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Business Spotlight: Country Financial, Allen Agency

Kelly and Jake Allen talk about their business The Allen Agency which is a locally owned family business based in La Harpe, IL.

They partner with Country Financial to offer a range of insurance products including home and auto insurance, farm and crop insurance, business insurance, life insurance, and retirement planning services. 

How long have you been an insurance agent?

Jake has been a licensed insurance agent with Country Financial since 2021. His wife, Kellie, is also a licensed insurance agent. As a team, they employ two licensed associates. 

What did you do before becoming an insurance agent, and how did that experience shape your approach to this job?

Prior to becoming a self-employed business owner and partnering with Country Financial, Jake worked for two companies that helped develop his business knowledge to include product management, pricing analysis, marketing, financial analysis, and more.

He was employed by Gardner Denver, Inc. (now Ingersoll Rand) in Quincy, IL from 2013 to 2018 where he marketed and managed a line of air compressors.

From 2018 until 2021, he worked at CNH Industrial in Burlington, IA where he managed capital asset accounting and tracking within the plant. 

These previous roles set the stage for Jake to become a business owner and utilize his experience marketing and managing a set of products to now sell insurance products.

When did you decide that you wanted to start your own agency and what was the process like?

In early 2021, Jake was approached with the opportunity to start and run his own insurance agency and he quickly determined it was something he wanted to pursue.

While working for his two previous employers, he launched his own marketing and business consulting company – J Allen Consulting.

It was with this company that he learned of his desire to have his own business and the insurance industry was a perfect fit.

What is your agency’s mission and long-term vision?

Our mission is to give back to our community as much as we can. Our way of doing that is by protecting our clients with proper insurance coverage(s), donating to the local schools, summer ball program, La Harpe ambulance service, sponsorships, FFA programs, and so many other ways. We are blessed with this opportunity to serve our community and want to continue to do this for many years to come. 

How has the industry changed since you started, and what lessons have you learned from those changes?

The insurance industry has changed in many ways since I started in 2021, but the biggest impact to my clients and community has been the increase in costs associated with vehicle repairs, home repairs, weather losses such as wind and hail events, lawsuit costs on auto and home insurance, and the result of inflationary factors.

These changes directly impact the cost of insurance to consumers. 

The lessons learned for me are this – it is never a “one-size fits all” approach, because everyone has a different situation – so I take the time to understand my clients and their needs, then determine the best available coverages and products that fit that need at the best available price. 

In what ways does your agency give back to the community?

The Allen Agency thrives on giving back to our community by donating to the La Harpe Community School District, covering summer baseball fees, sponsoring local sporting events and programs, and more.

What communities do you serve?

Our main office is in La Harpe, IL and we serve our clients in multiple states from this location. The Allen Agency also has an office in Burlington, Iowa that we opened in July 2024. 

How can a potential client contact you?

A potential client can visit us in person at 600 W Main St in La Harpe, 217 N 4th St in Burlington, Iowa, or give us a call at 217.659.3441. We are also available by email: Jake.Allen@countryfinancial.com

What advice would you give to someone who is wanting to open their own insurance business?

This advice applies to any type of business but it is vital to set measurable goals, track those goals, and remain accountable every day. Lastly, you need to take the time to understand your “why”. It is important to determine why you do what you do. The Allen Agency has our “why” and we reflect on it daily, which drives us to get better each day.