equally?
Do you have a propensity morefor one or the other?
How is the agency set up?
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Yep, so the makeup of our agency is about 55%
commercial lines and about 45%personal lines.
Okay, but then the other numberof that is there's probably
twice as many, maybe three timesas many, personal line clients.
It's just the premium size issmaller compared to the
commercial line.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So when a business comes to you, I mean what
category within the businessside of things is kind of your
bread and butter or specialty,if there is such a thing?
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Yep, there absolutely is a thing.
So we do a lot of habitational,like apartment buildings,
rental type properties, a lot ofcontractors the half of our
commercial lines book is somehowcontractor based, either if
that's the mechanicals, likeyour hvac or plumbers, all the
way to the concrete contractors,to the guys that roof your
(05:27):
house.
Um, that's a lot of ourcommercial line stuff.
We do a lot of lightmanufacturing, um, and then we
rent the everyday typical stripmall type shop.
Just somebody that rents aspace sells whatever product
they're selling.
Everybody has to have insuranceso we're able to rent anything.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So do you have people walk in off the street just
saying, hey, I need carinsurance, I need a quote, I
need we don't have a lot ofwalk-in business.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
I need a quote, I need we try.
We don't have a lot of walk-inbusiness.
I would say 90% of our businessis just referral base from
current clients.
Good, or other circles ofinfluence that we have set up.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure happy clients, happy customers,
are happy to send their friendsand family to you.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Absolutely.
So.
You know we approach it alittle bit different than like
your typical state farms orall-state type agencies.
We're very customerservice-based.
We make ourselves available topeople almost any time of the
day.
We both have our cell phonenumbers on our business cards,
(06:39):
so we're not passing out 800numbers.
We're not doing any outsourcingof customer service at all.
You get Sam and I when youbecome a client of ours.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Okay, good, because that can be frustrating.
I mean, personally, I know I'vecalled about, well, any number
of things having to do with mypolicy.
You don't think about it, youdon't care about it, until you
suddenly are forced into asituation where you have to care
about it.
And when you care about it, youwant immediate answers.
(07:12):
And if you get some sort ofcall center from who knows where
and you're leaving a messageand nobody calls you back, for
hours, those hours are spentbiting your fingernails, maybe
doing a little bit of cussing.
So to have to have humans goingto bat for you and running
(07:36):
interference for you andanswering all the important
questions, that that's vital,that's important you know when
it comes.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Basically, the only time you really need us is if
you're changing something or ifyou have a claim, and there
there actually is a lot ofprofessional advice when it
comes to those kind of things.
So it's the insurance seemseasy, but it's really not.
There's a lot of moving partsto it.
The industry is changing a loton what's covered, what's not
covered and how you cover itproperly.
(08:02):
So that's why it's importantthat you talk to somebody that
knows what they're doing, likeus, okay.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
So, the human touch, um, we've talked about that and
to carry on that topic, um, Iknow that, uh, you guys are.
You know you have families,you're married.
So, if we get a little personal, what does that side of your
life look like?
So, jeff, we'll start with you.
(08:29):
Are you married?
Do you have kids?
What's going on there?
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Yep, I'm married to my wife Ashley.
We just celebrated our 13thwedding anniversary back in
October.
She actually works in theagency.
She's not an agent, but shedoes a lot of admin work almost
all of our marketing, justthings that Sandy and I don't
(08:53):
necessarily want to do or havetime to do.
She picks up that slack for us.
I have a soon-to-be 8-year-oldson who goes to Walton Verona
Elementary and a daughter who isin kindergarten at Walton
Verona Elementary.
She just turned six a coupleweeks ago.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Very good, Sammy.
How about you?
What's going on in your world?
Speaker 3 (09:15):
My husband, john and I.
We've been married for sixyears and we live in Dry Ridge
and I have a stepdaughter,Adelaide, who is 14, going on 15
.
So Jeff and I kind of have alittle, you know.
I'm coming into the officemorning.
