Rachel Bauer, Financial Representative, COUNTRY Financial.

Q: What is your professional background?

A: I started my business with COUNTRY Financial in March 2019. My background was previously owner/operator of a commercial hospitality business. My knowledge of the insurance industry was limited to the need for business insurance without understanding what I needed or what I was paying for. Becoming an insurance agent/advisor was an eye-opening experience in how important it was for business owners to understand their insurance coverage. Proper coverage can protect you and your business as well as your personal financial future from an unexpected disaster.

Q: What led you to build your business with this company?

A: I chose COUNTRY Financial to build my next business because helping people, and particularly business owners, was my number one priority. I needed to build my business with a company that was aligned with my value system of integrity first and focused on relationships. COUNTRY Financial provides the support and tools for me to do just that.

Q: What sets COUNTRY Financial apart from its competition?

A: COUNTRY Financial offers its clients the confidence that comes from trusted guidance and options with you in mind, best-in-class service, and a full suite of solutions delivered by our team of professionals.

Q: How does the company’s overall business philosophy help support your clients?

A: COUNTRY Financial’s vision is to “enrich lives in the communities we serve.” The people of COUNTRY Financial live, work and play beside you in your community. Our increased financial strength and expanded product offering hasn’t changed who we are or how we care. We are a close-knit community, with our clients at the center.

Q: How does COUNTRY Financial’s mission influence how you tackle projects, deal with customers, the community, etc.?

A: COUNTRY Financial’s principles are built on putting people first, earning trust, providing security and delivering on promises. We’re real, local people you can trust, and you can count on us to do what’s right for you.

These principles remind me how important it is to build trust and to understand what needs a business owner has and how I can help them.

Q: What is your overall targeting strategy?

A: I look for small- to medium-size businesses with 100 employees or less, $10 million or less in gross revenues. We are a good fit for small general contractors and subcontractors who may not have had an in-depth conversation in the past about their insurance needs or who have been turned away by larger commercial insurance firms.

Q: How would you characterize COUNTRY Financial’s main strengths? 

A: COUNTRY Financial offers complete solutions to businesses in both insurance and financial services—from business insurance and workers’ compensation coverage to 401(k) plans, key-person life insurance, and continuation planning. Additionally, our local agents are backed by teams of experts.

Q: How does COUNTRY Financial support the local community?

A: COUNTRY Financial is committed to being part of the communities we serve. Over the past year, I was able to support our local restaurants and provide meals to front-line health care workers through COUNTRY’s Operation Helping Heroes program. COUNTRY Financial representatives in the Madison area are also active supporters of the Wisconsin Youth Company and many local school districts. We offer occupation discounts for teachers, firefighters, police and first responders.

Q: What is your plan for future business?

A: My plan is to grow my business by helping owners of small- to medium-size businesses meet the challenges that are unique to their industry. A comprehensive understanding of their business insurance is critical to making sound business decisions.

Business owners have so much on their plates, and having all the resources needed to operate and grow is always a challenge. Having an agent you can trust to be a resource for you is key to the security of your business and financial future.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like construction industry clients to know about you?

A: I absolutely love construction. As a kid, I built things out of scrap wood, wire and metal my dad had laying around his shops. I have been passionate about architecture and design for nearly two decades. As a hobby, I often read about and explore construction, design and commercial architecture. Not everyone knows that about me. It’s a little bit geeky.

About COUNTRY Financial

COUNTRY Financial started in 1925 selling fire and lightning insurance to farmers. Today, COUNTRY is a Fortune 1000 company that offers a full suite of insurance and financial products and services. COUNTRY’s reputation for financial strength, outstanding claims handling, and award-winning customer service demonstrates its commitment to doing the right thing since 1925. As COUNTRY has grown, the organization’s representatives and employees continue to live its core values of hard work, integrity and compassion with a promise to always do what’s right for its clients.