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Our Neighbors: Advisory Council Appoitment

Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO of the Woodlands Financial Group, has been appointed to the Insurance and Risk Management Center Advisory Council by the University of Houston-Downtown. With more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, ranging from working at State Farm to becoming founder, president and CEO of his own insurance and financial services company, TWFG, Bunch was appointed to the program to help change the future for the IRM program. Bunch’s own company is ranked on the list of Top 100 privately held Property/Casualty agencies and is the 13 largest Personal Lines leader with almost 307 retail branches located in 20 states. Bunch is a 1990 graduate of A&M Consolidated High School in College Station and grew up in College Station from 1984 to 1991 until he left to join the U.S. Coast Guard.

TWFG’s Gody Bunch Named to University of Houston – Downtown Advisory Council

HOUSTON, August 19, 2013– The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) has appointed Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group, to its Insurance and Risk Management Center’s Advisory Council serving the UHD College of Business.

Wendall Braniff, J.D., director of the Insurance and Risk Management Center, requested Bunch’s participation in developing a new IRM Certificate program at the university, stating, “Your insurance expertise and knowledge of the industry give you a unique perspective that will help us to chart a course for the future of the IRM program.” UHD Insurance and Risk Management Certificate Programs include the IRM Property-Casualty Insurance Certificate, IRM Risk Management Certificate, IRM Life Insurance Certificate, and IRM Health/Benefits Insurance Certificates.

As founder, president and CEO of TWFG, Bunch was an Entrepreneur of the Year nominee in Houston. With more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, he did his “basic training” as a Texas Farm Bureau agent, an Associate General Agent with American National, and as Manager of Financial Services and Retail Director with Prudential. He launched TWFG, his insurance and financial services company, with $10,000 capital in The Woodlands, Texas in 2001. Today, TWFG is ranked high on the list of the Top 100 privately-held Property/Casualty agencies and is the 13^th largest Personal Lines leader with almost 307 retail branches in 20 states and affiliations with 3,000 independent agents in 38 states. TWFG writes policies in 49 states from its headquarters in The Woodlands. Bunch credits his personal pledge and promise, “Our Policy is Caring,” for TWFG’s success with customers, agents, and employees. In 2012, he was elected to the board of directors of his local government, The Woodlands Township, a community of more than 100,000 people, located north of Houston.

TWFG was recently honored by FEMA as one of three award winners in the National Flood Insurance Program for activities that promote flood awareness and adherence to NFIP underwriting guidelines. His original TWFG business model, combining both wholesale and retail products, allows him to offer lower cost products to clients, resulting in a 28 percent growth rate in 2012. He projects 25 percent growth for TWFG’s current year with a long-term plan to reach one billion dollars in sales.

For further Media Information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

TWFG General Agency Named Lloyd’s of London Coverholder

LONDON, July 9, 2013 – Lloyd’s, the “World’s Specialist Insurance Market,” founded in London 325 years ago, has appointed Texas-based The Woodlands Financial Group as an approved coverholder, which authorizes its TWFG General Agency to enter into contracts of insurance and to issue insurance documentation under a Lloyd’s registered binding authority. Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO of TWFG, received official documentation today at Lloyd’s London headquarters.

Bunch committed his national U.S. company to the Lloyd’s Code of Practice for Delegated Underwriting. The Woodlands Financial Group’s Insurance Services Division is currently ranked high in the “Top 100” by insurance trade magazines and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas with more than 300 branches and 3,000 agents in 38 states. TWFG will now have Lloyd’s comprehensive Marketing Intelligence Toolkit available which compares countries, provides high-level statistics for the economy, insurance market, and Lloyd’s business, to give TWFG managers strategic overviews of their business. Lloyd’s also provides coverholders with other country profiles, market presentations, and “Class Reviews” of competitive data by specialty class of business.