I'm about you know what theyhave to look forward to as a
(09:35):
teenager every week.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Yeah, so, sammy, you went to high school with my
daughter.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
And so whenever anybody says, you know female
age 14, 15, I know what thatmeans.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
So yeah, yeah, you did.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Yeah, those are tender age A lot of emotions
running wild.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
It's fun.
At the same time, though, youjust you relate to them
differently than when they're akid you know, but we get along
well.
We have a lot of fun together.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Well, good, and another thing that I think of
when I think of Sammy is hermusical talents.
So, Sammy, I've seen you invideo playing guitar and I've
seen you in person playingukulele.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
And I've heard you sing.
You have a beautiful voice.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
You're welcome.
So you've put that talent togood use in promoting the agency
, haven't you?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Just a little bit.
I think I'm borderline crazysometimes stuff that I come up
with but um around this timelast year I wrote a song about
(11:03):
flow and progressive and lastyear I actually got an email
from the CEO of progressive thatit like got it got to her.
So that was pretty cool.
I didn't really expect that.
I did email it to ourprogressive rep but I just
thought he'd be like, oh that'scool song about progressive.
Um, but I don't know.
I again I been doing insuranceso long.
(11:25):
It's very easy to write a songabout it because yeah I'm.
It's like oh, grinch rhymes withinsurance or whatever right,
right.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
No, that that that side of you I've really come to
appreciate.
You're fun to be around, so I'msure your clients appreciate it
too.
I try to be light-hearted.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I mean I think that jeff and I are both kind of same
way.
Insurance is stuffy.
A lot of people don't likeinsurance.
So we just try to be very downto earth and like explaining
things to people and you know,with that aspect of things like
keeping it lighthearted andletting people know like hey,
we're human too and we we wantto keep things as fun as we can.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah, you know you got to be brutally honest with
people.
Sometimes I mean, yes, it's asales type job that we're in but
you just got to be honest.
Tell them how you tell peoplehow it needs to be, how it
really is.
Yeah, I'm the trust in that's.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
That's the bottom line yeah, it is what it is, and
people need to be protectedproperly and if, if they feel
comfortable with you as humans,they're more apt to open up to
you and share things, that umcan make a big difference in
terms of how you structurepolicies for them, absolutely
can, and I don't think everybodyrealizes that like we.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
We basically we need to know everything about you.
Um, that way we can.
There's different things thatyou should do if you're in
different situations, so behonest with your insurance agent
.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
They need to know every single thing about you, so
you're like a priest.
(13:24):
But for insurance, correct,correct, we are therapists.
We've worn a lot of hats overour careers.
They didn't have enoughcoverage and it really was
crushing to them.
And likewise, maybe sometimesthings happen where something
bad happens to a client andyou're like hey, no problem, we
(13:44):
got you and here's why it'sgoing to be OK.
Any stories for us?
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Actually kind of two different, separate stories,
kind of talk about youthfuldrivers.
You know they're an extremeexpense for parents when you
have to add a youthful driver.
A lot of times people will tryto skate around it and not add
them.
But these insurance carriershave changed the rules Like
(14:08):
basically, if there's not alisted driver on the policy,
they're denying claims.
And that's happened to ourclients before.
They've been in accidents andthey covered the liability
portion of it, which means theycovered the person that their
driver hit, but they didn'tcover the damage to their
vehicle, even though they hadfull coverage on the vehicle,
(14:30):
because it was an unlisteddriver in the household.
So that's why we try to coachpeople got to be honest with us.
That way we can fully protectyou and at the same time I mean,
this was actually a prettyrecent claim we had all this
rain two or three months ago.
After that drought, a lot ofsump pumps failed.
You know, we had one carrier.
The coverage wasn't on thepolicy.
(14:51):
We added it retroactively andthey covered the claim.
