At Ranson & Associates – American Family Insurance, insurance isn’t just another conversation. It’s a conversation about the most precious of assets – family. It’s about making sure that each family has access to insurance solutions and the guidance of trusted advisors to help protect them from the unexpected.

Owner Shannon Ranson, has a family of his own. Married 22 years ago, Shannon and his wife, Barb, moved to West County in 1999. They have three daughters, and their family is now in transition as those daughters step out into the world. Anna, 20, is attending William Woods University. Kate, 18, is attending Old Miss and Sydney,16, is at Cor Jesu. 

“We are acutely aware of the realities of Teenage Drivers, Distracted Driving, and maximizing discounts for the best possible rate,” Shannon said. 

They also understand the importance of life insurance for parents and young adults.

“Life Insurance is a big focus in our agency,” Shannon said. “Having lost my father when I was just eleven, and then being raised in a one-parent household has had a profound impact on my agency focus during my 20+ year career.” 

Life insurance is especially important for the parents of minor children to ensure that those children have the resources to meet their daily needs and educational goals in the future, if they should, unfortunately, lose a parent. 

Insurance coverage is also important for young adults making their way into the world. 

“This time of year we work to protect our young clients as they graduate high school and head off to college, the military, or trade schools. Life insurance for those that are 18+ is not only extremely affordable, but also very important,” Shannon said. “As these young adults leave home, enter the workforce, take on student loans, sign up for car loans, etc. there is an increased need to have Life protection in place.” 

Also, as the economy & financial markets are having big swings; the focus on Cash Value Life Insurance is increasing, he said.  

“We have a Flexible Premium Adjustable Life Insurance policy that functions great for many of our clients,” Shannon said. 

Shannon and his professional team offer American Family Insurance resources to residents in West County and across the region. They have specialists on staff in the areas of: Life Insurance, Commercial Insurance, and Personal Lines Insurance. One of those specialists is Shannon’s wife Barb who is now working in the agency as the commercial account manager.

“Cyber Coverage is a big focus in the area of Business Insurance,” Barb said. “Whether it is a dentist office, CPA firm, or a property management company, many businesses have potential exposures to internal data loss or client data loss.”

Shannon’s previous experiences as a project manager in the construction industry and working with small businesses statewide has provided additional insight into situations regarding home construction, claims, home value, business evaluation and other scenarios. 

“We work within the client’s wishes,” Shannon said. One of the biggest things that sets Ranson & Associates apart from others is not just the team’s emphasis on matching individuals with policies, but its education of clients with hands-on attention and face-to face meetings.

“In today’s environment, some people want to do everything online or via email or social media, and we have programs that do that. But, if a client is looking for a trusted advisor, we really relish the opportunity to sit down and educate them on what they need and why they need it.” 

American Family Insurance has over 90 years of business experience and is the second largest home and auto insurer in Missouri. 

“We’ve got the backing of a great organization, and our local talent is very strong too,” Shannon said.