Peterson Insurance
Peterson Insurance Agency is a privately held independent insurance brokerage founded in 1978 in South Bend, Indiana, serving individual households and small businesses across Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan with auto, home, business, life, and health insurance through multiple carrier partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersSouth Bend, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Peterson Insurance does
Peterson Insurance Agency, Inc. (doing business as Talk To Your Agent) is an independent insurance brokerage headquartered at 2516 Mishawaka Avenue in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1978, the firm operates as a privately held, family-owned agency licensed to sell insurance across Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. The agency is led by owner Michael Peterson, CIC, whose Certified Insurance Counselor designation has been maintained for over 20 years and places him in the top 1% of insurance professionals nationally per the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors.
The agency's core offerings span personal and commercial lines: auto, home, business, life, and health insurance as principal products, with add-on coverage for renters, boats, umbrella liability, and Single Premium Deferred Annuities (3-, 5-, and 7-year terms). As an independent agency, Peterson represents multiple carriers — AAA Insurance, Bristol West, Erie Insurance, Foremost Insurance, and Progressive Insurance — enabling comparative quoting. The technology footprint is minimal: a marketing website (talktoyouragent.com) with online quote-request forms and contact infrastructure spanning voice, text, email, and secured online forms. There is no mobile app, API, or documented third-party integrations.
Revenue is generated through traditional insurance commissions on policies sold through the multi-carrier book. Distribution is relationship-led and regional: customers are primarily individual/family households and small businesses in the Indiana/Illinois/Michigan corridor, acquired largely through word-of-mouth referrals and the firm's longstanding local reputation. Customer testimonials document multi-decade retention (relationships dating to 1984, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2002, 2006), and a reported outcome of approximately 30% premium savings versus competing carriers. The firm employs between 1 and 10 people and does not disclose financials.
Peterson Insurance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Peterson Insurance
- Legal name
- Peterson Insurance Agency, Inc.
- Website
- https://talktoyouragent.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Peterson Insurance Agency is a privately held independent insurance brokerage founded in 1978 in South Bend, Indiana, serving individual households and small businesses across Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan with auto, home, business, life, and health insurance through multiple carrier partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Peterson Insurance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Insurance Brokerage
- NAICS
- Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)
- SIC
- Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retail (Personal Lines) Insurance Brokerage (FSAEADAA)
Keywords
Where Peterson Insurance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South Bend
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Peterson Insurance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Insurance Commissions: Traditional independent insurance agency earning commissions from insurance carriers for policies sold. Offers products from multiple carriers including AAA Insurance, Bristol West, Erie Insurance, Foremost Insurance, and Progressive Insurance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Auto, Home, Business, Life, Health insurance policies |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
Peterson Insurance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Peterson Insurance Agency is an independent insurance brokerage that sells personal and commercial insurance policies on behalf of multiple carriers (AAA, Bristol West, Erie, Foremost, Progressive). Core offerings include auto, home, business, life, and health insurance, with supplemental products such as renters, boat, umbrella, and annuities. Licensed to operate in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, the agency works with individuals, families, and small businesses via local agents reachable through voice, text, email, and secure online forms.
Product overview
Peterson Insurance Agency is a traditional independent insurance agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products. The agency operates as a multi-product insurance broker providing Auto, Home, Business, Life, and Health insurance as core offerings. Additional specialized products include Renters Insurance, Boat Insurance, Umbrella Insurance, and Annuities. The agency, established in 1978 and headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, represents multiple insurance carriers including AAA Insurance, Progressive Insurance, Erie Insurance, Foremost Insurance, and Bristol West to offer competitive coverage options to customers in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Auto Insurance Vehicle insurance coverage including liability, collision, and comprehensive protection for personal automobiles, sourced from multiple carriers and quoted through the agency's online form or agent contact.
- Home Insurance Homeowners coverage including dwelling protection, personal property, and liability coverage for residential properties, placed with multiple insurance carriers.
- Business Insurance Commercial insurance coverage for small businesses including property, liability, and industry-specific protection, sourced through the agency's carrier partners.
- Life Insurance Life insurance products including term life and whole life policies intended to protect families and estates, placed through carrier partners.
- Health Insurance Health coverage options including individual and family health plans, quoted through the agency's online health quote form and carrier partners.
- Renters Insurance Coverage for renters protecting personal belongings and liability for individuals who lease their residence.
