Drive, Humility and Heart

After 65 years in business, family-run Schneider Insurance looks to the next generation of family leaders.

by Lindsay Mott Fletcher
photos by Elizabeth Gelineau

Last year, Schneider Insurance celebrated 65 years of serving the local community through insurance expertise. Now, with the second generation at the helm – over the years, six of the founder’s nine children have worked at the company – Schneider is beginning to see the third generation – two grandchildren currently work with the firm – take on leadership roles and plan to lead the next generations in the future. For this issue of Bay Business News magazine, current President Richard Schneider (RS) took time to talk with your author (LMF) about the company and its legacy.

LMF: Please provide some company background and how you have grown over the years.

We are most proud to be able to not only survive but thrive on client referrals. This was something our dad instilled in us, and it speaks volumes to the hard work and dedication our team has for protecting this community. We are incredibly grateful for the relationships we have built over the past 65 years. However, like all businesses, success doesn’t come without its challenges, and the past 20 years have been challenging for our community, especially in regards to property insurance. These challenging times have taught us how to stay steady in chaos and advocate fiercely for our clients when it matters most.

LMF: What are some milestones the business has celebrated over the decades? 

RS: The one that first comes to mind is my dad’s retirement in 1994, which is when my brothers Jim, Carl and I took over the business. And my 40th anniversary is coming up in August. Now I get to watch my son, Zach, step into leadership, which has been one of the most rewarding transitions yet. But the milestones that stay with me aren’t always the big ones. It’s the moments when a client calls and says, “You’ve really helped my family,” or when someone on our team celebrates a personal milestone with us.

LMF: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in four decades of business? 

RS: The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that this business isn’t about policies. It’s about people. Listening well, doing what you say you’re going to do and showing up when things are hard. That’s what builds long-term relationships. And I’ll say this, too: Success in this business doesn’t come from flashy sales tactics. It comes from consistency, humility and treating people with respect. That’s what my father modeled and what I try to carry forward. Any success we’ve had comes back to the people around me: our team, our clients and our community. My job’s been to support them and try to stay out of their way when they’re doing great work.

I also make an effort to support our business clients beyond insurance when I can. We believe in keeping it local, and I try to give business to the folks who trust us with theirs.

LMF: How many people do you employ now, and where are they located? Who is your typical client? 

RS: We currently have 16 team members, almost all based in Mobile or Baldwin County. Our client base is roughly a 50/50 split between business and personal insurance clients. On the business side, we thrive in the larger small business to mid-sized business space. As an example, think five to 100 employees. While we work with clients of both larger and smaller sizes, it is within this range that we excel.

After 65 years in business, we have experience writing a broad range of business operations and coverages, but our target accounts would fall into a few categories, including professional services, construction, service industry, manufacturing and health care.

Culturally, we’re a tight-knit team. We work hard, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We laugh, we support each other and we genuinely care about the people we work with.

LMF: What sets your agency apart from other insurance providers? 

RS: We take our time with people. If someone needs an hour to walk through a policy, we give them that time. We explain things in plain language, talk through what’s covered and what’s not, and help them make the decision that fits, not just financially, but practically.

Being an independent agency means we work for the client, not the insurance carrier. That gives us options. We can shop multiple carriers and find the right fit. It also means we advocate harder, especially during claim time. We’ve been in business long enough to develop strong relationships with underwriters and adjusters. That matters when you’re trying to get something resolved quickly and fairly. People in the industry know our name, and that helps us go to bat for our clients when it counts.

“Success in this business doesn’t come from flashy sales tactics. It comes from consistency, humility
and treating people with respect.”

-Schneider Insurance President
Richard Schneider

LMF: How has technology changed the way you do business? 

RS: Technology has changed a lot in recent years, and admittedly, we’ve bought into a few tools that overpromised and underdelivered. I think a lot of business owners can relate to that. We transitioned to Applied Epic, our management system, a few years ago, and they have built in several tools that have made a huge difference in how we stay organized and communicate internally. That’s been a big shift for someone who grew up in a very analog world, but it’s helped us stay efficient.

We’re watching AI and automation tools closely. There’s no question they’ll shape how insurance is handled in the coming years. However, we also recognize that our value lies in the human aspect of what we do. Technology can help, but it’s not a replacement for relationships.

LMF: How has your agency contributed to the local community? Are there any community events or charities you support regularly?

RS: We’ve always believed in being part of the community, not just doing business in it. Over the years, we’ve supported numerous schools and nonprofits, but I would have to say that our agency’s biggest contribution to the community is that of my brother, Carl Schneider. As mentioned earlier, approximately 20 years ago, we began facing significant challenges in placing homeowners’ insurance in Mobile and Baldwin County. After Hurricane Katrina, things worsened. Carl could foresee the situation continuing to deteriorate and knew he had to take action.

He came across a program called Fortified that the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety developed. This was the solution to the problem, so Carl connected with other thought leaders within the insurance space and created a nonprofit called Smart Home America. At the time, Smart Home America had one goal: to make the fortified home program a reality. Through a grassroots effort, Smart Home America was able to get legislation passed that mandated insurance companies provide premium credits to homeowners’ policies for having a Fortified Home. This eventually led to the development of the Strengthen Alabama Homes program and now, Alabama is leading the country in Fortified Homes with over 50,000 certified residences. While we are not out of the woods yet and still battling price increases, the Fortified program has been instrumental in driving costs down and bringing more options to the consumer in our area. 

LMF: What does the future look like for Schneider Insurance? 

RS: Looking ahead, we’re continuing to grow our commercial side and deepen relationships with business owners along the Gulf Coast. That’s where we can bring a lot of value and where we feel most aligned with the people we serve.

We’re also keeping a close eye on how AI is going to shift personal insurance. We expect it to have a big impact in that area, and we’re actively thinking through how to adjust our strategies while keeping our service hands-on and human.

Zach is stepping into leadership and already plays a major role in our operations. He brings a business mindset that’s both strategic and grounded in our values. He’s thinking not just about where the business is today, but how to build it responsibly for the future. I have full confidence in him. He’s got the drive, humility and heart to lead this business into the next generation.