Case Studies

In 2008, Lee Ann Pridgeon became a first-time agency owner when she purchased the Smart Choice® agency she’d worked at for 15 years. She now owns eight agencies across the state, and six of them came to her through her local network of Smart Choice® agents.

Bryan Clinkscales’ relationship with Smart Choice® started early on in his agency’s history before his father’s retirement. “A mentor of mine introduced us to Smart Choice® and we did a contract, which gave us the chance to get some markets.” As the years went by, Bryan’s agency grew. When he acquired another Smart Choice® agency years later, he had a chance to look at all the different programs Smart Choice® offered.

Like many people who wind up in the industry, Lee Ann didn’t plan to become an insurance professional. She fell into the industry, and ultimately realized it was the right career for her. Once she had dedicated herself to insurance, she needed to find ways to grow. Over the years, she’s done that with incredible success — and with the help of the Smart Choice network.

As much as he knew about insurance, Gulraiz lacked a sales track record and the essentials required for carrier appointments. He was denied at his first carrier appointment interview but soon after joined Smart Choice's Smart Start program and wrote $300,000 in premiums in just six months.

Spiking M&A activity in 2021 and steep competition for carrier appointments led a second-generation independent agent to consider next steps for his agency – to acquire or be acquired – and if he stayed in the business, how best to expand and become more profitable.

Feeling restricted by the captive offering, here's the story of just one insurance agent who chose the mission to put people first, over his loyalty to his brand — and left a captive career to start his own successful agency.