BUSINESS
Roll of Honor 2023
TRADITIONS
A BRAINERD DISPATCH & ECHO JOURNAL PUBLICATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023
Travis Grimler / Echo Journal
Pine River Insurance on Barclay Avenue in Pine River moved to its current location under second owner Pat Smith, of Brainerd Insurance Company.
Independent insurance is perfect fit for Pine River Three different owners shared the same, community centric vision
- Tim Christianson
Travis Grimler / Echo Journal
Tim Christianson, owner of Pine River Insurance, says small towns seem to like independent insurance companies like his. of Pine River Insurance, formerly Bean’s Ameriguard Insurance. Robert Bean founded the business on the types of relationships only possible in a very personal, independent insurance company.
121 Years
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Since 1902
“My dad was a people person,” said Richie Bean, Robert’s son. “He did as much business out of the cafe and coffee shop, golf course or high school event as he did in his office. He was very much a small town type
of operator.” Those relationships still allow agents to make the most personalized recommendations for their customers. “Rates don’t seem to be going down, so we love to have options and
love to be able to help people save money, and if they do have a claim for fire or wind - and hail has been huge being able to walk them through the claims process and help them on that end,” Christianson
87 Years
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40 Years
In this type of community not everyone likes the big companies. They like to have options.
said. “If you like people, it’s a good industry to be in.” Robert Bean had many years of insurance experience, even before he and his family located to northern Minnesota, almost retiring from the industry at one point. “My dad worked for MSI, Mutual Service Insurance, which is now Country Financial,” Richie Bean said. “He worked for them for 20 years. He was a regional vice president of sales for the Upper Midwest. He did that for years before he had a heart attack and semi-retired. They decided to move up here I think in ‘81.” Robert Bean put in another four years under Dick Sessing in Walker and Bemidji before deciding to become his own boss. At first he ran the business from his home. They later rented a space just south of the corner of Barclay and First avenues, between the Cenex and the former Family Dollar building in a building Richie Bean said is no longer standing.
In
By Travis Grimler Echo Journal In a world full of big name insurance companies with seemingly endless advertising licenses, the city of Pine River is home to three independent brokers, one of whom thinks that’s not by accident. “In this type of community not everyone likes the big companies,” said Pine River Insurance owner Tim Christianson. “They like to have options. When I bought this agency in 2006, we lost some customers, of course, but I still have a lot of customers from 2006, and then new business as well from Grandpa down to his grandson. “You get to see all parts of some of the families and get to know them a bit, including what Grandpa does and what his grandsons and granddaughters do in school,” he said. Christianson thinks a small town like Pine River is the perfect atmosphere for independent firms to thrive. “Being independent, we have a few more different options than a captive carrier like the big guys you see on the TV,” Christianson said. “All I can say is, don’t always believe what you see on TV or what you hear. It isn’t always what it seems to be. With us having more than one option, hopefully we can find a fit for most people.” That’s been the model since the first owners
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30206 Rasmussen Road, Suite #1 Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
218-568-4940