Insurance Partner Spotlight
R.H. New Insurance Services
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| The R. H. New – Insurance Services, of Clovis, includes, from right front, Mai Thao, Jennifer Babbitt, Rodney New, Julie Ann Franklin and Kay Moua. |
R. H. New – Insurance Services, of Clovis, has lead all Fresno County agents in signing up new Fresno County Farm Bureau members since the start of the 2007-2008 membership year, making New an important partner in building FCFB membership.
“It’s easy for us,” said Rodney New. “By signing up for a membership, our customers are receiving amazing discounts. We enroll FCFB members because of the advantages membership delivers.” Nationwide auto policy holders receive a 7.5 percent discount off their premiums. Farm policy holders receive a five percent discount up to $500.
New also endorses the benefits FCFB brings to local agriculture. “Supporting Farm Bureau is a no brainer,” New said. “FCFB represents the interests of the farmer and the Valley. Agriculture is of key importance to our local economy and the future of this Valley. When agriculture is successful, we see a positive ripple effect throughout the entire community.”
Early in his work life, New was a milkman for Foster Farms Dairy where he delivered dairy products door-to-door. He eventually moved into the dairy processing plant where he was elevated to a supervisory role. “Foster Farms Dairy was a tremendous place to work. I had no real intention of ever leaving or getting into insurance, but I just always had this knack for understanding and explaining how insurance policies work,” said New.
In 1987, New surprised everyone including himself when he decided to leave Foster Farms after 12 plus years and become an insurance agent. After a year and a half in a company store, New opened his own agency with one of his closest friends in Modesto. Eight years later with a growing agency, New was offered a position in company management, establishing and managing agencies.
As an agency manager in Fresno, New’s market territory included the west side of Fresno, Madera and Merced counties. In his second year, New’s market was ranked the number 1 market in California. With his wife at his side, New received the “Manager of The Year” award on stage at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Despite seven successful years in the changing environment of agency management, a surprise ending came in early-2005. This time, not of New’s choosing. New and his wife, Judith, considered taking the opportunity to move closer to her aging parents in Wisconsin, but just didn’t feel they should be leaving their small hobby farm, great church family, close friends and community involvements. Carefully evaluating their many opportunities, Nationwide Insurance Company won New’s interest.
New considers Nationwide’s relationship with Farm Bureau a key importance. Nationwide’s proven and successful business model were instrumental in New’s decision to open his Nationwide Insurance agency in 2006.
New was optimistic that Nationwide would be a good fit and be very successful in California. Nationwide is the sixth largest property and casualty insurance company in the U.S., the fourth largest property insurer, the number one carrier of farm owners insurance and the number six auto insurance carrier based on premiums written. In addition, Nationwide one of the largest providers of life insurance and retirement products and a Fortune 500 company, ranking 108.
New also was attracted to Nationwide because it is a “mutual” company, meaning it is not publicly traded. Being a mutual company frees Nationwide from having to make decisions based on maintaining the value of the company’s stock price or to pay a high return on investment to its stockholders, which he feels has helped to provide stability to the company.
New embraces the Nationwide slogan; “Nationwide is on your side.” As a Nationwide agent, that means, “I am on your side.” New understands the need for his customers to have a higher level of confidence when it comes to insuring their most precious possessions. “Our clients know we are here for them, and they also can be confident that Nationwide is here for them,” he said
We spend much of our time educating our customers,” New said. “We don’t want a single unhappy customer, ever. We learn our customer’s expectations and then help them make their best insurance decisions. When needed, our customers can expect to receive smooth and quick claims assistance.
“As an agency, we make every effort to always do the right thing, we never settle for less. We even ask for forgiveness when we need to. Ongoing Nationwide training and weekly office meetings with staff help us to keep effective and up to date processes and “On Your Side” services. It’s been said, ‘Prescription without diagnosis is malpractice.’ Well, that also applies to insurance. We work hard to understand our potential policyholder’s needs before issuing a quote or a policy.” New said since there is \ no such thing as a one-size-fits-all policy, developing a good understanding of a customer’s operation is critical to properly protect his customers.
The bottom line is that New loves what he does. “Caring has to come from the heart,” he said. “You have to be in a position to love what you are doing, and this is a good place to show love. We have a great staff and a great product with a great company. We really are in a position to succeed and love what we do.”
Aside from being a successful insurance agent, New is a family man and a community leader. New and his wife, Judith, are very involved with 4th Street Church of God in Madera where New serves as chairman of the Board and on the worship team.
New also supports the Community with his six member Christian band; Change of Heart.” The band members are from five different churches. They routinely provide music, support and equipment, playing everything from worship services and retreats to fundraisers and parties, locally and as far away as Phoenix and Nashville.
New and his wife feel the Valley has been a great place to raise their three daughters: Antoinette (Toni), is a commander in the U.S. Navy presently stationed in Norfolk Virginia with her family; daughter Kristi, is a mother and wife working for a large military contractor in Arizona; and their youngest, Heather who is engaged to be married, works in food service in the Chico/Red Bluff area of Northern California. New and Judith are excited to be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary on Sept. 22.
FCFB thanks Rodney New and all insurance partners throughout Fresno County who contribute to FCFB membership.
Insurance Partner Spotlight: Ag Today, Aug 09
By: John Migliazzo