A New Puppy for Christmas? Don’t Forget the Coverage

Black puppy with a collar looking curiously in a grassy field, symbolizing the joy and responsibility of new pet ownership during the holiday season.

A puppy under the Christmas tree is pure magic—full of excitement, new routines, and plenty of joyful chaos. Along with the fun, however, comes an important responsibility that many new pet owners overlook making sure your insurance coverage is properly aligned with your growing family. Most homeowners’ policies include some level of pet liability coverage, but the details matter. Coverage … Read More

What Should I Do Immediately After an Accident or Loss?

Accidents and unexpected losses are stressful—but knowing what to do in the moment can make all the difference. Whether it’s a car crash, fire, theft, or storm damage, taking the right steps immediately afterward helps ensure your safety and strengthens your insurance claim. At ThompsonBaker, we guide clients through these situations every day. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what to … Read More

Why Is the Insurance Company Requiring Me to Replace My Roof?

If your insurance company has told you it’s time to replace your roof, you’re probably wondering why. It may seem like an unexpected or even frustrating request, especially if your roof isn’t actively leaking or showing obvious damage. But there’s a good reason behind it—and understanding that reason can help you avoid gaps in your homeowners insurance in St. Augustine … Read More

What Is Umbrella Coverage and Do I Need It?

Accidents happen—and sometimes the fallout goes beyond what your standard insurance can cover. That’s where umbrella insurance, also known as personal excess liability insurance, comes in. It acts as a financial safety net, providing additional liability protection when your home, auto, or business policy limits are exceeded. In today’s world, where lawsuits and medical bills can quickly spiral, umbrella coverage … Read More

Will Insurance Cover Solar Panels? Everything You Need to Know

Solar panels installed on a residential roof under a clear blue sky, highlighting energy efficiency and sustainability.

Switching to solar energy is a big decision. It lowers energy bills and benefits the environment, but it also raises an important question—will insurance cover solar panels? Most homeowners insurance policies do cover solar panels, but there are key details to understand. Not all policies are the same, and certain situations could leave you underinsured. Knowing how your solar panels … Read More

What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage and Why is it Important?

Man on phone standing near two cars after an accident, with one driver crouched down appearing distressed, illustrating the aftermath of a car collision involving uninsured motorist concerns.

You’re driving home, following the rules of the road, when suddenly—another car slams into yours. The impact is jarring, but after gathering yourself, you step out to exchange information. The other driver looks uneasy. Then they say something that changes everything: “I don’t have insurance.” Now, you’re left wondering—who is going to pay for the medical bills, lost wages, and … Read More

Essential Guide to Business Insurance in Florida

Professionals discussing insurance documents in a modern office setting, emphasizing collaboration and client engagement in insurance services.

Imagine a sudden hurricane damaging your business property, or an unexpected lawsuit threatening your company’s finances. Without proper insurance, such events can jeopardize your business’s future. In Florida, understanding and securing the right business insurance is crucial to safeguard your enterprise against unforeseen challenges. Understanding Business Insurance Business insurance protects your company from financial losses due to accidents, natural disasters, … Read More

Why Did My Auto Insurance Go Way Up When I Added My Youthful Driver?

Young woman smiling and holding a driver's license in a car, with a man in the passenger seat taking notes, illustrating the process of adding a youthful driver to an auto insurance policy.

Adding a youthful driver to your auto insurance policy often leads to a noticeable increase in your premium. This change can feel sudden and confusing, but understanding the reasons behind it can help you make informed decisions. Why Did My Auto Insurance Increase? Adding a young driver to your policy increases the perceived risk for insurance companies. This risk translates … Read More

Understanding Personal Line Insurance: What You Need to Know

Man on phone assessing car damage, calling insurance service for assistance with auto insurance claim.

Personal line insurance helps protect the things that matter most to you, like your home, car, and personal belongings. It’s a broad category of insurance designed to cover the risks and costs of unexpected events, from accidents to natural disasters. Why Personal Line Insurance Matters Having personal line insurance is essential for financial security. If an unexpected event occurs—such as … Read More

A Comprehensive Guide to Navigating the Insurance Claim Process

Hands signing a document on a clipboard, illustrating the insurance claim process and the importance of timely communication with ThompsonBaker.

