First West Insurance joins Inszone as part of California expansion

Inszone Insurance Services has acquired First West Insurance Agency, an independent insurance agency that has served Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley since 1968.

Inszone said that the acquisition is part of its strategy to expand its presence in California.

First established as Shearer Insurance in 1968, the company merged with First West Insurance Agency in 1979, rebranding and expanding its services. The agency has focused primarily on personal lines insurance throughout California.

Phil Shearer (pictured above) joined the agency in 1983, following his father’s career path after graduating from San Diego State. Initially working as a commercial lines agent, Phil eventually assumed leadership of the business. Kristen Shearer joined the agency in 1998, managing accounting operations, allowing the team to focus on client service.

Phil and Kristen Shearer will remain involved temporarily to assist with the transition before retiring. First West’s team will continue to operate from Inszone’s Huntington Beach office, with access to additional carriers and support provided by Inszone. The company also said that it aims to maintain a local presence while offering the resources of a larger organization.

Chris Walters, CEO of Inszone Insurance Services, said Phil and Kristen Shearer have built a strong culture of client advocacy and personalized service that aligns with Inszone’s values.

“We are excited to integrate First West’s operations and continue providing outstanding service to their clients with the added resources and support of Inszone,” Walters said.

Inszone has signaled that more acquisitions are likely in the coming months as it continues to expand its footprint across the country.

Optimum Performance Solutions, LLC acted as the exclusive advisor to First West Insurance Agency during the transaction.

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