Longboat Key business adds insurance policies

Steve McGee says Longboat Key Financial and Insurance Group is a “one-stop shop” for insurance. The company, formerly known as Longboat Key Financial Group, is adding auto, homeowners and commercial insurance to its existing health- and life-insurance coverage and financial-planning services, through a partnership with Insurance Services of Central Florida. The company will operate as an independent agency.

“We are focused on really becoming Longboat Key’s major insurance agency,” said McGee, the company’s new financial- and insurance-services account manager.

The former vice president of Kohl’s department store, McGee saw an opportunity in insurance when he moved last May to Longboat Key from Milwaukee with his wife, Pam, who worked for Allstate Insurance branches in Milwaukee and St. Louis. He was hoping to go into business for himself but saw the uncertainty about homeowners insurance in the area, with many insurers dropping Florida properties and forcing homeowners to buy insurance from Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

“Citizens (insurance company) might not be the only option,” McGee said.

After moving here, Pam McGee met Craig Meldahl, founder and president of then-Longboat Key Financial Group, at the Cedars Tennis Resort swimming pool, where both swim laps each morning. Pam McGee introduced her husband to Meldahl, and the two began a conversation about business opportunities. They began planning to expand insurance coverage about four or five months ago and met with several independent insurance companies before settling on Insurance Services of Central Florida.

Pam McGee will work at the company as a customer-service representative. Sarah Cornwell, who currently works in the Ellenton office of Insurance Services of Central Florida, will also join the company as an account and personal-property agent.

Meldahl is optimistic that the convenience of the company will draw new clients who don’t want to leave the Key to visit an insurance agency.

“They’d love to have their doctor and their CPA out here, as well,” Meldahl said.

According to McGee, the financial-planning services that the company has provided in the past will complement the new insurance services.
“Insurance can be used as a great financial-planning tool,” McGee said.

BUSINESS INFORMATION:

Longboat Key Financial and Insurance Group
Address: 6350 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite 101
Phone: 383-2300
Web site: www.longboatkeyfinancial.com