Hull’s Consultative Approach Delivers Insurance Solutions to Booming Alabama Markets

Like many college towns in the Southeast during the late 1990s, Tuscaloosa, Alabama was somewhere between a big country town and a small city. The opening of a nearby Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facility changed that perception for good and spurred an economic boom that is still impacting the state.

Richard Hull, founder and president of insurance agency Hull & Associates, Inc., remembers it well: “I worked for my uncle and later at an agency I bought outside of town. The place was growing like crazy.” Hull moved the agency to Tuscaloosa in 1999, and it now bears his name.

The West Central region of Alabama has continued to thrive. Tuscaloosa, with the University of Alabama’s main campus and its proximity to both Birmingham and the Mercedes plant, has become a highly sought-after place to live and work. Hull has had a front-row seat to its rapid development and Hull & Associates has built significant lines of business in three markets closely tied to that growth – habitational/hospitality, construction and transportation.

“The growth of the auto industry in Alabama has created all kinds of opportunities in providing coverage for its related industries,” Hull says. “Trucking is part of that, as is writing property and casualty policies for the buildings that house those businesses.” He explains that construction is also a key market as the Southeast experiences a building boom across several sectors.

“What’s really been key for us, and a main differentiator, is our habitation specialty. This includes student housing – a hot market – multifamily and hospitality.” Hull is particularly proud of the carrier relationships and proactive risk management expertise that enable him and his team to meet virtually any client’s coverage needs. “Our focus on specialization is paying off in Tuscaloosa as well as Birmingham and Huntsville,” he says.

An essential element of Hull & Associates’ success has been an unwavering commitment to customer service. “We have always taken a small-town, personal approach to our business. We operate as consultants, not salespeople. We meet our clients’ needs within their budgets. This sets us apart and makes a difference here, where there aren’t many brokers left with that ‘small-town’ approach.”

That operating philosophy attracted Hull to Oakbridge. When he was seeking a potential partner with which to grow Hull’s capabilities, finding a “consultative culture” was at the top of the list. From there, he explains, Oakbridge’s approach to risk management and its centralized back-office support were key factors. “Oakbridge’s philosophies align with ours. We’ve got four producers, two personal lines salespeople and three account managers. Being able to leverage Oakbridge’s centralized administrative support in areas like training, HR and benefits is really going to free us up to get out and do what we love – helping our clients grow their businesses.”

Hull is excited about the agency’s future as Oakbridge’s newest partner. He notes the company’s recent ranking as Insurance Journal’s 42nd largest brokerage and the continued growth of the region and sees opportunity for the company. Most of all, he’s pleased to be able to continue his consultative approach with clients while offering an increased slate of solutions to his contacts in and around Tuscaloosa and North Alabama.