Higginbotham expands with Thompson & Smith Insurance deal

Higginbotham has moved for Thompson & Smith Insurance, an independent agency based in Jackson, Tennessee.

On the back of the company’s 75th anniversary, Rusty Reid, chairman and CEO of Higginbotham, announced the collaboration, which will expand its footprint in the Southeast region.

“With Thompson & Smith, we’re getting a partner with great geographic representation, decades of experience, and specialized knowledge — particularly in the construction space that’s so strong in the Southeast,” said Reid. “But more than that, we’re getting a partner that shares our mission and our approach to doing business.”

Why did Thompson & Smith join Higginbotham?

Chuck Thompson, CEO of Thompson & Smith Insurance, highlighted the agency’s focus on its clients with the move.

“Our number one goal is to take care of each client, making sure they’re insured appropriately,” Thompson said. “Insurance is a complicated industry, and our clients need someone on their side to navigate the complexities. We are proud to go above and beyond what a standard agency might do. As a result, our customers trust us, and we’ll do whatever we can to maintain that trust.”

Echoing Thompson’s sentiments, Roger Smith, president of Thompson & Smith Insurance, emphasized the needs of clients.

“With Higginbotham’s resources, we can take those clients as far as they want to go,” said Smith. “I’m particularly excited to offer Higginbotham’s Day Two Services®, which are value-added services that go beyond placing insurance coverage — that’s day one — and instead support that coverage with risk management services that continue right on through the life of each policy. Additionally, Thompson & Smith gains a full-scale employee benefits division through Higginbotham.”

Scaling services and enhancing support for workforce

Reflecting on the decision to join forces with Higginbotham, Thompson emphasized the importance of shared culture and the added benefits for both clients and the agency’s team.

“Through [my father’s mentoring I learned that selling insurance was secondary to solving customers’ problems,” Thompson remarked. “With Higginbotham, we found a partner that shares our client-focused culture. When you put that together with the value-added services they offer and the support for our team from an employee-owned firm with fantastic benefits, it’s easy to see that we’re a great fit for them and they’re a great fit for us.”

Thompson & Smith Insurance is an independent property and casualty insurance agency serving both business and personal clients. It was established in 1998 through the merger of two independent insurance agencies.

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