So some carriers are like that,where they actually care about
their policy holders and eventhough there was some
miscommunications back and forth, they covered that claim for
them and a huge thing you'retalking several thousand dollar
(15:11):
claim that they would have beenout if they were not with that
carrier.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
For us too.
If someone calls us and theyhave a claim, we want it to be
covered.
We don't want to have thisconversation like hey, remember
when we talked to you about thatunderground service line
coverage that was $50 a year andyou said you didn't want it,
and now you have a $5,000 claim.
We don't want to have thoseconversations.
(15:37):
We want things to be covered, sowe do like.
I feel like sometimes peopleprobably think we're kind of
nosy because you know, when theycall in for something, a lot of
times I'm asking additionalquestions to divulge more
information, and but a lot oftimes the reason I'm doing that
(15:58):
is because I'm trying to uncoversomething that could
potentially be a claim denial.
Is there somebody else in that?
Like someone calls out a car,are there any other drivers in
the household?
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Like I have to ask that question because we want to
make sure that claims are beingcovered when something happens
yeah, at the end of the day, Imean you guys are the ones that
they should be calling to askthese questions of if they're
unsure, if they should be filinga claim or I don't know.
I mean you guys really areacting in their best interest.
(16:30):
I truly fully believe that theydon't have to feel like, if
they call you, they're tippingtheir poker hand at you.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
We're not on record.
We're here to advise you beforeyou go on record.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
I think a lot of times people are worried about
the money aspect of it.
That's why they don't bringthings up.
Sometimes.
Say there is another driver inthe household, they think, oh,
it's going to be more expensive.
Well, unless that person has ahorrible driving record, a lot
of times they can actually helppeople and that's what they
(17:10):
don't always realize is actually.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
We're asking questions that could potentially
save you money in a lot ofsituations too and you know we
write for multiple insurancecarriers there's there's
carriers that are better suitedfor different situations for
people we know the ones that aregood for youthful drivers.
We know the ones that are goodfor more mature adults.
We know the ones that are goodfor certain types of property,
(17:34):
where it was high value or youknow.
Yeah, different protection class, which basically means that
there's no fire department orwater, city water on your street
, different carriage or, better,at different types of business.
So that's why we ask so manyquestions.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yeah, and those of us that are, you know, not living
in your world, we're ignorant toall of that.
we need you guys to help usnavigate that world and once we
explain it to you, it's like, oh, I didn't think of that, like
that kind of it's like a lightbulb effect yeah, if I mean just
in life, anytime you've everput off an uncomfortable
conversation, it's becauseyou've built up this monster in
(18:15):
your head that really doesn'texist.
And then, by the time you'reforced to have that conversation
, you wish you had had it weeksago, correct?
Because, honestly, having thatconversation is what kicks that
monster to the curb.
Kicks that monster to the curband, yeah, colors look brighter
(18:36):
and the smells are sweeter afteryou have the types of
conversations that people needto have with you too, absolutely
Okay.
Well, our time's wrapping uphere.
Is there anything that wehaven't talked about that you
think is important for people toknow about?
Silly songs about insuranceshould follow.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Wellington Insurance's Facebook page.
Follow us on Instagram, Even ifyou're not a customer.
We'll probably make you smile.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Yeah, You're kind of like a secret weapon for
Wellington Sammy.
Marking your word Marking yourword.
Yeah, I wholeheartedly agreewith that.
So tell us what's the, what'sthe website they go to if they
want to reach out to you guys,our website is basically
(19:43):
wwwwetheringtoninsurancecom.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
That's just the regular Web page.
All of our marketing stuff ison social media, so just search
Wetherington Insurance in Walnut, kentucky on Facebook or
Instagram.
Give our page a like.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
And if you like us, give us a review.
Yes, we love reviews.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
We love Google reviews.
Sammy also has a separateFacebook page that she posts on
that are I don't know more funny, I guess, marketing things.
And what's that one?
It's Wellington Insurance.
Sammy went.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Sammy went.
Wellington Insurance is myFacebook page.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
And then, sammy, do you want to shout yourself out?
