Agent Spotlight: Patrick D. Long, Partners Insurance Group
Patrick D. Long
President & CEO, Partners Insurance Group, Swansea, MA
Patrick D. Long “wholeheartedly” believes in the power of the insurance promise contained within each individual policy – the peace of mind insurance provides and the relationships developed in the process. He sincerely considers what is best for both the people behind the policy numbers and the people employed by his agency. A native of Westport, Massachusetts whose first job was cleaning horse stalls for $5 per stall, Patrick brings the lessons of those formative days to Partners Insurance Group and has been instrumental in growing the agency to its status as a Diamond Partner with Union Mutual.
Why should people consider a career in insurance? I honestly feel this is the absolute best industry in the world to be a part of, because we have the unique opportunity to help people. It’s rewarding to build customer relationships and know we are making a difference. I wholeheartedly believe in the product we “sell” because we’re not just providing insurance – we’re helping to provide peace of mind. If you’ve ever walked through someone’s home or business after a devastating fire or water loss, then you understand why we do what we do. Having the ability to help someone in their time of need is a truly fulfilling and rewarding experience.
Another reason to consider a career in insurance is because of what I see as an endless opportunity. I meet with job candidates daily, and I tell them if you’re honest, hard-working, intelligent, and friendly, we can teach you the insurance business. In fact, we may even be able to find a role for that individual on our team. Having a great work ethic can get your foot in the door.
What excites you about insurance? Every day brings a new set of challenges and opportunities in the insurance industry. I genuinely love the thrill of the hunt – working with our team to generate opportunities and develop new relationships. I also value the long-standing relationships and performance-based trust that we share with our internal and external clients. This is still a relationship business and it’s exciting to see folks develop!
What would you do if you weren’t in insurance? Living on the South Coast of Massachusetts, I love spending time on the water with my wife and two young boys. I’ve always been interested in the commercial fishing industry, which has a long, rich history in this area. If I weren’t in insurance, that’s a career path I might consider. It’s a tough job and I’m not sure how long I would last, but I’d love to give it a try.
What are your goals for your agency? At Partners Insurance Group, we want to grow our agency and build something that we can all be proud of. We also want to make a difference in the communities we serve. I’m fortunate to work with an incredibly talented team at Partners. I believe we are an amazing group – we work well together and have a lot of fun along the way!
What is the most used tool or resource that has made you the most successful? When it comes to our success, I could reference a specific technology, tool, or resource, all of which are outstanding at Partners – but at the end of the day, it’s our amazing people who work hard on behalf of our valued customers that makes all the difference. Our professionals here at Partners Insurance take the time to know our customers and have real conversations with them. Our people are 100% the reason behind our success. It’s what they do, when nobody is looking, that separates us from the pack. Our culture of people helping people defines who we are, and it comes through in everything we do.
What are some common misconceptions about the industry that you don’t agree with? I’ve heard people call insurance a necessary evil, and I just don’t think that’s a fair assessment. Insurance can safeguard your most valuable assets. It protects your family, your dreams, and your future. Without insurance coverage, a simple car accident, house fire, or liability claim could have potentially devastating consequences.
Life insurance is another area that I think a lot of folks just don’t understand. Picture this scenario – if you had the opportunity to pay $500 a year so that your family could be provided with $500,000 if you were to pass – that seems to be extremely worthwhile to me. Having that life insurance policy in place will ensure your family is cared for, should the unthinkable happen, especially unexpectedly.
Where do you see the industry in 10-20 years? I see the insurance industry growing with emerging technology, but while technology is important, we still believe developing strong customer relationships can help a business thrive. At Partners Insurance, we stand out by offering consultative professional advice for our customers. It’s this exceptional customer service, combined with the most competitive custom-tailored insurance solutions, that define who we are. Customers know they can turn to us for the advice they need to make their insurance decisions. I can’t imagine trying to purchase an insurance product online without getting the advice of a trusted professional. At Partners, we are always ready to help. We believe communication enhances the customer experience, not just today, but in the years to come.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast for fun, or career? Two books stand out. Creating Magic by Lee Cockerell highlights important leadership skills the author developed while employed as a high-level executive at Walt Disney World Resorts. Cockerell unveils the secret of creating magic in our own careers.
The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Sean Covey discusses how the best thought-out plans can be useless if not executed effectively. Covey outlines four key strategies that can help business leaders achieve their ‘Wildly Important Goals.’
Visit Partners Insurance Group:
Website: partnersinsgrpllc.com
Facebook: facebook.com/partnersinsgrpllc
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/partners-insurance-group
YouTube: youtube.com/channel
Instagram: instagram.com/partnersinsurancegroup