When it’s time to file an insurance claim, the process can feel overwhelming. However, with the right help, you can navigate it without unnecessary stress. At ThompsonBaker, we assist every step of the way, so you know exactly what to do. Step 1: Contact ThompsonBaker Immediately The first step is to contact us as soon as the incident occurs. Time … Read More

How Much FEMA Flood Assistance Can I Get?

Flooded residential area with submerged cars, trees, and houses, illustrating the impact of natural disasters and the importance of FEMA assistance for recovery.

FEMA flood assistance helps people affected by floods by offering temporary relief and basic repairs. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, provides aid to help with immediate needs after a disaster. This assistance is intended to make homes safe and livable again but often doesn’t cover all expenses or restore homes to their original condition. Understanding FEMA’s role can help … Read More

Flood Advisory, Flood Warning, and Flood Zone: What Do They Mean?

Flooded house partially submerged in water, illustrating the impact of natural disasters and flood risks.

Ever woken up to a relentless downpour, wondering if your street might flood? Floods are a common natural disaster, and being prepared can make a big difference. This guide will explain the key terms: flood advisories, flood warnings, and flood zones. Understanding Flood Risks What is considered a flood? A flood happens when water covers land that’s usually dry, and … Read More

Do I Need Flood Insurance? A Comprehensive Guide to Protecting Your Home

Flooded residential area with a submerged house roof and surrounding trees, illustrating the impact of natural disasters and flood risks.

Imagine a cozy night in, when suddenly, heavy rain starts drumming on the roof. What starts as a normal downpour turns into a raging torrent. Floodwaters rise, threatening your home and belongings. This scenario, while frightening, is more common than you might think. Floods can strike anywhere, anytime – even in areas considered low-risk. So, this raises the question,: do … Read More

ThompsonBaker Agency Included In the Big “I”

Big "I" Best Practices Agency 2021 award emblem for ThompsonBaker, highlighting insurance excellence and community engagement.

ThompsonBaker Agency Included In the Big “I” 2021 Best Practices Study   St. Augustine, FL, 9/24/2021 – ThompsonBaker Agency continues (FOR THE 9th YEAR) to be part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) Best Practices Study Group. The selected Best Practices agencies retain their … Read More

Florida’s Troubled Property Market: The Problem and Solutions

Graph depicting rising trends in the Florida insurance market rates, illustrating the impact of increasing rates on homeowners and the market dynamics.

By Kyle Ulrich  Back in September, I blogged about the troubled Florida property market and the second quarter financial results for the domestic homeowners market. Now that third quarter results have been published, it is clear the market is continuing to deteriorate and looks like it will only get worse before it gets better. Again, this is no secret to independent … Read More

Look who came to visit us!

Man in a dress shirt and tie welcoming Lewis the Lion mascot, representing Flagler College, against a neutral background, promoting community support and engagement.

ThompsonBaker Agency is proud to support Flagler College’s very own Lewis the Lion in the Peach Belt Conference Mascot Challenge. Flagler College is dear to our hearts as we have several Flagler Alumni on our team. Help us keep Lewis at the top by voting at the following link. Let’s show the Peach Belt who’s mascot is #1!

ThompsonBaker Agency Included In IIABA’s “Best Practices” Study

Big "I" Best Practices Agency award badge 2020, representing ThompsonBaker's recognition in independent insurance excellence.

            St. Augustine, FL, August 28, 2020 – ThomsponBaker Agency retains its Best Practices status, once again becoming a part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States. This status comes by participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) Best Practices Study group. The annual survey and Study … Read More

2020 Hurricane Preparedness Guide

Satellite image of a hurricane approaching the southeastern United States, highlighting the storm's spiral shape and surrounding ocean, relevant to hurricane season preparedness discussions.

The 2020 hurricane season is upon us and as of the date of this publishing, we have already had one named storm (Arthur). As we focus our attention on a safe and healthy reopening of our country, it remains important that we remember to make the necessary preparations for the upcoming hurricane season. An above average season is anticipated with … Read More

COVID-19 – Office Reopening

3D rendering of the coronavirus (COVID-19) with red spike proteins, illustrating the ongoing pandemic context relevant to safety and health measures in St. Augustine, FL.