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I'm a white-hearted making fun of insurance.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
I guess you could say , yeah, sammy has that kind of a
mind and she's got I don't know.
She just makes people feelhappy.
She's got the warm and fuzziesgoing on in a couple of the
marketing groups I've seen herin.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Good that's fine, that's what I'm going for.
Sammy, you've got to marketinggroups.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I've seen her in, so, sammy you got to make it really
fun.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Sammy, do you want to shout yourself out at all with
your music stuff?
I mean, what's that?
What's that look like?
How can people connect with youin terms of some of your
musical talents?
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Yeah, so I go by Sammy Riggs.
That's my, my maiden name, andyou can find me on Facebook.
You can find me on Spotify.
I don't have any insurancesongs released yet.
Working on that.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
But yeah, that's where you can find me and
obviously, had I not taken thosemusic lessons when I was young,
I wouldn't know how to playguitar and ukulele and be able
to write these songs aboutinsurance.
So, yeah, okay, well, good,thank you both for spending time
with us today.
I think this was a goodconversation.
I love the fact that you guysare here.
You're welcome.
You're very easy to find topeople that are in Walton.
You know they've probablypassed by your building many
times right there on Main Street.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
What is the address?
Is it 50?
30 North Main Street, so 30.
Ok, it was.
It was built in a dentist as adentist office in the 70s and
then we remodeled it in 2021.
And it's an insurance officenow.
It in 2021 and it's aninsurance office now.
So they painted the brick.
It's very modern, looking in ahistorical district downtown.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I'm sure it has a Weddington in big letters.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
Right across the front.
It's a big plate glass windowup there that has Weddington on
it.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Alright.
Well, jeff and Sammy, thanksfor spending time with us, and
if people want to reach out toyou, we've given them ways to do
that.
We're going to make sure thatwhen we put this out there in
the webosphere, that there's allsorts of trails leading back to
you as well.
So I wish you all the best, andyou know we're recording this
(22:47):
coming up on the holiday season,so I'll say Merry Christmas to
you both.
Happy holidays.
I look forward to seeing youboth again soon in person.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
You too, merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
So to everybody out there, this is the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
Everyone out there, be good toyour neighbor Until next time.
See you everybody, Bye-bye.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor neighbor
podcast union.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpunioncom.
That's gnpunioncom, or call usat 859-651-8330.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thank you, Charlie.
Yes, I am Mike Murphy, host ofthe Good Neighbor Podcast.
We are a podcast here inNorthern Kentucky.
We focus on local businesses,the owners, the influencers in
town, kind of like the moversand shakers, the people that
keep our northern Kentuckycommunity rocking and rolling.
Two people that I have with metoday in the virtual studio are
(00:36):
Jeff Martin and Sammy Wendt.
They are the people thatoperate Weddington Insurance
there on Main Street in Walton,Kentucky.
Many of you know them, Some ofyou don't, but after today more
of you will know them.
So, with that being said, JeffSammy, welcome to the show.
(00:58):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
So Weddington Insurance, how long have you
guys been in business?
Speaker 4 (01:06):
So a gentleman by the name of Bill Wellington.
He started the agency in 1985.
And then you know, basically hewas always in Northern Kentucky
partnered with some otheragencies and by the end of his
career I had purchased theagency from him in 21.
(01:27):
At that time it was justbasically me and two other
employees.
And then he semi-retired andonly does Medicare insurance now
and we do property and casualty, which is your typical auto
home business insurance.
So that's the portion of thebusiness that we do and he's no
longer involved in that part.
(01:47):
He just does the healthinsurance side.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Okay, so, jeff, what is your background, in
particular before coming intotaking over at Wellington there?
So?
Speaker 4 (01:59):
I was in logistics at Toyota in Georgetown right out
of college, and then about 17years ago is when I started
working for Bill Logistics atToyota in Georgetown right out
of college, and then about 17years ago is when I started
working for Bill.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Logistics Sounds exciting, yeah so exciting.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
That's what I thought I was going to do for a living.
