Ask an Agent with Abraham Chavez

Abraham: I completed my eighth year here at SELCO in March 2022 and am now an Insurance Producer/Agent. My role here is to properly insure people’s assets, so I advise to their specific needs, and I have a market for any type of individual needing insurance. I’m a one-stop shop—one agent, many lines of business. I can help with auto, home, and motorcycles; and make sure there are no gap in your business insurance coverages. I also deal with worker’s comp, general liability and bond, and inland marine coverage. I also advise clients throughout the claims process to make sure it goes smoothly.

Abraham: I am fortunate to help our Hispanic community. It gives me the ability to capture a broader part of our community. I have been doing this for over two decades, and I feel I’m known in the community. Thanks to that, I’m able to stay more than busy with the referrals they provide. Since they trust me with their needs, I am fortunate that they send all their family and friends my way. Taking good care of them and treating them like family not only allows me to retain them as clients but also allows me to help their friends and family. Building relationships is a crucial part of my job, so I make sure to treat them as family; it’s a terrific way to capture and grow your book.

Insurance premiums are ticking back up. What is your best advice for people to navigate the new rate environment?

Abraham: The best advice I can give our insureds is to keep in contact with me, and every couple of years check back to make sure the carrier they have is giving them the best possible rate. The beauty of being an independent agent is that I work with several insurance companies, so I can recheck all my carriers to make sure my clients are getting the best possible rate. Unlike a captive agent, who only offers rates from one carrier, we handle 10 different companies. 

You were a preschool teacher in a previous life. How does one go from teaching small children to working in the insurance game?

Abraham: Being a preschool teacher was extremely rewarding. I loved my job, and I loved going to work every day and molding young minds. I still remember so many kids that I taught. I taught and worked in insurance at the same time for a while, but with a growing family I had no choice but to commit to insurance. I love teaching and sharing my knowledge—either with teaching kids or adults in the insurance world, I love to share what I know.

Abraham: I’m friendly, patient, and knowledgeable, and I put myself in people’s shoes, treat them as family. I don’t want to leave anyone in the dark, and I like to share what I know. I’m a father, husband, and a son, and I like to get to know people. I’m not all about  business either—I like to build relationships, and the stronger they are, the longer they last. I like to save people money, of course, but most importantly I want to make sure you are getting the best possible coverage. No sense in jeopardizing good coverage to save a buck. I like to explain everything and want people to know what they are getting before they commit. I want them to feel good about not only getting their insurance with me from the start, but most importantly, come claim time, I want them to feel good during the whole process and know that their agent took good care of them. And I want them to tell others how well their experience went with their agent.