William A Smith & Son
William A. Smith & Son is a third-generation, family-owned independent insurance agency founded in 1928 in New York's Hudson Valley, representing 25+ carriers to deliver personal, business, and employee benefits coverage to individuals, families, and specialty commercial clients across the region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1928
- HeadquartersNewburgh, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What William A Smith & Son does
William A. Smith & Son, Inc. Insurance is a third-generation, family-owned independent insurance agency founded in 1928 and headquartered in Poughkeepsie, New York, with five physical offices across the Hudson Valley and a sales reach extending into the five boroughs of New York City. The agency operates as an independent broker representing over 25 insurance carriers, providing personal insurance (home, auto, life, high net worth, specialty lines), business insurance (general liability, workers compensation, commercial property, cyber, D&O, and other commercial lines), and employee benefits (group health, disability, voluntary benefits). It has developed specialized industry practices in churches, breweries, law firms, daycares and educational institutions, farms, non-profits, sports and fitness facilities, and municipalities and fire districts, with the church practice alone covering more than 500 houses of worship across New York State.
The business is run on a hybrid technology-and-relationship model: licensed insurance advisors deliver face-to-face consultations through the physical offices, while a 24/7 client portal handles policy changes, certificate requests, claims reporting, bill payment, and renewals, and website-integrated quote tools (Plymouth Rock Assurance, Safeco Insurance) enable self-service acquisition. Distribution also includes phone, text, and email channels, a Refer-a-Friend program, and marketing across Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram, supported by a Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agent designation and an Insurance Journal Best Agency 2020 recognition.
The firm earns revenue primarily through commissions paid by the 25+ carrier partners on placed personal and commercial premiums (typically a percentage of one-year premium plus possible additional 0-3% compensation tied to volume, loss, and profitability), supplemented by risk management and advisory services bundled with placements. It also generates revenue through two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Ralph V. Ellis Insurance Agency (an acquired regional book) and Orange Benefits Partners, LLC (a benefits brokerage tied to the Orange County Chamber of Commerce). The agency is privately held under Smith-family ownership, with Jack Smith as President/Owner and Debra Johnson as Executive Vice-President/Owner; there are no outside institutional investors and no disclosed funding rounds.
William A Smith & Son firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- William A Smith & Son
- Legal name
- William A. Smith & Son, Inc.
- Website
- https://wasmithandson.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1928
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- William A. Smith & Son is a third-generation, family-owned independent insurance agency founded in 1928 in New York's Hudson Valley, representing 25+ carriers to deliver personal, business, and employee benefits coverage to individuals, families, and specialty commercial clients across the region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where William A Smith & Son is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
William A Smith & Son business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Insurance Commission: Agency earns commissions from insurance carriers based on policy premiums placed. Compensation includes percentage of one-year premium plus potential additional compensation (0-3%) based on premium volume, losses, and profitability metrics. This is the primary revenue stream as a traditional independent insurance agency.
- Risk Management Services: Advisory and consulting services for risk management accompany insurance product sales. Agents help clients navigate coverage options, claims processes, and policy changes as part of the comprehensive service offering.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Insurance premium pricing varies by carrier, coverage type, and individual risk profile |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
William A Smith & Son product offering
Product offeringCore offering
William A. Smith & Son, Inc. Insurance is an independent insurance agency that places personal, commercial, and employee-benefits coverage on behalf of clients through more than 25 carrier partners. The agency also delivers risk-management advisory and claims advocacy services from five Hudson Valley offices, with industry-specialty programs for churches, breweries, law firms, day cares, farms, sports/fitness facilities, non-profits, and municipalities.
Product overview
William A. Smith & Son, Inc. Insurance is a third-generation independent insurance agency offering a comprehensive suite of insurance solutions. The agency operates three service categories: Personal Insurance (covering home, auto, life, and specialty lines), Business Insurance (covering various industries with specialized insurance products), and Employee Benefits (covering group health, disability, and voluntary benefits). The agency represents over 25 insurance carriers and provides risk management services throughout the Hudson Valley and across New York State. Notable specialty products include Church Insurance, Brewery Insurance, Non-Profit Insurance, Law Firm Insurance, Day Care/Educational Institution Insurance, Farm Insurance, Sports Teams/Fitness Facility Insurance, and Municipality/Public Entity Insurance. The agency also offers High Net Worth Insurance for clients with significant assets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Personal Insurance Comprehensive personal insurance brokerage service for individuals and families, bundling auto, home, life, and specialty personal lines across 25+ carrier partners, with annual coverage reviews.
