Short Associates began in 1962 as a family business, founded by Donald L. Short and then passed on to his son, Steve Short, and then to his granddaughter, Amanda Swanson.
Today, Amanda is still the owner, and her husband, Darrell Swanson, runs the day-to-day operations.
While the agency got its start by focusing on life insurance and annuities, it’s expanded to become a multi-line shop in the years since. “We want to be a one-stop agency for everybody, where we can pretty much write everything,” says Darrell.
However, to deliver on the one-stop value proposition, it’s important to have access to multiple carriers.
“I just couldn’t imagine being a captive agent at this point,” says Darrell, referring to the recent market conditions. “Rates go up, rates go down; if rates go too high, you don’t have anything to offer them. You’re kind of stuck.”
Offering all lines became even trickier when a valued employee passed unexpectedly, and Darrell suddenly found himself having to take on Medicare coverage – a product he’d never personally handled before.
Darrell had to consider whether to keep the Medicare book of business or sell it off, but he didn’t have to think about it for long. “I wanted to continue on,” he says. “I decided to do whatever it took to continue offering Medicare services.”
Choosing Insurance Network Support
Darrell was determined to continue offering all lines of coverage. He also wanted to make sure he had enough carriers to navigate the difficult market conditions that started to take shape around 2020. He couldn’t do it alone.
“We decided to partner with Smart Choice because we wanted to have other options,” says Darrell. It’s a decision he doesn’t regret.
With access to a broader range of property/casualty, life/disability and annuity carriers, for both commercial and personal clients, the Short Associates team can offer clients more choices and win more business.
They can also reach out and get help and coaching quickly whenever they need assistance – like when they are navigating a challenging risk and or helping a client in an unfamiliar business sector.
“I’ve been able to write unique businesses I would have never written before,” Darrell says, explaining that access to the excess and surplus markets through Smart Choice has been game changing.
Finding Inner Strength
In addition to leading the agency, Darrell travels around the country to compete in Taekwondo tournaments, winning several national and district titles. “When I started Taekwondo, I found what I was missing,” Darrell says. “I’d been competitive my entire life, and I enjoy competing professionally, but I’d missed the physical competitiveness of a sport,” he explains.
While competing has been rewarding, it’s also been heartbreaking at times – like when Darrell tore his hamstring just six weeks before he planned to compete for the world championship title. His doctor told him he wouldn’t be able to do it, but he defied the odds. “I went there, gave everything I could, and came home with a world title,” he says.
Over the years, Darrell and Amanda have also faced devastating tragedies within their agency – and in each instance, they tapped into their inner strength and leaned on support from others to overcome difficult circumstances.
Retaining Clients in a Tough Market
While the Short Associates team has been incredibly happy with Smart Choice, client feedback has been great, too. At a time when rates are rising and finding insurance coverage is getting harder, clients notice when an insurance broker has their back.
“That’s exactly what I was hoping for when I joined the Smart Choice network,” says Darrell. “I was looking out for the best interest of our insureds.”
The Smart Choice partnership has allowed Darrell to keep his retention rates up, even as policyholders increasingly compare rates.
His clients are concerned with market conditions, just like everyone else, and over the last couple of years, they’ve called to ask why their costs are going up and whether there are any other options.
Thanks to his partnership with Smart Choice, there are other options, and Darrell is able to manage the workload. “Without my partnership with Smart Choice, I would have lost a lot of business because my phone has rung way more than it ever has in the last two years,” says Darrell.
Building a Future
Short Associates has been a family affair, and it looks like it may stay this way. “I have two daughters who are 14 and 9,” says Darrell. “My nine-year-old is telling me right now, ‘I can’t wait to work with you one day, Dad.’”
This means that Darrell isn’t just focused on his own future. He’s looking out for future generations – but he’s not worried. “I have everything I need because of Smart Choice,” he says.
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