TWFG was founded by 40-year-old entrepreneur Richard “Gordy” Bunch little more than a decade ago in 2001 with $10,000 capital. Today, TWFG consists of retail and wholesale insurance services, a premium financing company, financial advisors, and software providing consultative products to operate a branch insurance agency. TWFG reported a 28% increase in premium sales in 2012 to $267,202,399. The company also won a national FEMA agency-of-the-year award for its flood insurance sales and marketing results. Bunch was nominated as Entrepreneur-of-the-Year in the Gulf Coast area and was recently elected to the board of directors of The Woodlands Township, TWFG’s hometown community government. The Woodlands, located just north of Houston, has a population of more than 100,000 people and more than 1,755 employers and almost 50,000 jobs.

For further Media Information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

U.S. Insurance Agency Authorized as Lloyd’s of London Coverholder

LONDON, July 9, 2013 – Lloyd’s, the 325-year old London “World’s Specialist Insurance Market,” has appointed Texas-based TWFG Insurance Services as an approved coverholder, which authorizes the agency to enter into contracts of insurance and to issue insurance documentation under a Lloyd’s registered binding authority. Richard “Gordy” Bunch, 40-year-old founder, president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group, received official documentation today at Lloyd’s London headquarters.

Bunch launched TWFG little more than a decade ago with $10,000 capital. He has now advanced and committed his national company to the Lloyd’s Code of Practice for Delegated Underwriting. TWFG is currently ranked high in the “Top 100” by an insurance trade journal and headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas with more than 300 branches and 3,000 agents in 38 states. He will have access to Lloyd’s comprehensive worldwide Marketing Intelligence Toolkit which compares countries, provides high-level statistics for their economy, updated news on the insurance market, and Lloyd’s business. Lloyd’s also provides coverholders with other country profiles, market presentations, and “Class Reviews” of competitive data by specialty class of business.

BACKGROUND for INTERVIEW AVAILABILITY:

How do you build an entrepreneur whose influence and success is born in San Diego and then spans Texas, the U.S., and the ocean to London? Do you give him four years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard? Plant him in Texas, a land of uncommon opportunity? Provide him with a slogan that says “Our Policy is Caring?” If this is the formula for success, it would help to explain Richard “Gordy” Bunch and the remarkable achievements he is scoring in his business and community life. TWFG was founded by 40-year-old entrepreneur Richard “Gordy” Bunch little more than a decade ago in 2001 with $10,000 capital. Today, TWFG consists of retail and wholesale insurance services, a premium financing company, financial advisors, and software programs providing consultative products to operate a branch insurance agency. TWFG reported a 28% increase in premium sales in 2012 to $267,202,399. The company also won a national FEMA agency-of-the-year award for its flood insurance sales and marketing results. Bunch was nominated as Entrepreneur-of-the-Year in the Gulf Coast area and was recently elected to the board of directors of The Woodlands Township, TWFG’s hometown community government. It is ranked second in the nation in home sales and has been first in Texas for more than 20 years. Bunch and his wife, Michelle, reside in The Woodlands where they are raising three young boys and are active in community and political affairs. The Woodlands, located just north of Houston, has a population of more than 100,000 people and more than 1,755 employers and almost 50,000 jobs.

For Media Information: Bunch Photo Attached

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 office / 713-416-0789 cl

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

TWFG Names Award-Winning Insurance Branches and Agents

THE WOODLANDS, TX, May 14, 2013 – With more than 300 branches and 3,000 agents in 38 states, The Woodlands Financial Group’s TWFG Insurance Services division has named 20 as outstanding performers and producers for the year 2012. The awards were presented in seven categories by Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO, at the company’s annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to annual awards, seven agents were inducted into the company’s new President’s Club.

BRANCH-OF-THE-YEAR: The spotlight shined on Stephen Lovecchio of Mandeville, Louisiana, as the TWFG Branch-of-the-Year, recognized for business volume, quality of the operation, and a balanced approach in offering clients multiple lines of insurance.

ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR: Buffy Doiron of the Port Arthur, Texas branch was selected for writing a substantial amount of new business and becoming the top new producing TWFG branch.

PRESIDENT’S CLUB: Agents who have grown their TWFG businesses into multi-million dollar operations were awarded special recognition that included a set of engraved President’s Club Reidel wine glasses along with bottles of the company’s private-label collection, “Best of the Bunch” wines. They were also rewarded when TWFG made the Las Vegas sojourn all-expenses paid trips for the seven honorees. The seven inductees into the premier TWFG President’s Club are: Stephen Lovecchio, Mandeville, LA; Anthony Voiron, Metairie, LA; Ricky Rogers, Metairie, LA; Kelly Lee, Lake Charles, LA; Jenny Xu, Houston, TX; Carlton Kon, Houston, TX; and Brian Johnson, Humble, TX.

LIFE & HEALTH AWARDS:

With renewed emphasis on Life Insurance and Health Insurance to provide even more options to clients, TWFG has instituted a $10K and $25K Life and Health Insurance Club based on premiums written in each category. Two agents immediately achieved membership in the Life and Health group: Brian Johnson of Humble, TX and Susan Stover of Kingwood, TX earned entry into the $25K Club. Seven agents placed in the $10K Club: Helayne Warschaw, Ventura, CA; Carlton Kon, Houston, TX; Mark Bartlett, Fremont, CA; Tom Blasutta, Grand Prairie, TX;  Jason Schmitz, The Woodlands, TX; John Sparks, Huffman, TX; and Marilyn Randazzo, Pflugerville, TX. The Top Producer as Life Insurance Agent-of-the-Year is Rosalie Gonzalez from San Pedro, CA and the Health Insurance Agent-of-the-Year is Kathy Morrison from TWFG’s home office in The Woodlands, TX.

For further Media Information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

TWFG Introduces New Company Slogan

THE WOODLANDS, TX, MAY 5, 2013 – The Woodlands Financial Group’s new promise and slogan for TWFG Insurance Services was introduced to several hundred company agents and staff employees at the company’s annual convention in Las Vegas last week.

TWFG president and CEO, Gordy Bunch, said the four-word phrase is both a promise and a slogan. It ties directly into the company’s basic business by incorporating the word “policy” in a line that promises “Our Policy is Caring.” Bunch said: “In today’s complex world, all people want to feel that someone cares about them. It may be a spouse, partner, a child, or even a friend, neighbor, or business associate. The insurance industry in particular, is all about caring for its policy holders. At TWFG, we are putting that promise of caring for every individual and company in writing,” Bunch said.

The slogan has been graphically tied by font and colors to the company’s basic TWFG logo. It features three pine trees “standing tall” and representing the company, the agent, and the customer as well as reflecting the firm’s name and headquarters location in The Woodlands, Texas, one of the top three master-planned communities in the nation and number one in home sales in the State of Texas. Bunch said the promise slogan is already being incorporated into the company’s marketing materials and advertising and will also be featured in an upgraded new website now in development.

For further media information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

TWFG Takes Its Winning Ways to Las Vegas

THE WOODLANDS, TX, April 4, 2013 – Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group, will lead a caravan of more than 200 people to Las Vegas for TWFG’s annual convention from April 18 to 22. The TWFG group will be followed closely by 55 representatives of 24 national insurance carriers and suppliers who will exhibit at the meeting because the Texas-based TWFG is one of the most successful and sought-after insurance services companies in its industry today.

In addition to reporting a 28% increase in premium sales to $267,202, 399 in 2012, the company won a national FEMA agency-of-the-year award for its flood insurance sales and marketing results. It scored as the number one independent agency in Texas as the “Personal Lines” leader with $166,845,986 in premium sales and is 13^th in the nation in Insurance Journal’s 2012 rankings. It is in the Top 50 of Property & Casualty rankings. Bunch was recently featured in a two-page interview and Podcast in the trade magazine. He founded TWFG little more than 10 years ago in 2001 with $10,000 in The Woodlands, Texas, where it was just selected as “Best Insurance Agency or Agent” by voters on the Woodlands Online website.

