Recognized for Insurance Excellence

Roger Smith believes that the opportunity to make a living by taking care of others when they need it most is a ‘win-win’ situation. It is that attitude along with the simple philosophy of putting the customer first that motivated him to establish Roger Smith Agency in Waynesboro, Tennessee in 1987. In those 30 years, the Roger Smith Agency has grown into a multi-line agency serving Wayne and the surrounding counties of Decatur, Hardin, Lawrence, Lewis and Perry.

The Roger Smith Agency specializes in home and auto insurance, business insurance as well as life and health insurance and retirement planning. The dedicated staff of six, including a dedicated claims person, is trained in all lines to better understand and serve their customers’ needs. The staff members have a team approach for taking care of the customer and have developed a reputation for making the customer the number one priority by treating each person with respect and understanding. To ensure the best service for their customers, there is always a live voice – no voice mail. The agency is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday by appointment; and does not close for lunch. Also, they have a dedicated website and after hour claims service.

Roger Smith is very involved in the Waynesboro community having served as president of the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Roger is on the board of directors of two area non-profit foundations and several church fundraising committees.

“Over the next 5 years, I envision that our agency will continue to grow profitably and be able to enhance the lives that we touch with a peace of mind that they will be taken care of in the event of a loss,” says Roger.

Roger Smith Agency is excited to be able to represent Farmers Mutual of Tennessee. According to Roger, “FMT is an integral part of our agency. Their products are a great fit for our local community. It’s important to have a great relationship with a carrier, and we certainly can attest to the fact that FMT gives us that opportunity. We look forward to many years of representing such a wonderful company.”

FMT values our relationship with Roger Smith Agency and we appreciate their commitment to and focus on customers. If you have insurance needs in the Waynesboro area, please give the friendly folks at Roger Smith Agency a call at 931.722.5010 or visit their website at www.rogersmithagency.com and give them the opportunity to answer your questions and meet your insurance needs.

Sweetwater Insurance Agency, Inc.

Focus on Family, Service and Integrity

“Service is our Motto” has been the standard for Sweetwater Insurance Agency since its founding in 1887. In 1920, Sweetwater Insurance was purchased by Jack C. Oates, Sr. who brought Pilot Life Insurance to Tennessee from North Carolina.

In the late 1940’s Jack C. Oates, Jr. and Walter B. Lumsden, Jr. joined their father and father-in-law, respectively, in the Agency.  By then, Sweetwater Insurance had moved from their original Sweetwater Bank and Trust office to its current location at 118 West North Street in Sweetwater.  Harris Lovingood, Walter’s son-in-law, joined Sweetwater Insurance in 1976; and in 1987 Walter’s daughter, Lou Lovingood, joined the business.  A fourth generation joined the Agency in 2006 when Branham Lovingood joined the business his great–grandfather had purchased in 1920.

While family members and staff have changed through the years, the same purpose of providing service with a high degree of integrity to their customers remains constant.  With a combined 82 plus years of experience, Sweetwater Insurance Agency meets the growing and changing needs of the Sweetwater community as well as Monroe County and the neighboring counties of Loudon, McMinn, Meigs and Roane.

Harris, Lou and Branham are service minded people. They know and understand the needs of the community because of their work throughout the community.  The Sweetwater Insurance family serves the community through their church, Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts of America, Monroe County Chamber of Commerce (Charter Member), Monroe County Relay for Life, Sweetwater Merchant and Property Owners Association, City Boards as well as through coaching and sponsoring youth and high school athletic teams and various other service projects.

Having had a presence in the Sweetwater community for over 130 years and being an integral part of this community, the folks at Sweetwater Insurance have developed long and lasting relationships with customers who have become like family.  “It warms our hearts when a customer gets to the door, turns around and says, ‘Love you all’.  Yes, that’s how it is to live and work in a small and caring town,” says Lou Lovingood.

Sweetwater Insurance automated in 1983 and has, since that time, continued to try to leverage technology to assist with enhancing the customer experience.  They rely on technology and appreciate it very much, but still believe that customers desire personal interaction and the face-to-face service offered by their agency.

For the past 32 years, Sweetwater Insurance Agency has partnered with Farmers Mutual of Tennessee.  According to Harris Lovingood, “Our relationship through those years has provided an excellent product for our customers.  FMT has grown and changed and that has enhanced our ability to provide better products and service to our mutual customers.  FMT is the kind of company that you can call, and when the phone is answered, the person on the other end usually will recognize your voice.  When calling FMT several years ago, Scott Kehne, FMT’s president at that time, answered the phone and immediately recognized my voice.  That’s the kind of personalized service we strive to offer our customers – recognition, affirmation and care!  We appreciate and are grateful for the long-term, stable partnership that we have with FMT.”