That's what my dad, did I justonce.
You were into it.
I didn't enjoy it, so I took achance, started selling
insurance and it worked out.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yeah, we all end up where we're supposed to be.
I fully believe that, right,and by all accounts.
I mean, you know, jeff, you andI have not met until today,
correct?
I know you by reputation andpeople have always said nice
things about you, right?
Somebody that I do know isSammy.
Now, sammy, you and I met maybea couple months ago, but you've
(02:50):
quickly made an impression onme because, um, you are what
should I say?
You're kind of a firecracker ofa person, not shy.
You're fun to be around.
You represent Wellington verywell.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Well, thank you.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
So why don't you give us a little bit of your
background?
How did you come to end upwhere you are today, at
Wellington?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Yeah, so I was in the banking world after I graduated
from MKU and it didn't takelong for me to realize I was not
really meant to be in thecorporate world, and so I
actually got started at statefarm and I believe 2016.
So I started there, gotlicensed and then shortly after
(03:39):
that I went into the independentinsurance world and kind of
like what Jeff said.
I got into it and didn't reallythink that almost nine years
later I would still be an agent.
But here I am.
So I got good at it and now it'skind of one of those things
(03:59):
where everything's just likesecond nature and it'd be hard
to see myself doing somethingelse yeah, well good, I'm sure
your clients appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Uh, you've been here a while and hopefully you're
going to be here for many, manyyears to come.
So, um, when we look atwellington I know you guys are
personal lines, you're businesslines Do you do both equally?
Do you have a propensity morefor one or the other?
How is the agency set up?
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Yep, so the makeup of our agency is about 55%
commercial lines and about 45%personal lines.
Okay, but then the other numberof that is there's probably
twice as many, maybe three timesas many, personal line clients.
It's just the premium size issmaller compared to the
commercial line.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So when a business comes to you, I mean what
category within the businessside of things is kind of your
bread and butter or specialty,if there is such a thing?
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Yep, there absolutely is a thing.
So we do a lot of habitational,like apartment buildings,
rental type properties, a lot ofcontractors the half of our
commercial lines book is somehowcontractor based, either if
that's the mechanicals, likeyour hvac or plumbers, all the
way to the concrete contractors,to the guys that roof your
(05:27):
house.
Um, that's a lot of ourcommercial line stuff.
We do a lot of lightmanufacturing, um, and then we
rent the everyday typical stripmall type shop.
Just somebody that rents aspace sells whatever product
they're selling.
Everybody has to have insuranceso we're able to rent anything.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So do you have people walk in off the street just
saying, hey, I need carinsurance, I need a quote, I
need we don't have a lot ofwalk-in business.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
I need a quote, I need we try.
We don't have a lot of walk-inbusiness.
I would say 90% of our businessis just referral base from
current clients.
Good, or other circles ofinfluence that we have set up.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure happy clients, happy customers,
are happy to send their friendsand family to you.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Absolutely.
So.
You know we approach it alittle bit different than like
your typical state farms orall-state type agencies.
We're very customerservice-based.
We make ourselves available topeople almost any time of the
day.
We both have our cell phonenumbers on our business cards,
(06:39):
so we're not passing out 800numbers.
We're not doing any outsourcingof customer service at all.
You get Sam and I when youbecome a client of ours.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Okay, good, because that can be frustrating.
I mean, personally, I know I'vecalled about, well, any number
of things having to do with mypolicy.
You don't think about it, youdon't care about it, until you
suddenly are forced into asituation where you have to care
about it.
And when you care about it, youwant immediate answers.
(07:12):
And if you get some sort ofcall center from who knows where
and you're leaving a messageand nobody calls you back, for
hours, those hours are spentbiting your fingernails, maybe
doing a little bit of cussing.
