Respect
Honesty
Integrity
Our Story
The culmination of today’s Pinnacle Insurance Group of Indiana began in 1942 with the founding of Smith Insurance Agency by the late Charles Smith in downtown Hobart, Indiana. In 1946, the founding of Fleming Farm Service by the late Bruce Fleming, later known as Fleming, Bates & Barber Insurance in Crown Point, Indiana. In 1986, the two agencies formed a strategic partnership group, but remained separate entities until 2009 when the two merged into one corporation as Pinnacle Insurance Group of Indiana, Inc. In May 2020, our office merged with World Insurance Associates in New Jersey. We are excited to be part of their growing branch locations and this allows us access to many more carriers and the opportunity to write insurance policies in many additional states.
Our Hobart operation, formerly under the direction of Richard Smith, nephew of the late Charles Smith, closed in August 2021, and our staff has relocated to the Crown Point location. The Crown Point office is led by Mark Bates, nephew of the late Gordon Bates, a former long-time partner. In the early beginnings of the agency operations in 1942 were focused primarily writing personal and farm insurance for clients throughout northwest Indiana. As the agency evolved, today we are predominately a commercial risk management insurance practice while maintaining a stable base of personal, high-net worth, farm, employee benefits and life insurance clientele. The agency has clients throughout the United States with the expanded capability of writing international exposures when the need arises.
The agency is a proud partner with World Insurance Associates, comprising of over 200+ select independent insurance agencies throughout several states. This partnership provides exclusive access to products and services unmatched in the insurance marketplace to assist our valued clients. Pinnacle Insurance Group of Indiana, Inc is a past recipient of the prestigious Agency of the Year by the Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana, Inc. This award recognizes an agency for their professionalism, ethics, and commitment to their community. In addition, several employees have received individual recognition by the Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana for their leadership including a past President, Agent of the Year, Young Agent of the Year, multiple Customer Service Representative of the Year and Industry|Public Image award recipients.
At Pinnacle Insurance Group, we take pride in our dedication to the communities in which we live and serve our clients. We support a number of civic not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions and other groups through volunteer leadership by our employees and providing financial support.