Coastal Insurance Group | Partner Spotlight | February 2021

Expertise On Your Side

Conditions on the ground in this business can definitely change. In fact, it’s one of the few things you can count on.

When those changes take place, it’s good to know you can count on something solid and stable … like the professionals at Coastal Insurance Group, a team of professionals that you can count on to put expertise on your side.

Experienced Leadership. Working with Purpose.

Leading Coastal Insurance Group are partners Kurt Wielkens and Ryan Reid with 25 years and 17 years of industry experience respectively.

The agency was formed in 2019 with a five-person team of dedicated professionals, including Agent James West. Many in the group had worked together before, creating a powerful dynamic.

As Ryan says, “We’re like a family. We all help each other out. We care about our clients and each other.”

As Agency Principal, Kurt feels a true sense of purpose in what he does. That comes through immediately when you talk with him.

“It’s a truly great feeling knowing that we have so many possibilities when it comes to serving the best interests of our real estate partners and clients,” Kurt emphasizes. “With Coastal Insurance Group, we are independent. That means we have the ability to provide our clients with a dozen options in many cases, rather than just one or two. And that makes a major difference for them.”

Ryan feels a deep pride in being there to provide valuable protection.

“For me, it’s about being able to help someone in a time of need when a claim comes up, and helping them get back to where they were,” Ryan says. “Our clients aren’t numbers. We get to know each person personally.”

Those options clearly make a huge difference in a region that has lately been subject to the whims of an active hurricane and storm environment.

“The insurance industry definitely takes a close look and is constantly considering its business in coastal counties,” Kurt explains. “As a result, the market for insurance is constantly changing. A company that might be favorable to write business with one year, might not be the next. Or a company that may have been active for several years, may decide to pull out.”

Focused Expertise

It’s an impact that is felt across the various types of property insurance.

“This is our area of expertise. It’s what we focus on,” Kurt explains. “We take a very thorough approach, and we research every company that does business here, so that we can truly capture the many possibilities that exist for our clients as independent agents. In fact, we have contracts with almost every one of the companies that offer coverage here. As a result, we literally have a market for anything and everything as long as the house is in good shape.”

The value of insurance is irreplaceable when it matters most — having the protection in place to save insureds from devastating loss and helping them rebuild and move forward with their lives in a time of need.

“When I think about the parts of this business I enjoy the most, that’s where it starts … with people,” Kurt points out. “It gives me great pleasure when someone comes to me and they’re paying higher premiums, and I’m able to get them into a better situation and get them with a much better company … in turn, saving them some money in the process.” Reliable Resource Coastal Insurance Group offers a wide range of valuable plans, including homeowner and auto insurance.

“That’s a process that we really enjoy,” Kurt says. “If they’re willing to sit down and talk about their coverage, I’ll give them tips on how they can improve their current policy, even if it’s not with us. Sometimes, people have too many claims and we just can’t take them on at the moment, yet I ask them to send their policy information to me. When they do, we do a review and give them ideas on what they can do to make their situation with that existing policy better. We try to help people however we can. I’ll be the first one to tell someone if they’ve got a better deal somewhere else.”

As Ryan says, “We know the importance of being timely. So we like to turn quotes around as quickly as possible. When we get a request, we like to get pricing back within an hour. We value our real estate partners and we put great emphasis on putting them and their clients first.”

Navigating Evolving Flood Maps

One of the results of the more active storm environment has been an evolution in flood maps.

“As our REALTOR® partners know, a lot of places are now listed in flood zones that never used to be categorized in that way before,” Kurt explains. “So we always advise that, if in doubt, check the current flood zone locations. There was a big remapping done in June 2020. But the good news is that a lot of properties that were put into flood zones that weren’t categorized that way before can qualify for grandfathering.”

Those who qualify to be grandfathered can get in at a preferred rate even if they’ve recently been rezoned.

“In general, anything built after 1973 will require an elevation certificate for flood insurance. It’s a good idea to have a certificate for homes built prior to that, as well,” Kurt says. “Another thing I like to suggest to our real estate partners is, if they’re selling a house in a flood zone, get a copy of the seller’s elevation certificate so the buyer doesn’t have to pay for it. And if they don’t have flood insurance, try to work it into the deal.”

Life’s Priorities Family is central to life for Kurt and Ryan. Kurt’s father was local iconic REALTOR® Vernon Wielkins, who enjoyed a longstanding, successful career in real estate for nearly 25 years.

“I’ve lived here all of my life. As a native of the area, I know the area very well and enjoy sharing whatever information I can to help others,” he says.

In his free time, Kurt likes to play golf, playing the guitar and singing.

Ryan also looks forward to time spent with family, including his two daughters—7-year-old Sanders, and 4-yearold Lawson. Both girls are students at St. Ignatius School.

In his free time, Ryan enjoys just about anything outdoors, with favorites being fishing, hunting, mountain biking and camping. Ryan also has been an active supporter and Board member through time with the Coastal Conservation Association, and currently serves as Treasurer for the organization’s Western Shore chapter. When you visit with the team at Coastal Insurance Group, you quickly understand the tireless approach the team takes and the pride they share in helping people have vital coverage in place.

“We take time to explain the coverage,” Ryan explains. “When you work with us, you’re part of our family of insureds. You’re going to know what you’re purchasing. And in your time of need, you can trust us and know we’re going to get you taken care of.”

As Kurt says, “We want to put our knowledge to work the best we can every day. We return our calls promptly, and we work hard to find the best options to get the job done. If somebody needs us, we’re going to be there for them.”