The DeKalb County Farm Bureau Center for Agriculture welcomes its newest office tenant to the building, the COUNTRY Financial Agency.
It’s the office of Agency Manager Phil Hasz who represents the three counties of DeKalb, Kendall and Ogle. Hasz made the decision to relocate the office recently from downtown Sycamore to the Center for Agriculture.
“The size of this office is perfect for what we need and it’s nice to have a presence here in the Farm Bureau Building,” said Hasz. COUNTRY Financial is an affiliated company of Farm Bureau.
Occupying the office space along with Hasz are assistant Kelly Kish and new agent Zeke Scott.
Their nearly 1,000 square foot office is located in the northwest wing of the Farm Bureau Building, previously occupied by American Farmland Trust.
Another bonus for the agency office is being able to use the meeting space in the building for COUNTRY agent and financial representative meetings.
“The building is centrally located between the three counties so more meetings will likely occur here, even though we rotate meeting locations,” said Hasz.
The agency manager, who resides in Rochelle, splits his time between the counties, spending a few days a week in DeKalb, Rochelle, and Yorkville offices, interfacing with 29 agents.
There are currently COUNTRY Financial agents serving DeKalb County in outside offices in DeKalb, Sycamore, Genoa, Shabbona and Sandwich.
Hasz, 54, has spent his entire career with the COUNTRY insurance company. He has served as an agent and financial representative and has been an agency manager for multiple counties in Illinois and in Colorado. He became the agency manager for the DeKalb-Kendall-Ogle Agency five years ago.
As the agency manager looks at the overall scope of the insurance company he indicates the ultimate goal is “to make sure we are as competitive as we can be and provide adequate coverage for policyholders/Farm Bureau members.”
“It’s a challenge with the online insurance company competition, particularly with misconceptions people have thinking everything is taken care of when it’s not,” explained Hasz. He stated that while other companies may offer rates that look appealing there is almost always a tradeoff which is usually in lower, lesser coverages that you may not realize impacts you at the time of a claim.
That’s where the COUNTRY agents come in as they analyze individuals and businesses insurance needs and then make appropriate insurance coverage recommendations (property, casualty, life, farm/business). Another benefit for COUNTRY clients is that agents are available to meet face-to-face and provide local expertise.
Hasz urges Farm Bureau members to contact their agent regarding insurance coverage and financial products. Those looking for an agent can contact his agency office to meet with new agent Zeke Scott or be referred to an agent in their local area.
Besides the agency office, down the hall in the Farm Bureau Building is another COUNTRY office, the crop insurance office run by COUNTRY representative Don Young.