GOLD Best Agency to Work For – Midwest: DSP Insurance Services

Best Agency to Work For – Midwest

DSP Insurance Services, Schaumburg, Illinois

An Emphasis on Ethical, Caring, Professionalism

This is the best company I’ve worked for. The company values are outstanding. The management makes you feel like we are all part of a family and everyone is approachable and extremely helpful. They like to advance employees into new positions so there is always growth and opportunities in your career. It is a pleasure to come to work every morning.”

That’s just one of many glowing comments employees made about Insurance Journal‘s 2016 Best Agency to Work For – Midwest, Gold winner: DSP Insurance Services.

Founded in 1981 with five employees, the Schaumburg, Ill.-based agency now has 63 employees and around $11 million in revenues, according to President Bob Schutz.

DSP employees responding to IJ‘s Best Agency to Work For survey were universally positive about the company’s work environment, growth potential, focus on clients, community involvement and much more.

The agency was selected for the Best Agency to Work For – Midwest, Bronze award, last year. Schutz said that it would be an understatement to say he is honored and proud to be recognized again.

“After winning last year I’ve been saying that the two biggest sources of pride for me are that we won this award and that after 35 years in business we have never had a payment made under our errors and omissions policies,” Shutz wrote in an email to Insurance Journal.

He added that there are many elements that make DSP a great place to work, but at the foundation is the policy of treating “people the way we would like to be treated. This is what DSP does because we care about our employees, our clients and the carriers we represent. I want an environment where people are always willing to help and that’s what we have. All of the credit for winning last year and being a finalist this year goes to our management team for nurturing this culture.”

One employee described an example of how that caring attitude extends beyond management and into the agency as a whole: “When I started at the agency as a new producer last year, all the experienced producers offered to allow me to sit in on client meetings with them, visit prospects together, or help in any way that I needed. They weren’t looking for any portion of my commission or gain for themselves, but truly wanted to help me in my career. This treatment made me realize that this agency is truly one of the best around.”

Several employees praised DSP’s dedication to its community. Wrote one: “DSP is totally committed to helping/community involvement. They do so much for so many charities. We even have a raffle each December to raffle off the gifts that the carriers/clients give individuals in our office. We don’t keep them (though we can) instead we raffle them off and give all the proceeds to various charities. Then on top of that the agency matches what we raise! It is so much fun to do, too!”

Asked what makes the agency stand out from its competitors, Schutz said DSP’s culture makes all the difference.

“Our culture is built on the people that work here. DSP is built on an unwavering commitment to ethics, morals, professionalism and caring. This is who we are and what we will continue to be,” Schutz said.

The effectiveness of that emphasis on ethical, caring, professionalism is evidenced in the strong client retention that the agency enjoys, said one employee. “Client loyalty is wonderful. We have clients that have been with us for over 25 years even with premium increases because of the customer service and our honesty.”

“We are a family,” wrote another employee. “Even anyone newly hired. The first thing I tell someone who has just been hired is ‘welcome to your 2nd family!’ I mean every word of it. There is nothing the ‘partners’ would not do to help anyone.”