GreatFlorida Insurance Helps Insure Your Most Prized Possessions

By Kelly Miller

It may seem like signing up for online insurance would be the quickest and easiest route, but Bill Sullivan of GreatFlorida Insurance, which has an office in the Cory Lake Professional Center off Cross Creek Blvd., says don’t be fooled. 

“An algorithm can’t possibly understand the complexities of your family,” he says. “When you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from disaster, the best course of action is to talk to an expert in the field.”

GreatFlorida is “Insurance for Floridians by Floridians” and has been in business since 1991. The New Tampa office was opened in 2005 by a previous owner who decided to sell her franchise ownership to Sullivan in May 2013.

Sullivan earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from George Washington University in Washington, DC, and then worked in investment banking for 25 years in New England. Looking to make a change, he and his wife Julie moved down to Florida in August of 2012. Bill got his “2-20” insurance license so he could sell all lines of Property & Casualty Insurance. Julie also works in the office as the general manager and is a Licensed 4-40 Sales and Service Representative.

GreatFlorida’s Heidi Slagle also is a Licensed 4-40 Sales and Service Representative. A “4-40” agent may sell policies, answer questions about insurance and collect premiums under the direction of a “2-20” agent. On November 3, GreatFlorida welcomed new agent Brittany Gardner, who earned her B.A. degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders from the University of South Florida in Tampa and now also has her “2-20” Property and Casualty insurance license.

Sullivan says that he and his staff take the time to get to know each of their customers personally, to understand their customers’ needs and discuss the ways insurance can help protect them.

“That’s what I like most,” Sullivan says, “the personal interaction I have with the clients. I get to know them and their family and build a relationship.”

He not only assesses his clients’ current needs, but also figures out what they may require in the future. For example, if a family has a 13-year-old, Sullivan knows that in a few years, he’ll have to adjust their auto insurance policy for the new teenage driver. Also, he explains that most clients are unaware that while their child is away at college, that child still is covered under their parent’s policy, even if they’re out of state, as long as the auto insurance is in the parent’s name and the vehicle has the corresponding Florida tag.

Right Coverage, Right Price

Sullivan shops his list of insurance carriers to find every one of his customers the best coverage at the right price. He’s able to write insurance for the entire state of Florida, but he mainly services the immediate area of New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Zephyrhills and Land O’Lakes. The types of insurance offered at New Tampa’s GreatFlorida location, as well as all of the other franchises across the state, include:

• Auto

• Boat

• Motorcycle

• Homeowners

• Renters

• Business

• Flood

• “Umbrella” (liability)

Note-Some GreatFlorida agents also offer health and life insurance, but these two types of policies are not available at the New Tampa office.

If you’re not familiar with umbrella liability insurance, it kicks in once you’ve met your regular policy maximums. It provides extra liability protection against lawsuits, property damage, injuries, slander and libel, worldwide incidents and false arrest or imprisonment.

Emmett O’Barr has been a client of GreatFlorida’s for the past seven years. He was raised in Tampa, but has since moved to Belleair Beach, FL. He was so happy with the service he received at GreatFlorida that he continued using the New Tampa office even after he moved.

“I appreciate how quick and responsive they are to my needs,” O’Barr explains. “When my boat policy came up for renewal, I wanted to see if Heidi (Slagle) could find me a better deal. She was able to combine my auto and boat insurance to save me $135 a month!”

GreatFlorida is committed to helping Floridians make informed decisions about their insurance needs. Sometimes when families want to save money, they’ll leave out something important in their coverage. Later, when disaster strikes, they’re shell-shocked that they weren’t adequately covered, which could put them at risk for a serious loss — and at a serious financial disadvantage.

“I want my clients to fully understand what their coverage does for them,” Sullivan explains. “I have the ability to inform them of the impact of their decisions. They won’t get that online.”

When Kyle Briese bought his first home, which was located off S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, he needed homeowner’s insurance.

“I wanted to get coverage from a local company, someone easy to work with,” he says. He emailed GreatFlorida and, within an hour, got a call back from the agency. “They worked hard to find the best coverage that fit into my budget.” Briese adds that he was so pleased with the customer service that he since has requested a quote for an additional insurance product.

GreatFlorida is a member of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Tampa Independent Insurance Agents group. Sullivan says that he’s a big supporter of Tampa’s Fraternal Order of Police.

Win An iPad Mini!

GreatFlorida is holding a giveaway just in time for Christmas! When you buy any new policy between the time you read this and the drawing on December 20, 2014, you’ll be entered to win an iPad Mini. Multiple policy purchases means multiple entries!

To find out how GreatFlorida Insurance can help you with all of your insurance needs, call 994-1143. You can also find out more information at NewTampa.GreatFlorida.com. GreatFlorida Insurance is located at 10353 Cross Creek Blvd., Suite C.