The State’s Safer-at-Home order for St. John’s County is ending and ThompsonBaker Agency will reopen the St. Augustine office on Monday, May 4th.  The agency has continued operations during the closure with staff working remotely from home and/or at the office following the CDC safe distancing guidelines.  In reopening the office, we will continue to adhere to these guidelines for the … Read More

COVID-19 Important Information

3D rendering of the coronavirus (COVID-19) with red spike proteins, illustrating the ongoing pandemic context relevant to safety and health measures in St. Augustine, FL.

As we continue to monitor developments and consider contingency plans in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, our priority is the safety of our employees and ensuring our ability to continue to serve our client’s needs. ThompsonBaker’s Business Continuity Team is composed of leaders and subject matter experts across our business lines. This team is meeting daily to assess the … Read More

COVID-19 Update

3D rendering of the coronavirus (COVID-19) with red spike proteins, illustrating the ongoing pandemic context relevant to safety and health measures in St. Augustine, FL.

To Our Valued Clients: At ThompsonBaker Agency, our clients are family. During these extraordinary times we are committed to ensuring a safe and healthy environment for our families. We know you rely on us to provide products and services that are critical to keep your home/business functioning and safe. In this time of uncertainty, we are here for you. We … Read More

2019 Best Practices Agencies – Florida

Image depicting the 2019 Best Practices Agencies in Florida, highlighting top-performing insurance agencies recognized by Reagan Consulting, with a focus on industry excellence and commitment to client service.

By Dave Newell FAIA is excited to recognize the 2019 Best Practices Agencies in Florida. Reagan Consulting began the Best Practices Study in 1993, studying the top performing agencies in the US. Each agency nominated for the study must provide extensive data to Reagan Consulting to be scored in several categories. Only the top percentage qualified and the study is … Read More

St. Augustine Beach cleanup

ThompsonBaker Agency team members in white shirts and gloves participating in a beach cleanup at St. Augustine Beach, promoting community service and environmental protection.

The Thompsonbaker Insurance Agency took to the beach on Monday to cleanup trash keeping St. Augustine Beach beautiful and protecting our wildlife.  The Agency has been serving the St. Augustine community since 1925.

Chair Elect of the FAIA Board of Directors

Dan Alexander, Vice President of ThompsonBaker Agency, waving during his swearing-in as Chair Elect of the FAIA Board of Directors, with applauding colleagues in formal attire on stage.

ThompsonBaker Agency’s Vice President, Dan Alexander was sworn in as Chair Elect of the FAIA Board of Directors. “Members of the FAIA volunteer governance are committed to observing and promoting the highest standards of ethical conduct in the performance of their responsibilities of FAIA.”

Aging Centenarian Luncheon

Elegant dining setup for the Centenarian Luncheon, featuring pink and gold decor, floral centerpiece, menu cards, and dessert on tables arranged for guests.

A few weeks ago Matt represented ThompsonBaker Agency at the St. John’s County Council on Aging Centenarian Luncheon to show our support of this incredible organization! This is just one of the many ways TBA plays an active role in supporting the vibrant community that is St. Augustine!

Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C

Group of four professionals posing together in an office setting, with a "House of Representatives" emblem in the background, representing advocacy efforts for insurance legislation.

Our own Dan Alexander recently attend the annual Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (Big “I”) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. Together with a group from the Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA) they met with the offices of 6 federal lawmakers to share concerns and advocate for legislation impacting the agent and policy holders. During the meetings on … Read More

St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office

Group of individuals, including law enforcement officers and community members, gathered outside the St. John's County Sheriff's Office, celebrating National Police Appreciation Week.

This morning several of us dropped by the St. John’s County Sheriff’s Department to say thank you in honor of National Police Appreciation Week. Thank you for your service and sacrifices St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office

K9 for warriors

Collection of pet supplies including toys, treats, and dental products on a wooden table, with a banner in the background promoting community support and engagement.

The Ponte Vedra Division of the St. John’s County Chamber of Commerce is holding a networking event this evening at the K9’s for Warriors facility. Donations are welcome. Below are some of the items we collected at the office today.

EMS week

Group photo of ThompsonBaker team members with St. Augustine Fire Department firefighters, celebrating National Police Appreciation Week in front of a fire truck.

In honor of EMS week we visited the St. Augustine Fire Department this morning. This awesome group made it so much fun for us. We hope they enjoyed the bagels. Thank you for your service!

Flood map changes in St. Johns County

The ThompsonBaker Agency is a multi-line P&C insurance agent offering flood insurance coverage. Please call us at 904-824-1631 or click the link below for information about the new flood map changes in St. Johns County effective December 7th 2018.