So to have to have humans goingto bat for you and running
(07:36):
interference for you andanswering all the important
questions, that that's vital,that's important you know when
it comes.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Basically, the only time you really need us is if
you're changing something or ifyou have a claim, and there
there actually is a lot ofprofessional advice when it
comes to those kind of things.
So it's the insurance seemseasy, but it's really not.
There's a lot of moving partsto it.
The industry is changing a loton what's covered, what's not
covered and how you cover itproperly.
(08:02):
So that's why it's importantthat you talk to somebody that
knows what they're doing, likeus, okay.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
So, the human touch, um, we've talked about that and
to carry on that topic, um, Iknow that, uh, you guys are.
You know you have families,you're married.
So, if we get a little personal, what does that side of your
life look like?
So, jeff, we'll start with you.
(08:29):
Are you married?
Do you have kids?
What's going on there?
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Yep, I'm married to my wife Ashley.
We just celebrated our 13thwedding anniversary back in
October.
She actually works in theagency.
She's not an agent, but shedoes a lot of admin work almost
all of our marketing, justthings that Sandy and I don't
(08:53):
necessarily want to do or havetime to do.
She picks up that slack for us.
I have a soon-to-be 8-year-oldson who goes to Walton Verona
Elementary and a daughter who isin kindergarten at Walton
Verona Elementary.
She just turned six a coupleweeks ago.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Very good, Sammy.
How about you?
What's going on in your world?
Speaker 3 (09:15):
My husband, john and I.
We've been married for sixyears and we live in Dry Ridge
and I have a stepdaughter,Adelaide, who is 14, going on 15
.
So Jeff and I kind of have alittle, you know.
I'm coming into the officemorning.
I'm about you know what theyhave to look forward to as a
(09:35):
teenager every week.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Yeah, so, sammy, you went to high school with my
daughter.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
And so whenever anybody says, you know female
age 14, 15, I know what thatmeans.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
So yeah, yeah, you did.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Yeah, those are tender age A lot of emotions
running wild.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
It's fun.
At the same time, though, youjust you relate to them
differently than when they're akid you know, but we get along
well.
We have a lot of fun together.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Well, good, and another thing that I think of
when I think of Sammy is hermusical talents.
So, Sammy, I've seen you invideo playing guitar and I've
seen you in person playingukulele.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
And I've heard you sing.
You have a beautiful voice.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
You're welcome.
So you've put that talent togood use in promoting the agency
, haven't you?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Just a little bit.
I think I'm borderline crazysometimes stuff that I come up
with but um around this timelast year I wrote a song about
(11:03):
flow and progressive and lastyear I actually got an email
from the CEO of progressive thatit like got it got to her.
So that was pretty cool.
I didn't really expect that.
I did email it to ourprogressive rep but I just
thought he'd be like, oh that'scool song about progressive.
Um, but I don't know.
I again I been doing insuranceso long.
(11:25):
It's very easy to write a songabout it because yeah I'm.
It's like oh, grinch rhymes withinsurance or whatever right,
right.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
No, that that that side of you I've really come to
appreciate.
You're fun to be around, so I'msure your clients appreciate it
too.
I try to be light-hearted.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I mean I think that jeff and I are both kind of same
way.
Insurance is stuffy.
A lot of people don't likeinsurance.
So we just try to be very downto earth and like explaining
things to people and you know,with that aspect of things like
keeping it lighthearted andletting people know like hey,
we're human too and we we wantto keep things as fun as we can.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah, you know you got to be brutally honest with
people.
Sometimes I mean, yes, it's asales type job that we're in but
you just got to be honest.
Tell them how you tell peoplehow it needs to be, how it
really is.
Yeah, I'm the trust in that's.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
That's the bottom line yeah, it is what it is, and
people need to be protectedproperly and if, if they feel
comfortable with you as humans,they're more apt to open up to
you and share things, that umcan make a big difference in
terms of how you structurepolicies for them, absolutely
can, and I don't think everybodyrealizes that like we.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
We basically we need to know everything about you.
