Personal Lines Profiles

Behnke & Associates

Hollywood, Fla.

Owner(s)/principal(s): Fred Behnke, Scott Kinzel, Mark Introcaso, Gene McFadden

2006 personal lines premium: $54.5 million

No. of personal lines insurers: 10

Behnke & Associates serves a typical mix of South Florida families, including a number of retirees in the established, mostly middle class community of Brownard County.

The agency’s personal lines business has grown in the last five years primary due to the real estate boom and the ever-changing insurance industry in Florida, says Rex Mason, personal lines manager.

Mason says what he likes most about the personal lines business is assisting clients with homeowners needs and helping first time buyers understand their coverage. What he likes least is the instability of carriers doing business in the state.

The biggest challenge for the homeowners market in Florida is rate changes and company liquidations, Mason reports, but adds that competition is good for the auto market. Just two percent of sales are from personal umbrellas.

Three keys to Behnke’s success in personal lines: capacity to place coverage in admitted markets; rates that are competitive; and real estate sales.

Topics Florida