Business Spotlight

Check out this business spotlight on our commercial account manager and St. Johns River State College RMI Alumnus, Davis Alexander. Click here.

Celebrating Flagler College 50th Anniversary

Group of six individuals presenting a trophy, celebrating 50 years of insurance partnership between ThompsonBaker Agency and Flagler College, with a staircase and decorative ironwork in the background.

Flagler College is celebrating 50 Years and the ThompsonBaker Agency along with Travelers Insurance met with representatives from Flagler to present them with a Trophy. The ThompsonBaker Agency and Travelers Insurance Company have handled Flagler College’s commercial insurance coverages for 50 Years! Pictured: Left to Right bottom row Bob Dunphy/Travelers, David Carson/Flagler, Larry Weeks/Flagler, Matt Baker/ThompsonBaker Left to Right Second … Read More

June 2018 FAIA Announcement

Our own Dan Alexander has been elected Vice President of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents at its 114th annual conference in Orlando. He was sworn in by Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis and will represent more than 10,000 Florida Agents. What this also means is that Dan, in two years, will be the Chairman of the Board of FAIA. Please … Read More

Q1 & Q2 CORE Value Awards Winners

Group of four professionals from ThompsonBaker Agency and Travelers Insurance celebrating an award presentation, featuring a woman holding a trophy, with a banner displaying "Since 1925" and "Because it's your future" in the background.

The Winner is selected by the TBA leadership and Operations teams quarterly based on criteria that aligns with TBA CORE Goals and Values. The current criteria for being nominated are: Dependability – Good attendance and stays current on workflow. This is a team member who rarely misses work due to unplanned circumstances and stays current on job responsibilities. Quality – … Read More

Weathering the Storm

Weathering the storm graphic with stylized tree, clouds, and text, symbolizing resilience in Florida's property insurance challenges.

Throughout our lives, we have to face many storms. Some of these storms are figurative, but often times—especially in Florida—they are literal. When Hurricane Matthew swept through the St. Augustine area last October, ThompsonBaker had to face struggles along with the rest of the community. In our recent video post, President and C.E.O Matt Baker discusses overcoming challenges and serving … Read More

ThompsonBaker Featured in MSA’s 2016 Annual Report

ThompsonBaker team members posing outside, promoting their feature in Main Street America's 2016 Annual Report, with palm trees in the background.

ThompsonBaker was recently featured as one of the first stories in The Main Street America (MSA) Group’s 2016 Annual Report. The article highlights our valuable partnership with Old Dominion, an MSA-affiliated carrier who began working with us more than 30 years ago. Since our partnership started in the 1980s, our companies have worked side-by-side and seen important growth together through the … Read More

City of St. Augustine Receives Important Reimbursement for Safety Measures

ThompsonBaker team presenting a donation check to City of St. Augustine, with historic buildings and palm trees in the background, emphasizing community support and engagement.

ThompsonBaker was recently mentioned in an article for the City of St. Augustine. The city needed to put its public workers through critical safety training, but lacked the necessary funds to put everything together. Without this important training, public works staff and rescue personnel could find themselves in serious danger when it comes to both daily work and rescue operations. … Read More

ThompsonBaker Agency is celebrating 91 years serving St. Augustine, please check out the article in Old City Life Magazine.

Three insurance professionals posing together in an office setting, surrounded by vintage insurance company plaques and awards, representing ThompsonBaker's commitment to client relationships and community engagement.

ThompsonBaker Agency has recently been featured in Old City Life Magazine. The article, titled “A History of Excellence” describes ThompsonBaker’s humble beginnings as a St. Augustine-based agency that has remained loyal to its clients and the community for over 90 years. The magazine occasionally writes features on businesses they know are experienced and trustworthy, and chose to feature our company in … Read More

Kellie Brandes Awarded 2016 Florida Outstanding Customer Service Representative

Kellie Brandes smiling in front of award plaques, recognized for outstanding customer service at ThompsonBaker insurance agency.

Congratulations to our very own Kellie Brandes for winning the 2016 Florida Outstanding Customer Service Representative of the Year! To qualify for the top state honor, Kellie submitted an essay on how she came into the insurance industry and what four reason she stayed and built a career. Through her contributions to our agency, the industry, the clients and community, … Read More