Summary

The Ted Todd Insurance Agency has experienced steady growth since we opened our doors in 1986. We’re proud to now have over 13 companies to choose from when searching for the best policies for our customers needs. In November 2010 we expanded to the east coast of Florida and opened a new Allstate office in Melbourne.

We’re growing stronger every year, adding professional jobs for college-educated people. We lead the market in compensation with robust pay and tremendous benefits so we can find and retain the top talent for our customers. We believe in the importance of investing in new technology to improve our productivity and service levels. Furthermore, we’ve prioritized our corporate social responsibility initiatives. It’s important to us that we’re having a positive social impact on our communities and that we’re continually advancing that mantra.

History & Growth

Owner Ted Todd grew up in Indiana and graduated from the University of Evansville with a major in marketing and a minor in computers. He started with Allstate Insurance in 1986 in a small booth at Sears in the Edison Mall located in Fort Myers, Florida. Three years later, he opened his first small office located in Gateway in Fort Myers. In 1997, as Ted Todd Allstate Insurance, they moved to Estero and steadily expanded to include a total of seven locations strategically located throughout Lee, Collier, Sarasota and Brevard Counties. All offices are first class and nicely appointed for client comfort. Sales have grown from $6,000,000 in premiums in 1997 to more than $30,000,000 annually. They’re writing more business today than ever before.

Customer Centric Focus

Every single person at Ted Todd Insurance is focused squarely on the customer. Client conversations are needs based and consultative. More than 50% of their business comes from referrals from satisfied customers.
We hire exceptional, college educated people and compensate them 25-35% more than other agencies to get top talent and keep them. Every employee is salaried (not commissioned), licensed to sell insurance, and empowered to do the right thing for the client. Managers work collaboratively as a cohesive team, as though it was their own business.

Training has been a long-term hallmark of the company. We conduct regular, firm wide, training sessions during off hours, so that everyone can attend without sacrificing customer service. We bring in industry experts to advance their knowledge in a broad range of insurance topics. We aim to never stop learning—and that enables our agents to better serve customer needs.

Products

We sell a wide variety of insurance products from property and casualty, business and commercial, and life and retirement policies, covering homes, businesses, condos, renters, autos, boats, ATVs, right on through personal policies for life and health, as well as investment vehicles. Two primary types of policies are:

• Homeowners Insurance – With large companies pulling out of Florida and leaving homeowners in a lurch, we offer homeowners’ policies from 13 strong companies, with sound underwriting practices and strong reinsurance standards. As other companies re-evaluate their future presence in Florida, it’s advantageous to deal with a single agency that can seamlessly switch the insurance to another company if one decides to pull out.
• Auto Insurance – As an Allstate agency, we have always been at the forefront of innovative auto insurance products. Current products reward good driving records. A special program forgives policyholders for an accident and rewards them with cash back and lower deductibles for safe driving years, which is unique in the industry.

Technology

We pride ourselves on being the most tech-savvy agency in the industry. We utilize technology effectively to handle a bigger workload and provide a better level of service. We’ve spent more than $120,000 to install a sophisticated telephone system, computers and software that centralize all six offices into a single call handling operation. Incoming calls hunt for available staffers at any office. Every staffer can see everyone’s availability. No customer should receive an auto attendant or get dumped into voicemail. That’s our stand.

Competition

There is a lot of flux in the industry these days. It takes years to gain the kind of knowledge and experience that brings value like the Todd agency provides its customers. Customers are fearful about losing everything and have a lot of questions. In those situations, there’s just no substitute for choosing to deal with professionals who know their stuff.

Large, national direct insurers offer a limited product line at a decent price. Many agents are commissioned on sales and work from a “one-size-fits-all” script that is designed to turn quick sales. They don’t see claims or claimants. The personal service goes missing.

Our agents are full service local providers. They see the pain and suffering that a drunk and/or uninsured driver can inflict on victims and understand the importance of proper protection. They keep current on home values and associated risks, such as floods and hurricanes. They provide valuable insight and guidance to help buyers select the most appropriate insurance for their individual needs, which can save buyers money and pain in the long run.

Awards

The Ted Todd Insurance Agency won Allstate’s Athena Award as its top life agent in 1994. There are 11,000 Allstate agencies in the USA. They are one of only 82 agencies in the history of Allstate Insurance to be included in this “Hall of Fame” short list in Northbrook, IL. Ted works actively with the home office as a charter member of the National and Regional Agency Advisory Boards, a member of the Chairman’s Inner Circle (the highest achievement level for distant agents), and is one of 21 agents nationwide who are redefining the agency model of the future.

Visit our Awards page to see the awards we’ve won this year.

Charitable Giving

Ted Todd is a man who gives back to his community. In 2006, he was asked to join the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Lee County, which he still proudly serves today. He proposed developing a major annual event to raise money and awareness for the club. With the help of many volunteers, the “It’s Twilight Time” wine and food tasting event has raised over $270,000 for the organization over the last three years. In 2008, he was recognized as the top new board member in the State of Florida.

Final Thoughts

Not the least of Ted Todd’s success has been the backup and support of his wife, Marilyn, for their 35 years of marriage. They have four grown children and now are the proud grandparents of three grandchildren. She’s been a key contributor to the success and growth of the business through the years, even pinch-hitting wherever needed. They’re a cohesive life team.

This is one business Southwest Floridians can celebrate as it grows stronger and puts resources back into our local economy. Ted Todd has done it through vision, courage, commitment, good people, and loyal customers. The success of his agency is something everyone can celebrate.

« About Us