Shelter Insurance Works To Make Customers Feel 'Valuable'

Jeri Lynn Wells has been a Shelter Insurance agent for almost 5 years, with 23 years experience under the previous agent, Lana Long-Anderson.

“I was born and raised here,” Wells said, “I moved away for a couple years for college, lived in Wichita for a year, and came back home.”

With the help of her employee Ivone Aguero, Wells said they strive to respond to their clients.

“We try to make people feel valuable,” Wells said, “We try to make it more about friendly faces and a good conversation rather than just a purchase.”

Aguero said Wells’ charm is a plus to their little office.

Shelter Insurance provides auto, home, life, renters, personal articles, business, ATV, boat, motorcycle, RV, and farm insurance.

Wells said she entered the insurance career by “accident.” “When I moved back I needed a job,” Wells said, “I just happened to be good in this career and it went from there!”

As a “small-town-local-girl,” Wells said she enjoys having close relationships with people, even in other companies. “If there’s an issue I can help out with, I am always willing to do that,” Wells said, “We try work well with other insurance agents.”

Wells’ favorite aspect about her job is interacting with a variety of people. “Let’s face it, insurance is not a ‘roller-coaster ride,’” Wells said, “It can be pretty dull sometimes.”

“I’m just really proud and happy to be involved in the town I grew up in, and be an active business person in this community.” Wells is a Grant County Ambassador, heavily involved in Shelton Memorial Christian Church, and she is on the Spring Fling Committee.

Shelter Insurance

Shelter Insurance products are sold by agents in 15 states— Arkansas, Colorado,  Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

According to the company Website, they "consistently receive high ratings from A.M. Best Company (a national firm that rates the financial strength and operating performance of insurance companies) and we are a mutual insurance company, which means we are owned by our policyholders rather than stockholders, and governed by a Board of Directors."

Their Website also states they "believe integrity and a commitment to continuous improvement are essential, and we make customer service one of our top priorities. Our primary goal is to be a benefit to our customers, communities, employees and our nearly 1,400 licensed agents as we find ways to maintain our strong financial position and protect our policyholders. That view has served us well throughout our company’s history, and we expect it to carry us well into the future."

The Past to the Present

Shelter Insurance first opened their doors in 1946, but in those days, they were MFA Mutual Insurance® and only offered auto insurance.

The company also only operated in Missouri at that time. "Through the years, the Shelter Insurance Group of Companies has expanded to 21 states and offers far more products than they did in 1946.  The Group of Companies includes Shelter Life Insurance Company, Shelter Reinsurance®, AmShield Insurance® and Say Insurance®."

Weathering The Storms

According to their Website, "Shelter Insurance® has weathered many catastrophic storms through the years including the Joplin Tornado in 2011; the Moore, Okla., tornado in 2013; Hurricanes Rita, Katrina and Laura, and more recently, the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis."

The site states that "at the core of the Shelter brand is the willingness to do the right thing. We have held steady and strong in times of crisis, helping customers and communities rebuild and thrive for the future.  It is a promise which continues today and into the future.

Our Employees

Shelter Insurance attributes their success to employees such as Wells. "None of our success could have been achieved without our dedicated employees. Our pride in our employees is mutual," the site states.

Shelter has been named in the annual Best Places to Work in Insurance program four years in a row--2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

"This survey recognizes employers for their outstanding performance in establishing workplaces where employees can thrive, enjoy their work and help their companies grow. Companies named to the list completed a two-part assessment—an Employer Benefits & Policies questionnaire and a separate, anonymous Employee Engagement & Satisfaction Survey. The data from the surveys is analyzed to determine which companies will make the list."

Shelter Insuranc's Vision is to "redefine value in the insurance industry." The company's mission statement is to "Be a leader in our communities by providing daily value while we SHELTER what matters most." 

Wells' Shelter Insurance is located at 111 S. Glenn St. in Ulysses KS. Her office is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. She can be contacted at (620) 356-3300.