- Business Insurance Commercial insurance brokerage service for small and mid-size businesses, providing BOP, liability, workers compensation, commercial auto, cyber, management liability, and industry-specific programs through 25+ carrier partners.
- Employee Benefits Group benefits brokerage service for employers, providing group health, life, disability, dental, vision, voluntary benefits, and compliance support.
- Home Insurance Homeowners insurance product covering dwelling, personal property, liability, flood, and specialty add-ons such as jewelry, wine, and collectibles, placed through carrier partners.
- Auto Insurance Personal auto insurance product covering liability, physical damage, medical payments, uninsured motorist, and rental reimbursement, placed across multiple carrier partners.
- High Net Worth Insurance Customized high net worth personal insurance program bundling home, auto, watercraft, aircraft, travel, life, and risk management coverage for affluent clients.
- Individual Life Insurance Individual life insurance product offering term, whole, and universal life policies for income protection, mortgage coverage, retirement, and estate planning.
- Church Insurance Specialty insurance program for houses of worship covering property, abuse/molestation, D&O, religious freedom, security, and professional liability, supported by 50+ years of denominational experience and 500+ NY houses of worship served.
- Brewery Insurance Brewery insurance program combining liquor liability, property, spoilage and recall, equipment breakdown, environmental, EPLI, workers compensation, commercial auto, and bonds for craft brewers.
- Non-Profit Insurance Non-profit insurance program covering D&O, general liability, workers compensation, commercial property, EPLI, business income, and professional liability.
- Law Firm Insurance Law firm insurance program covering professional liability, cyber, EPLI, fiduciary, bonds, NY state disability, and group health/dental/vision coverage.
- Day Care and Educational Institution Insurance Insurance program for child care centers and educational institutions covering general liability, abuse/molestation, professional liability, workers compensation, cyber, umbrella, commercial auto, EPLI, and student accident.
- Farm Insurance Farm insurance program covering property, equipment, livestock, products liability, custom farming, pollution, umbrella, and field crops, delivered by farm-certified agents with Nationwide.
- Sports Teams and Fitness Facility Insurance Insurance program for sports teams and fitness facilities covering participant liability, abuse/molestation, professional liability, tournament liability, D&O, and hired/borrowed auto.
- Municipality and Public Entity Insurance Municipal and public entity insurance program for fire districts, library districts, water districts, and cities/towns/villages, covering property, public officials, law enforcement liability, sewer authority, abuse/molestation, and workers compensation.
- Group Health Insurance Group health insurance product for employers covering employees and dependents with tax-deductible premiums and small business tax credit eligibility.
- Disability Insurance Short-term and long-term disability insurance product that protects employees from income loss due to illness or injury.
- Group Voluntary Benefits Group voluntary benefits product allowing employees to access supplemental medical and other benefits through payroll deduction at lower premium costs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 500 houses of worship served in New York State with church insurance
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use William A Smith & Son
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
William A Smith & Son technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
William A Smith & Son partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Trusted ChoicecoreTrusted Choice is a network of independent insurance agencies. William A. Smith & Son operates as a Trusted Choice agency, gaining access to marketing resources, brand recognition, and a pledge of performance commitment that differentiates them from captive agents.
- Utica NationalcoreInsurance carrier partner specializing in municipal and fire district insurance. Utica National provides coverage options for the agency's public entity clients including Fire Districts and emergency service organizations.
- VFIS ProgramcoreSpecialized insurance program for emergency services organizations. Partners with William A. Smith & Son to provide coverage for fire districts, volunteer ambulance corps, and municipal entities with educational and training services.
- TravelersmajorMajor insurance carrier partner specializing in municipal insurance marketplace. Provides coverage options for the agency's municipality and public entity clients.
- SelectivemajorInsurance carrier partner specializing in municipal insurance marketplace. Provides coverage options for the agency's municipality and public entity clients.
- NationwidemajorMajor insurance carrier with whom the agency has two farm-certified agents. Provides specialized farm and agriculture insurance coverage for farm clients.
