InFor many people, 1929 brings to mind Black Tuesday. But for Chuck Levy, president of the Shinberg-Levy Family of Financial Services, it stirs a sweet memory. That’s the year his grandfather, Herb Shinberg, moved from Chicago to Lansing and started Shinberg Insurance Services. Seventy-six years later, Levy is sure that his grandpa would be proud that the company, now in its fourth generation, continues to serve its customers’ insurance needs. Auto, home, disability, health, life ... if you want it insured, chances are that Levy and his 14 employees can cover you.

As an independent insurance agent, Shinberg-Levy enjoys the freedom to shop and compare for its clients. Even though the Internet has given people the opportunity to not only shop and compare, but also to do business with insurance companies online, Levy said that because of the vast amount of personal attention required to properly serve clients, the majority of people do not feel comfortable buying insurance “from a machine,” especially when they can deal with agents who’ve been in the business for 10 to 20 years, as is the case with most of Levy’s people.

Levy said his employees enjoy their work not just because it’s rewarding financially, but also because Shinberg-Levy has always promoted and exuded a family atmosphere at work. This includes everything from bringing in lunch to buying gifts for his coworkers when he’s out of town. And the family dynamic—everybody with either of the company’s surnames really does get along—is what Levy proudly points to as the root of their longevity and success.

“Stability” is the answer Levy gives when asked why people choose, and should choose, Shinberg-Levy for their insurance agent. They receive a lot of referrals from real estate agents and satisfied customers. If you’re thinking of heading south for the winter, or forever, no worries. Shinberg-Levy writes policies for residents of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and, yes, Florida.

With the stock market strengthening, Levy said that both his commercial and residential customers (his business is about 50/50) have seen insurance prices, other than health, stabilize. He explained that when the big insurers make money in the market, they don’t have to make as much on their underwriting. But Levy sees no end to rising healthcare costs, or the insurance to cover it.

Maybe if we all took a page from the Shinberg-Levy Family of Financial Services secrets of healthy living playbook (75 years and going strong), we could stop the spiral.

		By Jack Schaberg. Photo by Terri Shaver.