GREENFIELD — Benjamin Kiablick started as a claims adjuster out of college and had a dream of owning an insurance agency.
It lay dormant for a while and he embarked on an unorthodox career path, working as a freight train conductor and in the hydroelectric field. He got back into the insurance game by selling life insurance, and decided to seize the opportunity when he was approached by Allstate.
“It made too much sense to kind of keep (the dream) on the back burner,” Kiablick said sitting behind his desk in his new office at 269 Main St. The agency, between Hattapon’s Thai Kitchen and John Doe, Jr. Used Records and Books, opened on Nov. 1.
Kiablick said his agency sells auto, home, life and business insurance, and also assists clients with retirement savings. He has four employees.
“Our main focus now is just trying to ensure everything for the family, well-rounded protection,” he said.
Kiablick, 35, explained he grew up in Northfield and met his wife, a Greenfield native, while they were students at Elms College in Chicopee. They now live in Bernardston with their daughter and son. Kiablick was most recently an agent with the Knights of Columbus in Chicopee. He said he is essentially an independent contractor with Allstate. He pays no fee to Allstate to own the agency.
“I love it. I like protecting families. It’s a rewarding job and everyone needs (insurance). It’s nice to sell a product that people actually need,” he said. “Everyone has those life insurance conversations but … sometimes they don’t actually reach out to get it. I like selling that, but also the home and auto. Everyone needs that as well. You can’t drive down the street without it.”
The agency’s phone number is 413-325-0031. More information can be found at bit.ly/2Xwibke.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.