Um, that way we can.
There's different things thatyou should do if you're in
different situations, so behonest with your insurance agent
.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
They need to know every single thing about you, so
you're like a priest.
(13:24):
But for insurance, correct,correct, we are therapists.
We've worn a lot of hats overour careers.
They didn't have enoughcoverage and it really was
crushing to them.
And likewise, maybe sometimesthings happen where something
bad happens to a client andyou're like hey, no problem, we
(13:44):
got you and here's why it'sgoing to be OK.
Any stories for us?
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Actually kind of two different, separate stories,
kind of talk about youthfuldrivers.
You know they're an extremeexpense for parents when you
have to add a youthful driver.
A lot of times people will tryto skate around it and not add
them.
But these insurance carriershave changed the rules Like
(14:08):
basically, if there's not alisted driver on the policy,
they're denying claims.
And that's happened to ourclients before.
They've been in accidents andthey covered the liability
portion of it, which means theycovered the person that their
driver hit, but they didn'tcover the damage to their
vehicle, even though they hadfull coverage on the vehicle,
(14:30):
because it was an unlisteddriver in the household.
So that's why we try to coachpeople got to be honest with us.
That way we can fully protectyou and at the same time I mean,
this was actually a prettyrecent claim we had all this
rain two or three months ago.
After that drought, a lot ofsump pumps failed.
You know, we had one carrier.
The coverage wasn't on thepolicy.
(14:51):
We added it retroactively andthey covered the claim.
So some carriers are like that,where they actually care about
their policy holders and eventhough there was some
miscommunications back and forth, they covered that claim for
them and a huge thing you'retalking several thousand dollar
(15:11):
claim that they would have beenout if they were not with that
carrier.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
For us too.
If someone calls us and theyhave a claim, we want it to be
covered.
We don't want to have thisconversation like hey, remember
when we talked to you about thatunderground service line
coverage that was $50 a year andyou said you didn't want it,
and now you have a $5,000 claim.
We don't want to have thoseconversations.
(15:37):
We want things to be covered, sowe do like.
I feel like sometimes peopleprobably think we're kind of
nosy because you know, when theycall in for something, a lot of
times I'm asking additionalquestions to divulge more
information, and but a lot oftimes the reason I'm doing that
(15:58):
is because I'm trying to uncoversomething that could
potentially be a claim denial.
Is there somebody else in that?
Like someone calls out a car,are there any other drivers in
the household?
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Like I have to ask that question because we want to
make sure that claims are beingcovered when something happens
yeah, at the end of the day, Imean you guys are the ones that
they should be calling to askthese questions of if they're
unsure, if they should be filinga claim or I don't know.
I mean you guys really areacting in their best interest.
(16:30):
I truly fully believe that theydon't have to feel like, if
they call you, they're tippingtheir poker hand at you.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
We're not on record.
We're here to advise you beforeyou go on record.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
I think a lot of times people are worried about
the money aspect of it.
That's why they don't bringthings up.
Sometimes.
Say there is another driver inthe household, they think, oh,
it's going to be more expensive.
Well, unless that person has ahorrible driving record, a lot
of times they can actually helppeople and that's what they
(17:10):
don't always realize is actually.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
We're asking questions that could potentially
save you money in a lot ofsituations too and you know we
write for multiple insurancecarriers there's there's
carriers that are better suitedfor different situations for
people we know the ones that aregood for youthful drivers.
We know the ones that are goodfor more mature adults.
We know the ones that are goodfor certain types of property,
(17:34):
where it was high value or youknow.
Yeah, different protection class, which basically means that
there's no fire department orwater, city water on your street
, different carriage or, better,at different types of business.
So that's why we ask so manyquestions.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yeah, and those of us that are, you know, not living
in your world, we're ignorant toall of that.
we need you guys to help usnavigate that world and once we
explain it to you, it's like, oh, I didn't think of that, like
that kind of it's like a lightbulb effect yeah, if I mean just
in life, anytime you've everput off an uncomfortable
conversation, it's becauseyou've built up this monster in
(18:15):
your head that really doesn'texist.
