Steve Phillips manages a team of agents at St. Louis, Mo.-based Conley Insurance Group, which has been in business since 1967. His relationship with Portfolio began nearly a decade ago, starting with NAE/NWAN several years prior to its acquisition.
“We are the oldest independent agency in the industry and we have active business in about eight states throughout the Midwest,” Steve says.
Day-to-day, the Conley team faces many challenges. One of their biggest at the moment is new dealer acquisition.
“Developing a relationship with car dealers is critical to forming a business relationship with them,” Steve says, noting that since his agency is very “partner-oriented,” finding the right fit with prospective dealers is critical. “We don’t really want to do business with a dealer that’s going to change product providers every few months. We don’t want the dealer who is looking for the cheapest thing he can possibly find. We want the dealer who is looking for the best thing he can find.”
That is why Steve views working with Portfolio as a differentiator and an advantage in our increasingly competitive industry. Dealers are looking for a myriad of F&I and reinsurance products and services — chief among them, in Steve’s opinion, are retention products that strengthen the dealer-customer bond. His dealers have also been clamoring for theft recovery technology as U.S. auto theft rates have soared to all-time highs.
Another service that has been popular lately is prepaid maintenance, an offering Steve and his fellow agents love to present to their clients and prospects. “We understand what this product does to build a stronger relationship between the dealer and the customer.”
Steve believes 2023 will offer numerous opportunities to grow Conley’s headcount and increase their footprint throughout the Midwest region while maintaining the partnerships they’ve carefully honed over the years. “Our average employee has been with us for more than 20 years,” he says, but the agency will need more manpower to meet their dealers’ needs. “There are only so many dealers an individual can manage properly.”
When Steve is not busy conquering the Midwest, he is conquering his opponents on the ice. “I’m an avid hockey fan who has played and coached for a very long time.” Besides hockey, Steve also enjoys a good round of golf in his spare time.
Loyalty. Longevity. Dedication. Hard work. These are all tenets that ring true for Steve both in and out of the office, helping to drive him toward even greater success in business and in life.