- Boat Insurance Watercraft coverage for boats and related marine vessels.
- Umbrella Insurance Excess liability coverage providing additional protection beyond the limits of standard auto, home, or other underlying policies.
- Annuities Single Premium Deferred Annuities available in 3-year, 5-year, and 7-year term options, offered through Erie Family Life as a retirement-savings growth vehicle.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30 percent savings on car insurance reported by customers
Companies that use Peterson Insurance
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Peterson Insurance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Peterson Insurance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- AAA InsuranceminorInsurance carrier partner. Claims phone number provided: 866.968.7222
- Bristol WestminorInsurance carrier partner. Claims phone number provided: 800-274-7865
- Erie InsuranceminorInsurance carrier partner. Claims phone number provided: 800.367.3743. Also offers annuities through Erie Family Life.
- Foremost InsuranceminorInsurance carrier partner. Claims phone number provided: 800-527-3907
- Progressive InsuranceminorInsurance carrier partner. Claims phone number provided: 800.776.4737. Payment links provided on website for policyholders.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Peterson Insurance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Arthur J. Gallagher: Global insurance brokerage and risk management firm; comparable as a competitor for commercial accounts in Peterson's tri-state region and as a representative roll-up acquirer of independent agencies.
- GEICO: Largest direct-to-consumer auto insurer in the U.S., competing against Peterson on price-sensitive auto shoppers; the dominant alternative channel that pressures independent agencies on auto commission revenue.
- Erie Insurance: A regional P&C carrier that Peterson both represents as a partner and competes against in the Midwest; comparable because Erie sells through a mix of captive and independent agents in the same IN/IL/MI geography.
- State Farm: Largest U.S. personal-lines carrier, captive-agent model that competes head-to-head with Peterson for the same auto/home household customers; the scale contrast highlights Peterson's independent-agency differentiation strategy.
- Allstate: National P&C insurer with a captive-agent network that directly competes with Peterson in personal auto and homeowners lines, particularly relevant given customer testimonials citing savings vs. 'the usual suspects.'
- Progressive: Both a carrier partner of Peterson and a direct-to-consumer competitor via Progressive Direct; relevant peer because the dual relationship illustrates the competitive dynamic independent agencies face against carrier-direct channels.
- Brown & Brown: National insurance brokerage aggregator that acquires independent agencies like Peterson; relevant both as a competitor for commercial accounts and as a likely acquirer profile for a small independent agency at scale-up.
- Hub International: Large North American insurance brokerage that acquires regional independents; comparable as a potential roll-up acquirer of a multi-state-licensed local agency such as Peterson.
Direct peers
- Goosehead Insurance: Independent personal-lines insurance agency franchise that places with multiple carriers, directly comparable in operating model to Peterson Insurance — multi-carrier choice, personal-lines focus, and relationship-led distribution.
Emerging players
- Lemonade: Digital-first Insurtech carrier targeting the same personal-lines customers with a mobile-first UX; relevant as the structural threat to independent agencies that do not invest in digital experience.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Peterson Insurance social profiles
Digital presencePeterson Insurance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Peterson Insurance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Peterson Insurance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Peterson Insurance 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 Peterson Insurance
What does Peterson Insurance do?
Peterson Insurance Agency is an independent insurance brokerage that sells personal and commercial insurance policies on behalf of multiple carriers (AAA, Bristol West, Erie, Foremost, Progressive). Core offerings include auto, home, business, life, and health insurance, with supplemental products such as renters, boat, umbrella, and annuities. Licensed to operate in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, the agency works with individuals, families, and small businesses via local agents reachable through voice, text, email, and secure online forms.
Is Peterson Insurance a public or private company?
Peterson Insurance is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Peterson Insurance founded?
Peterson Insurance was founded in 1978. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Peterson Insurance based?
Peterson Insurance is headquartered in South Bend, United States, in the North America region.
How does Peterson Insurance make money?
One revenue line is on record: insurance Commissions.
Who are Peterson Insurance's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Arthur J. Gallagher, GEICO, Erie Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, Brown & Brown and Hub International. Goosehead Insurance is listed as a direct peer. Lemonade is listed as an emerging player.
Does Peterson Insurance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Peterson Insurance.
What industry is Peterson Insurance in?
Peterson Insurance's product category is Insurance Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEADAA, Retail (Personal Lines) Insurance Brokerage. Its NAICS code is 524210 and its SIC code is 6411.