And then, by the time you'reforced to have that conversation
, you wish you had had it weeksago, correct?
Because, honestly, having thatconversation is what kicks that
monster to the curb.
Kicks that monster to the curband, yeah, colors look brighter
(18:36):
and the smells are sweeter afteryou have the types of
conversations that people needto have with you too, absolutely
Okay.
Well, our time's wrapping uphere.
Is there anything that wehaven't talked about that you
think is important for people toknow about?
Silly songs about insuranceshould follow.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Wellington Insurance's Facebook page.
Follow us on Instagram, Even ifyou're not a customer.
We'll probably make you smile.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Yeah, You're kind of like a secret weapon for
Wellington Sammy.
Marking your word Marking yourword.
Yeah, I wholeheartedly agreewith that.
So tell us what's the, what'sthe website they go to if they
want to reach out to you guys,our website is basically
(19:43):
wwwwetheringtoninsurancecom.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
That's just the regular Web page.
All of our marketing stuff ison social media, so just search
Wetherington Insurance in Walnut, kentucky on Facebook or
Instagram.
Give our page a like.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
And if you like us, give us a review.
Yes, we love reviews.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
We love Google reviews.
Sammy also has a separateFacebook page that she posts on
that are I don't know more funny, I guess, marketing things.
And what's that one?
It's Wellington Insurance.
Sammy went.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Sammy went.
Wellington Insurance is myFacebook page.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
And then, sammy, do you want to shout yourself out?
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I'm a white-hearted making fun of insurance.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
I guess you could say , yeah, sammy has that kind of a
mind and she's got I don't know.
She just makes people feelhappy.
She's got the warm and fuzziesgoing on in a couple of the
marketing groups I've seen herin.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Good that's fine, that's what I'm going for.
Sammy, you've got to marketinggroups.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I've seen her in, so, sammy you got to make it really
fun.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Sammy, do you want to shout yourself out at all with
your music stuff?
I mean, what's that?
What's that look like?
How can people connect with youin terms of some of your
musical talents?
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Yeah, so I go by Sammy Riggs.
That's my, my maiden name, andyou can find me on Facebook.
You can find me on Spotify.
I don't have any insurancesongs released yet.
Working on that.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
But yeah, that's where you can find me and
obviously, had I not taken thosemusic lessons when I was young,
I wouldn't know how to playguitar and ukulele and be able
to write these songs aboutinsurance.
So, yeah, okay, well, good,thank you both for spending time
with us today.
I think this was a goodconversation.
I love the fact that you guysare here.
You're welcome.
You're very easy to find topeople that are in Walton.
You know they've probablypassed by your building many
times right there on Main Street.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
What is the address?
Is it 50?
30 North Main Street, so 30.
Ok, it was.
It was built in a dentist as adentist office in the 70s and
then we remodeled it in 2021.
And it's an insurance officenow.
It in 2021 and it's aninsurance office now.
So they painted the brick.
It's very modern, looking in ahistorical district downtown.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I'm sure it has a Weddington in big letters.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
Right across the front.
It's a big plate glass windowup there that has Weddington on
it.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Alright.
Well, jeff and Sammy, thanksfor spending time with us, and
if people want to reach out toyou, we've given them ways to do
that.
We're going to make sure thatwhen we put this out there in
the webosphere, that there's allsorts of trails leading back to
you as well.
So I wish you all the best, andyou know we're recording this
(22:47):
coming up on the holiday season,so I'll say Merry Christmas to
you both.
Happy holidays.
I look forward to seeing youboth again soon in person.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
You too, merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
So to everybody out there, this is the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
Everyone out there, be good toyour neighbor Until next time.
See you everybody, Bye-bye.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor neighbor
podcast union.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpunioncom.
That's gnpunioncom, or call usat 859-651-8330.
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