FMT values our relationship with Harris, Lou and Branham at Sweetwater Insurance and their family-friendly focus on customers. If you have insurance needs in the Sweetwater area, give Sweetwater Insurance a call at 423.337.5088 or visit their website at www.sweetwaterinsurance.com and give them the opportunity to take care of your insurance needs.

Wilmoth Insurance Agency is Recognized for Excellence

 “All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; 

the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.” 

J. R. R. Tolkien 

Wilmoth Insurance Agency’s roots grow deep within the Putnam County community of Cookeville, Tennessee.

Proud of their 78 year legacy in the insurance business and roots in the community, the folks at Wilmoth Insurance demonstrate their commitment to the mutual value of neighbors helping neighbors by consistently providing good service and quality products to their customers.

The agency was founded in 1939 by Claude Wilmoth, who at the time, was a barber. Because business was slow during the working day, Claude found time to pursue other interests which lead him into insurance and the establishment of the agency that bears the family’s name. To this day, Wilmoth Insurance remains an independent, family-owned agency that has provided insurance services for the residents of the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee for three generations.

With a combined experience of over 220 years, the team includes Keith Wilmoth, Larry Wilmoth, Roger Wilmoth, Vickie Wilmoth, Alton Freeman and Glenda Thomas. Five of whom graduated from the local, Tennessee Tech University. They have also been proud to support the local community by sponsoring sports at both Cookeville High School and youth levels. They currently sponsor the Wilmoth Insurance Agency Hot Rods coaches pitch baseball team.

“The agency is a legacy, as we strive to live up to the standards Claude instilled in us,” says Larry Wilmoth, one of the principals at Wilmoth Insurance. “We like to think that our years of experience and attention to the customer’s needs set us apart from our competitors.”

As a full-service agency representing only the best of insurance companies, Wilmoth Insurance provides personal, commercial, life and health insurance. When it comes to your personal property they can provide you coverage for your home, mobile home, rental dwelling, farm and automobiles.

“With changes in the way the world works and communicates, our goals are to provide good old-fashioned customer service in an electronic age,” says owner, Keith Wilmoth. “Our relationship with FMT Insurance makes us both stronger. FMT understands that you don’t have to be the biggest to consistently be your best, and to provide a good product for a fair price.”

FMT values our relationship with Wilmoth Insurance and we appreciate Keith, Larry, Roger, Vickie, Alton and Glenda’s commitment to their customers. If you have insurance needs in the Cookeville area, give the friendly folks at Wilmoth Insurance a call at 931.526.6181 or visit their website at www.wilmothinsuranceagency.com and allow them to take care of your needs.

Trees: Maintenance and Damage

Every year, across our great state of Tennessee, falling trees and limbs cause millions of dollars’ worth of damage to homes. Why?  What can homeowners do to prevent or minimize damage to their property? This type of home insurance advice and action could reduce some of the costly claims across the state of Tennessee each year.

Age, drought, wind, and rain can cause trees to become compromised and more likely to damage structures – including houses, fences, and outbuildings. But FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) says that a lot of this can be prevented:

“Three-fourths of the damage that trees incur during storms is predictable and preventable. Trees with wounds, decay, structural defects, stem girdling roots, severed roots and soil compaction are prime targets for experiencing storm damage.”

If you have trees that threaten your structures, you should consider trimming or cutting them to prevent costly and inconvenient removal and repair. Also, not maintaining the trees on your premises may open you up to liability exposure. Some questions to ask if you think your tree might need maintenance are:

• Is there any damage to the trunk? Cracking, hollowing, and decay are signs that a tree may need to be removed.
• Are the branches bare or cracking? If this is the case, the tree might be unhealthy.
• Are there limbs hanging close to a roof or power lines? These should be trimmed to prevent loss.
• Do the roots look damaged?
• Is the tree leaning to one side?
• Is there fungus growing on the tree?

If some of these things are present, it might be time to contact a trusted tree removal expert or insurance agent with contacts in your area. For suggestions/recommendations on picking the right contractor, please see “Selecting a Contractor“.

If a tree falls on a covered structure, your policy provides coverage to get the tree off of the covered structure and onto the ground. It does not pay for cutting, loading, and hauling away the tree. Also, the amount for tree removal may be limited by your policy.

Common Insurance Property Damage Question Regarding Trees

A common question that we get is “If my neighbor’s tree falls and damages my property, aren’t they responsible to pay to fix it?” Super question as the answer might not be what you think. In the state of Tennessee, premise liability law states that, as long as the neighbor’s tree was alive and healthy at the time of loss, the neighbor is not liable for damage that the tree does to your property.

So, if your neighbor’s tree falls and damages your property, call Farmers Mutual of Tennessee (FMT Insurance) and we’ll set up a claim to look at the damage.
If you have any questions, please speak with your local insurance agent or contact FMT Insurance to find the nearest Agent to assist you. Another excellent resource to utilize is the “Incidental Property Coverage” section of your policy.