Founded in 1930 by Richard’s grandfather, Earl W. Hawes Insurance focused on auto insurance, home insurance, life and business insurance needs. After graduating from Indiana University with a degree in Insurance, Earl’s son, Ed, joined the agency. They continued to work together until Earl retired in 1965, when the agency became Edwin P. Hawes Insurance.
When Richard joined the team in 1974 as a producer, he had a degree in Insurance from Arizona State University. Shortly after, in 1976, they changed the agency’s name to Hawes Insurance Inc.
On May 1, 1996, the agency became Richard Hawes Insurance. In 2020, Richard sold the business to Scott Weatherford. Richard guided and mentored Scott as the new owner for a few months before moving to beautiful South Carolina to enjoy his retirement.
Today, we continue the legacy of customer service by implementing the latest technology and maintaining our leadership and competitiveness in the community. We have a well-trained, professional staff and offer a wide variety of products for your home, automotive, business, and life insurance needs.
An Independent Advantage
We are Independent Agents in Columbus, Indiana, free to choose the best carrier for your insurance needs. We do not work for an insurance company; we work for you. We work on your side when you have a loss and follow through to see that you get fair, prompt payment and service. Richard Hawes Insurance represents a carefully selected group of financially strong, reputable insurance companies, therefore, we are able to offer you the best coverage at the most competitive price.
What is an Independent Insurance Agent?
When you decide to buy a car, you wouldn’t purchase the first one you see. What if one day the automobile industry decided to make only one type of car, one make and one model. You wouldn’t have a choice!
The same situation holds true for insurance. You need insurance to drive a car, to purchase a house, to protect your family’s financial future and to run a small business. But if there was only one insurance company that offered only one type of insurance, car insurance, home insurance or business owner policy — you wouldn’t have a choice. The only solution would be going to that one company.
With an independent insurance agent, you have choices. Independent agents are not tied to any one insurance company. One of the advantages of using an independent agent is that he or she works to satisfy your needs. You are using an expert for an important financial decision.
An independent agent has several companies that he or she can approach to get you the best coverage at the best price. And your independent agent will know the companies with the most efficient claims departments to recover your losses as quickly as possible.
When you buy insurance, whether it’s for your home, your car or your business, you want an advocate who will properly assess the risks you face and give you an objective analysis of the marketplace, it’s up to you to make the final choice.