Bunch will share his “winning ways” with invited agents from 103 of the TWFG’s 300 branches plus a dozen staff personnel at the renovated Flamingo Casino & Hotel in the heart of Las Vegas. In addition to general sessions on Friday and Saturday, an exhibition hall in the El Dorado ballroom will be open to give agents an opportunity to speak directly with representatives of the major insurance carriers.

The company’s Million Dollar Club members in attendance will enjoy Elton John and his “Million Dollar Piano Show,” at Caesar’s Colosseum on Saturday night. An exclusive new “TWFG President’s Club” will be introduced with the first seven members being inducted during the Sunday awards banquet. The “magnificent seven” will also have all expenses for their entire Las Vegas trip paid by TWFG. Other awards will be presented to Branch Agent-of-the-Year, Rookie-of-the-Year, Life-Agent-of-the-Year, Health-Agent-of-the year, and notable producing agents. 

For further information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789 in Las Vegas

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net: 281-728-5704

TWFG Million Dollar Producer Club Grows to 41 Branches

THE WOODLANDS, TX, Feb. 13, 2013 – The coveted insurance industry distinction of recording one million dollars or more in premium sales will result in special plaques and medallions at 41 TWFG branches according to Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO. He is recognizing seven new and 34 repeat members of the company’s Million Dollar Producers Club.

Veteran Club members who have produced consistently over the past four years comprise the largest group of producers. The 18 repeaters and their TWFG branch locations are:

4 Consecutive Years

Brian Johnson- Humble, TX

Tony Voiron– Metairie, LA

Jenny Xu- Houston, TX

Rick Rogers- Metairie, LA

Carlton Kon- Houston, TX

John Sparks- Huffman, TX

Denise Davis- Tomball, TX

Marilyn Randazzo- Pflugerville, TX

Carlos Cantu- Dallas, TX

Todd Golden- Tomball, TX

Terry Cauthen- Port Arthur, TX

Russell Knapp- Spring, TX

Tom Blasutta- Dallas, TX

Jason Halstead- The Woodlands, TX

Lane McKinney- Friendswood, TX

Christopher Forman- Bryan, TX

Brandon Mangum- Houston, TX

Greg Armstrong- Houston, TX

Four branches repeated their million dollar production over the past three years. These sales specialists are:

3 Consecutive Years

Stephen Lovecchio- Mandeville, LA

Marilyn Caldwell- Royse City, TX

Reed Wilcox- Dallas, TX

Susan Stover- Kingwood, TX

A dozen branches managed to repeat million dollar results for the second consecutive year:

2 Consecutive Years

Kelly Lee-  Lake Charles, LA

Holland Brothers Insurance Agency (Brian and James Holland)- Houston, TX

Mark Bartlett- Fremont, CA

Darren Monteith- Fort Lauderdale, FL

Capitol Insurance LLC (Harold Treadway)- Baton Rouge, LA

Julio Manchego- Tampa, FL

Robert Gualtieri- Marrero, LA

Ashley Floyd- Houston, TX

Estela Portillo- Houston, TX

Patti Broussard- Lumberton, TX

Betty Loick- The Woodlands, TX

Jennifer Tijerina- The Woodlands, TX

Seven branches in four states are being inducted into the unique Producers Club for the first time. The new million dollar producers are:

New Members

Bobby Counts- Beaumont, TX

John Keefer- Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Lisa Newman- Richardson, TX

William Woodall- Dallas, TX

Harlivleen Kaur- Addison, TX

Thuy Cao- Houston, TX

Randall Kent- Lytle, TX

Bunch said the seven new members will receive Million Dollar Producer Club plaques to display in their branches while the 34 others will receive medallions to enhance their existing displays. TWFG Insurance Services is a division of The Woodlands Financial Group headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.

