Meet Leah Stinsa of Cottage Hill Insurance in Elmhurst

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Stinsa.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I took some time off from my career in IT outsourcing when my husband and I started a family.

When I was ready to re-enter the workforce, I explored a variety of careers for which I could use both my finance degree and my experience working closely with business owners and their teams. A family friend who owns a State Farm agency encouraged me to open my own insurance agency, which, after working with her and another agency for a few years, I did in 2010.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I first started working in the insurance industry, I was a captive agent, which means I worked for a particular insurance company and could not quote other companies’ policies to my clients.

When the company I worked for raised rates, I had few options for helping my clients keep their rates inline other than lowering their coverage or increasing their deductible. As a captive agent, I was unable to do what I believed was best for my clients.

I decided to become an independent agent so I could work with as many insurance companies as I possible. As an independent agent, I can find many more options for my clients by exploring other insurance companies. We consider rates, deductibles and coverage and find the balance that works best for each client.

My goal is to simply the process for my customers. I have all their information and I can go out in the marketplace to find the best options for them. My clients do not have to gather all their information, determine their current coverage and evaluate their needs. I do that for them.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Cottage Hill Insurance story. Tell us more about the business.
We provide home, auto and commercial insurance covering personal lines, business liability, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, umbrella and specialty lines.

What sets Cottage Hill Insurance apart from the rest is our exploration process. We don’t sell cookie cutter policies. We want to understand our customers’ stories, their particular situations and needs. We want to understand not just who they are and where they’ve been but also where they’re headed. Anyone can sell a stand-alone insurance policy. That’s not what we’re about. We are about exploring needs, ensuring all needs are covered and looking to the future.

Beyond our exploration process, we’re also known for our communication skills.

Insurance is another world for many customers, a world they’re not usually familiar with. The terminology is unique. The rules seem to change frequently. We are the experts so our clients don’t have to be. But we are also educators. We have a unique way of explaining the world of insurance to help those outside the industry make wise decisions that protect themselves, their businesses and their families now and in the future.

One way we continue to provide information to our clients is through our new blog on our website, which contains posts about all sorts of topics from insuring teenage drivers to understanding workers’ compensation.

I’m most proud of my long-term customer relationships and the partnerships I’ve built with my carriers. These partnerships have grown into a consulting business that helps business owners in areas beyond insurance. We help clients drive more revenue and focus on their business to impact the bottom line.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.cottagehillinsurance.com/
• Phone: 630-833-2345
• Email: Lstinsa@cottagehillinsurance.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cottage-Hill-Insurance-173303419418364/
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahstinsa/

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