The word โeducatorsโ in Florida Educators Insurance indicates that, primarily, this local insurance agency serves teachers and others who work in schools. Owner Gary Cucchi says itโs also a hallmark of how his agency does business.
โThe biggest thing we do is educate our clients,โ Gary says, โNot only do we serve educators and their neighbors, family members and friends, but we also educate our clients about their insurance and retirement plans to be sure they have the right strategy and coverages so their family is protected, now and in the future.โ
Gary adds that itโs a common misconception that, because the company is called โFlorida Educators Insurance,โ people think the agency only serves educators.
โBut, thatโs not the case,โ Gary explains. โWe help non-educators all the time. Theyโre often family members, friends, and neighbors of our current clients โ but they donโt have to be โ and we help them with auto insurance, homeownerโs insurance, life insurance, IRAs, and 401k accounts.โ
Gary is a Seven Oaks resident who used to be a teacher himself, before opening Florida Educators Insurance in 2002. His company is an independent agency of Horace Mann, which specializes in insurance products and financial services for educators. Founded in Springfield, IL, in 1945, Horace Mann is named for the founder of American public education and is now a multi-billion-dollar company traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HMN).
Florida Educators Insurance moved to its current location in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56 (just east of I-75) in 2008. The agency offers auto, home, umbrella, flood and life insurance, along with retirement and investment plans, such as IRAs and 401(k) plans, โ529โ college savings plans, plus plans just for educators known as 403(b) and 457 plans.
As an independent agency, Florida Educators Insurance writes policies with a wide variety of insurance companies. Gary explains that he works with many of the largest companies across the industries his agency represents. Some examples include insurance and financial services through โ of course โ Horace Mann, and financial services from American Funds, Fidelity and Raymond James Financial, life insurance through Lincoln Financial and Ameritas, home insurance through Tower Hill and American Integrity, and auto insurance through Safeco, Progressive and Mercury.
Of about 1,000 Horace Mann agencies nationwide, Gary says Florida Educators Insurance is now the largest.
โWe donโt try to be the largest,โ he explains, โIt just happens and we get some plaque (from Horace Mann for it). I donโt care about how big we are; I care about my employees and our clients. If all thatโs going well, it doesnโt matter if weโre number one or 100.โ
Gary says all 19 agents in his office are fully licensed through the Florida Department of Insurance, and all financial services staff members hold numerous state and federal investment licenses through FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
โWeโre a good size, especially staff-wise, but weโre like a mom-โn-pop in that we try to really get to know people and get to know their families so we can advise them properly,โ Gary says. โWe genuinely care about our clients and are not just trying to sell policies. The teacher in me has this philosophy to help people.โ
Serving Schools
Gary says that in 2016, Florida Educators Insurance spent at least $100,000 to provide reading and attendance incentives, school supplies, teacher appreciation gifts, and more to local schools in Pasco, Hillsborough, and Pinellas County.
โInstead of buying billboards, we try to give back to the community,โ Gary explains. โWe advertise in the Neighborhood News because itโs local, but we donโt do any other ads. We want our dollars to go back to the people we serve.โ
Florida Educators Insurance often gives away bicycles, based on incentives chosen by participating schools, including all of the schools in Wesley Chapel.
โFor the last five years or more, we have donated several hundred bikes a year to schools in the area to promote attendance and reading,โ he says. โIt takes us a couple of weeks to deliver all the bikes. We got tired of renting U-hauls to do it, so we decided to get our own bus.โ
Now, Florida Educators Insurance delivers those bikes in a customized school bus that has been wrapped with the companyโs information and had seats removed on the inside to accommodate bikes, school supplies, or whatever is being delivered.
โOur relationships with the schools are based on what (each) school needs,โ Gary explains. โNot every school needs bikes. We help every school in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in some way.โ
He says this includes providing at least $25,000 worth of teacher appreciation gifts, typically $25 gift certificates to local restaurants, which many schools give away at appreciation breakfasts and lunches.
โThis is our way of letting [teachers] know that we care about them, with no strings attached,โ Gary says. โThey donโt have to be clients, although we do insure 10,000 people in that three-county area.โ
Happy Customers
Jerry Jackson is a recently retired educator who has been a Florida Educators Insurance client for 15 years, in part because he thinks so highly of Gary.
โHeโs awesome,โ Jerry says. โWith him, thereโs no high pressure. (Gary) just really wants to help people.โ
Jerry also explains that he was in the State of Florida deferred retirement program, and Gary made retirement easy for him.
โHe guided me through all of the requirements and all of the paperwork,โ he says. โHeโs an expert. If I need any kind of advice, Iโll call Gary. If he doesnโt know the answer, he knows where to find it. I refer him to everybody I know.โ
Gary adds, โWeโre not here just to save you a couple of dollars on your auto and home insurance, although we generally do that, and thatโs the fun stuff. But, saving money on your home and auto insurance isnโt going to change your life. We also change lives with what we do. When we help someone properly plan for their future โ their retirement needs โthat can be life-changing.โ
Thereโs no one-size-fits-all approach to insurance and investment planning, so Gary asks his clients to be willing to discuss their unique situation with a Florida Educators Insurance agent.
โMost people spend more time planning for their summer vacations every year than they do for their own futures,โ says Gary. โWe ask you to give us one hour each year to go over your budget and goals so that you can be better prepared for the future.โ
He explains that budgeting and goal-setting are part of the agencyโs full-service retirement planning, but adds that the agency provides these services for all of their clients, even those who might only have auto insurance through the company.
โWeโre here for all phases of your life,โ Gary says.
Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News readers who call for a free quote on home or auto insurance, or who meet with a Florida Educators Insurance agent to discuss planning for retirement or insurance, and mention this story or the ad on page 18 will receive a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate, and, Gary says, thereโs absolutely no obligation to purchase anything to receive it.
Florida Educators Insurance is located at 26809 Tanic Dr., Suite 101.ย For more information, call 600-3268 or visit FloridaEducatorsInsurance.com. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and on Saturdays by appointment.