For further information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

TWFG Approaching 300 Branch Mark with Five New Appointments

THE WOODLANDS, TX, Feb. 6, 2013 – TWFG continues its rapid growth pattern with announcement of five new local branches in Texas, California, and Georgia. Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO, announced the following new TWFG branch managers and locations:

Michael Rice, Kennesaw, Georgia

Charles Choi, Los Angeles, CA

Frank Clarke, Huntington Beach, CA

Kathy Dumanski, Richardson, TX

Amber Pillsbury, The Woodlands, TX

Bunch said the independent agency is near the 300 mark for total TWFG branches now operating in 21 states. In addition, there are almost 3,000 General Agents and Referral Agents featuring TWFG insurance services in 38 states, The insurance services company is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas where it provides support to all branches and affiliates and sells in 49 states. TWFG is ranked number 51 in the “Top 100” privately-held Property/Casualty agencies listing and number 13 as a “Personal Lines leader.”

For further information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281-466-1123 / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcast.net:  281-728-5704

Homeowner Insurance Premiums are Historic Victims of Hurricanes

Be Prepared for National Price Increases

THE WOODLANDS, TX, November 5, 2012 – As flood waters from superstorm Sandy are subsiding; they are causing an opposite effect on homeowner insurance premiums – which are rising. “Rates are increasing rapidly across-the-board, and on a national basis, even in states that were left high and dry by the storm,” says Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group (TWFG), one of the nation’s Top 100 homeowner insurance services agencies.

“Our headquarters in Texas, with 3,000 affiliates and branches in 38 states, are being forewarned with definitive messages from insurance carriers that they are filing for rate increases,” Bunch said. He explains that almost all insurance rates are set by carriers, but they must be approved by licensing commissions in individual states. He referred to one of America’s largest carriers which sent him an e-mail this morning that said: “It comes as no surprise that property rates are increasing,” and urging agencies to document any lower rates they have already quoted. They were adamant, however, that the new higher rates will go into effect almost immediately. “The premium on your quote will be higher than your original quote,” the insurance carrier is telling agencies. “Customers will have to pay the new higher rate, but your documented original quote could be reviewed later for policyholder credit.”

Bunch represents more than 200 carriers and says homeowner insurance premiums have been rising since 2004.  He implicated every hurricane dating back to 1993. “Sandy is only the latest in a series of devastating and costly hurricanes that have hit the United States and keep changing our models.” Bunch explained that each hurricane contributes, by its unique impact, to new catastrophe modeling and increased homeowner premiums. “’Andrew’ brought new construction guidelines in 1993 since that storm uncovered lax building codes. In 2005, ‘Katrina’ increased PML (Probable Maximum Loss) projections for almost every coastal-exposed home. Since many insurance companies had not bought ‘reinsurance’ coverage prior to Katrina, post-Katrina created a surge in demand for catastrophe reinsurance which increased reinsurance expenses for the carriers and, ultimately, homeowner’s premiums along the Gulf Coast. ‘Rita’ made landfall just 30 days after Katrina. Then, three years later; ‘Ike’ created another new model by adding near-term frequency updates to the catastrophe expectations. This increased premiums because the expectations of catastrophes had increased.”

Bunch said the insurance industry has not had its geographic focus on the mid-Atlantic and New England.  “The fact that in 2011 ‘Irene’ became more of an inland flooding storm, may have provided a false sense of security and avoided new modeling for that area. But, now that ‘Sandy’ in 2012 has made a significant impact, just one year after Irene, there will be new modeling and near-term frequency factors applied to the mid-Atlantic and New England exposures. Higher premiums for homeowners are again inevitable,” Bunch said.

For further information:

Gordy Bunch – gordy@twfg.com: 281.466.1123 / 713.416.0789

Paul Lazzaro – plazzaro@comcat.net: 281.728.5704