Spotlight on Business Ashley Croley – State Farm Insurance

State Farm Insurance

Owner: Ashley Croley

Location: 215 Wes Park Drive in Perry

Opened: Jan. 1, 2015

Q: What made you choose this career?

A: “I’ve always known I wanted to be a State Farm agent. I come from a long line of State Farm agents. My grandfather was an agent in Miami, Fla. My dad is a 40+ year agent in Lake Wales, FL. My brother is also an agent in Bradenton, FL. Soon after college I started at State Farm.

“January 26th was my six-year anniversary with the company. When I walked into my first interview, I told them my goal was to become a State Farm agent and here I am, six years later and I’ve started my agency. It’s always been something I’m passionate about.”

Q: What is the vision for your company?

A: “I want to be a company that’s here for a long time. I want to be a vital part of the community and I want to make sure people are protected and provide the best customer service we can.

“I want the community to know that my agency is not just auto and homeowners insurance. We have retirement planning, college savings, mutual funds, life, health, bank, including mortgages and vehicle loans. We also want to help small business owners and can offer not only business insurance but 401K and health plans for all of their employees.”

Q: Aside from your office location, are there other ways people can take advantage of your services?

A: “State Farm is very up to date on its technology and we also offer 24/7 availability where you can speak to a live person over the phone. I’m licensed for property and casualty, life and health, and registered for the entire state of Georgia. While our marketing and community involvement is going to be community-based to Perry, we can write anyone in the state.

If you prefer online shopping, you can also go to ashleycroley.com to bind coverage. We have phone applications like our pocket agent where you can make changes to your policy and view your ID cards from your smart phone.

“We tailor our business to reach everyone so if you’re somebody who wants to use technology you can. You can do almost everything online, but I’m always here for support. Or if you want to have a close relationship with me and do everything in person, I’m here too!”

Q: What are some of the ways you impact the Houston County community?

A: “I believe most everybody’s goal is to live a happier life. You hear that all the time. ‘I want to be happy.’ I think part of allowing people to be happy is taking away some of that burden and worry. So that’s really what my goal is, to be able to sit down with people and not only write insurance, but to assist with financial planning and make sure retirement’s set up. If they have kids, I can set up a plan for college savings.

“State Farm has a wide array of products and we’re really a one-stop shop for all insurance and financial services. I can sit down with anyone in the community and develop a plan to make sure all their assets are protected, and to make sure their future is going in the direction they want it to. So being able to offer free financial planning to the entire community I feel makes a difference.”

Q: What is the level of expertise you and your staff have to offer your clients?

A: “It’s myself and three employees. We’re all licensed in property and casualty, life, health and bank. I am registered in mutual funds and retirement planning, so I can advise customers in that area also.”

Q: What makes your product(s)/service the best?

A: “We’re No. 1 in so many areas. We’re No. 1 in auto insurance. We’re No. 1 in homeowners insurance and this last year we became the No. 1 independent carrier in life insurance.We also have fantastic mutual fund and bank products. State Farm’s goal and my motto is: It’s all about the customer. It’s about you and it’s about the community, so we tailor everything we do for the customer and that makes us No. 1 all the way around. Like a good neighbor.”

Q: What makes your employees the best?

A: “My employees are the best because they care about people. They are smart and they’re tenacious and they want to help everyone in the community. That’s what I look for in an employee, somebody who’s excited about what they do and cares about others.”

Q: What makes your customers the best?

A: “My customers are the best because they love their families. They love their life and they understand that sometimes you need things in place to protect those people. We’re an agency for everybody. We reach everybody and we protect everybody.”

Q: What would you say heading into the future is your top priority (or priorities)?

A: “My top priority is to let people know we’re here, that we’re ready to help them. State Farm isn’t the most expensive company out there and you can have a local agent. You can have somebody who sits down with you every year and protects you for a great price. We provide a great value for what our products provide our customers.”

“I’m excited that I’m here, to get to know everyone and I’m excited to give back to the community while opening this business. I hope everyone comes by and allows me to give them a quote and help protect their loved ones and their assets.”

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