In preparation for retirement, Turner Insurance partners with Wessler Bros. Agency
By Ben Cox
A longtime fixture in Jacksonville’s insurance community is entering a new chapter. Turner Insurance Agency, located on West Morton Avenue, is officially transitioning to Turner & Wessler Bros., bringing a blend of local tradition and multi-generational expertise to the city.
The move comes as Tom Turner, who has served the Jacksonville community for more than 50 years, prepares for the next stage of his career. “Eventually I will retire,” Turner says. “I’m 51 now, so it’s time to be thinking about it. But I’m not ready to go just yet. The fellows brought in Trent Bruce and the Wesslers, and I intend to be around for another year.”
Wessler Bros. Agency, headquartered in Arenzville, operates four locations across the region, including Beardstown, Rushville and Concord.
Trent Bruce and Ryan Miller are leading the expansion into Jacksonville, alongside Pete Wessler, whose grandfather founded the original Wessler Bros. Agency in the 1970s.
“One of the things he always talked about is that he’d love to have a place in Jacksonville,” Pete Wessler says. “We feel like this keeps his legacy going.”
The transition will be seamless for local clients. Turner emphasized that the Jacksonville office staff, some of whom have been with the agency for several decades, will remain in place. “We want it to be business as usual,” Turner says. “Our customers will be in very good hands. These gentlemen do business much like I do, and customer service is not lost on this group.”
Being an independent insurance agency, Wessler Bros. writes policies with multiple carriers, giving clients options that single-carrier agencies often cannot offer. “If rates with one carrier become unaffordable, we can offer alternatives,” Wessler explains. “It’s more work, but it allows us to provide the best deal for our customers.”
The Jacksonville office will also benefit from additional services. Wessler Bros. brings commercial, life and health insurance offerings that were not previously available at Turner Insurance Agency.
Pete Wessler highlighted that Trent Bruce’s extensive experience managing customer service at one of the Jacksonville Walgreens locations in the recent past has provided additional assurance of personal attention to clients.
Despite the technological changes in the insurance industry, from electronic billing to mobile claims reporting, both Turner and the Wesslers are committed to keeping the personal touch.
“No computer is ever going to replace what we do face-to-face,” Turner says. “If you take care of your customers, they take care of you. That’s just the way it works.”
The physical location on West Morton Avenue will remain largely unchanged, with updates to signage reflecting the new Turner & Wessler Bros. name. Clients can continue to expect the same trusted team, local knowledge and community-focused service that Turner Insurance Agency has offered for over half a century.
For more information, visit jacksonvilleillinoisinsurance.com or wesslerbros.com.