- Insurance Carriers (25+)coreAgency represents over 25 insurance carriers offering wide variety of coverage options and price points. Access to multiple carriers enables optimal matching of client needs with appropriate coverage.
- Brewers AssociationminorIndustry association for craft brewers. Agency is a member, demonstrating specialization in brewery insurance and connection to the craft beer industry community.
- Orange County Chamber of CommerceminorLocal chamber membership provides networking, business development, and community engagement opportunities. Also trades as Orange Benefits Partners, LLC for Orange County Chamber members.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
William A Smith & Son competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Acrisure: Tech-enabled insurance brokerage that has rapidly acquired regional agencies and built proprietary digital capabilities. Comparable as an independent agency aggregator with multi-line offerings, but represents a potential disruptor given its emphasis on technology-driven efficiency versus traditional relationship-based service.
Broad incumbents
- Hub International: One of the largest insurance brokerages globally, with extensive personal, commercial, and employee benefits operations across North America, including significant NY presence. Comparable business mix and client segments, though vastly larger scale and broader geographic diversification.
- Brown & Brown: One of the largest independent insurance intermediaries in the U.S., with extensive multi-line personal, commercial, and employee benefits operations across dozens of states. Comparable independent agency model and customer base, though vastly larger scale and publicly traded.
- The Hilb Group: National insurance brokerage built through acquisition of regional independent agencies, with multi-line personal, commercial, and benefits offerings. Comparable as a multi-office independent agency with carrier diversity and vertical specialization, though substantially larger in scale and geographic reach.
- Hylant: Large national independent insurance brokerage with deep specialty practice areas (churches, non-profits, manufacturing, construction) and a multi-state footprint. Comparable business model as an independent agency with strong vertical specialization, though significantly larger and geographically broader than the subject company.
- Risk Strategies: National specialty insurance brokerage with deep practice areas in non-profits, religious institutions, healthcare, and municipalities — directly overlapping with William A. Smith & Son's strongest verticals. Comparable as a specialty-focused independent broker serving institutional and mid-market clients.
- Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. Independent insurance brokerage with strong commercial and executive lines practice, including non-profit, professional services, and manufacturing verticals. Comparable independent model with carrier diversity and vertical specialization, though larger and concentrated on the West Coast.
- IMA Financial Group: Large independent insurance brokerage with personal, commercial, and benefits practices across multiple regions. Comparable independent agency model with carrier diversity and specialty practice areas; serves overlapping client profiles including mid-market businesses and high net worth individuals.
Direct peers
- Haylor, Freyer & Coon: Central and Upstate New York-based independent insurance agency with similar mid-market commercial and personal lines focus. Comparable in size, regional orientation, and broad carrier relationships, with comparable specialty practice areas and client segments.
- Marshall & Sterling Enterprises: New York-based independent insurance agency founded in 1864 with similar multi-line personal, commercial, and employee benefits offerings across the Hudson Valley and broader NY market. Directly comparable as a long-tenured regional independent agency serving overlapping geography and similar client segments including municipalities, contractors, and small businesses.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
William A Smith & Son social profiles
Digital presenceWilliam A Smith & Son financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
William A Smith & Son leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
William A Smith & Son subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
William A Smith & Son funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
William A Smith & Son M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about William A Smith & Son
What does William A Smith & Son do?
William A. Smith & Son, Inc. Insurance is an independent insurance agency that places personal, commercial, and employee-benefits coverage on behalf of clients through more than 25 carrier partners. The agency also delivers risk-management advisory and claims advocacy services from five Hudson Valley offices, with industry-specialty programs for churches, breweries, law firms, day cares, farms, sports/fitness facilities, non-profits, and municipalities.
Is William A Smith & Son a public or private company?
William A Smith & Son is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was William A Smith & Son founded?
William A Smith & Son was founded in 1928. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is William A Smith & Son based?
William A Smith & Son is headquartered in Newburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does William A Smith & Son make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Insurance Commission is the primary driver. The others are risk Management Services.
Who are William A Smith & Son's main competitors?
Acrisure is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Hub International, Brown & Brown, The Hilb Group, Hylant, Risk Strategies, Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. and IMA Financial Group. Direct peers are Haylor, Freyer & Coon and Marshall & Sterling Enterprises.
Does William A Smith & Son have an API?
No public API is recorded for William A Smith & Son.