Earwood celebrates 10 years as Shelter Insurance agent

Keri Earwood recently celebrated her 10 year anniversary of being a Shelter Insurance agent on Sept. 24. Earwood’s career in the insurance field goes back even further, however. While attending Southwest Baptist University, she began selling insurance in 2002. At that time she did the marketing for two different offices located in Buffalo, Mo., and Bolivar, Mo., and attended school. “One of those ladies I worked for took an interest in me and paid for me to get my P&C license (Property & Casualty Insurance),” stated Earwood. “And some of her staff started training me more in the sales area.” During summers and breaks from school, she worked more full-time hours and began learning the insurance industry. In the summer of 2004, Earwood — a native of Marion, Ark. — moved back to the Natural State, looked for various jobs and was hired by Shelter agent Steve Harp in Springdale. Earwood worked in the Springdale office from the summer of 2004 until she was given the opportunity for the Rogers Shelter Insurance agency on Sept. 24, 2007. Earwood’s favorite part of the job are the people she has the opportunity to meet. “I love that I get to meet all walks of life,” said Earwood. “Especially with auto insurance — everyone is supposed to carry it. Any age, 16 and over, I get to meet those folks and their families and get to just kind of share life with them.” Earwood, being a mother of three, has had each of her children in the office up until around the age of 4 months. “That has helped bring some of the customers to connect with me more,” added Earwood. “It’s the relationships that I like the most, and then knowing that I’ve got products that people need, like life insurance. Helping them to understand all the different products and fill the needs they have would probably me my second joy of working in this agency. I feel like I’m selling things that really do make a difference.” As far as advice for anybody looking to purchase insurance products, Earwood says her number one suggestion would be to go through an agent instead of shopping online. “I know it’s more popular to shop for yourself, but it’s just like when you’re choosing a doctor — you’re choosing a doctor that has a specialty in whatever that need is. So, insurance agents should know their products and be able to break it down to what that person’s need is.” There are so many details to insurance that aren’t always taken into consideration if you are shopping online. An insurance agent can go through, line by line, and make sure you are getting the coverage you need. Earwood is active in the community as a Lions Club member and a member of First Baptist Church of Rogers. Her office is located at 500 N. Dixieland Road, Suite 3, in Rogers, and is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. She is also always available for outside appointments when given enough notice. She can be reached by telephone at (479) 899-6391, or email at Kearwood@ShelterInsurance.com.