Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikhail Kovalev.
After moving from Russia to the United States in 1993, Nina Kovalev, who was a Ph.D. of criminal law in the Soviet Union, found herself working as an administrative assistant at an insurance agency. At nights, she would come home and have an insurance licensing book in one hand and an English-to-Russian dictionary in the other.
Once Nina got licensed she stayed after work and began selling insurance and building up a book of business. By 2000, her portfolio of the clientele was large enough to branch out on her own and start her own agency. The agency started in 2000 with just Nina Kovalev and represented just 1 insurance carrier.
Today, the agency is owned by her son Mikhail. They have since grown to a staff of 6 people, they represent most major insurance carriers in Massachusetts, and insure well over $500 million of real property.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are always struggles as a small business owner, from staffing, changes in the industry and so on. Although the founder, Nina Kovalev is now retired, it was a difficult road for her starting a business as a woman in a male-dominated industry. On top of that, she immigrated to the US with her family in 1993 almost immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the cold war. Naturally, there are difficulties that are associated with that as well. Overall though, the old adage holds true. Hard work and perseverance pays off.
Kovalev Insurance Agency – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Kovalev Insurance was founded in 2000 by Nina Kovalev. Over the years, our team has grown and now insures over $500 Million of real property in Massachusetts. At Kovalev Insurance, we are committed to providing personalized consultation to ensure that we are protecting those things that matter most to our clients. We offer all forms of auto, home, and business insurance.
We have developed relationships with multiple insurance carriers. This allows us to provide our customers with the widest selection of coverage options and companies at highly competitive rates. Kovalev Insurance provides a variety of insurance services including all forms of auto insurance, homeowners insurance, and business insurance.
To accommodate the diverse population which we serve, we are proud to note that we have bilingual Russian speakers available in the office. We see ourselves as an insurance concierge. You want it done? Call, text or email. We make it happen. You don’t have to remember your login to the website. You don’t have to figure out the jargon or where to click. You just call us and say, “I need a certificate” and we make certificates appear in your inbox.
We give advice. We can tell you if that quote is actually a good deal or not. We can give you advice on how you might increase coverage affordably or remove unnecessary coverages to save. We can commiserate when the insurance premiums are too high. Our best clients like us because they don’t have to worry that their insurance isn’t being written right, shopped hard, or done well. They like to know that if we are handling something, it is handled. When we say, “I have three proposals, but this is the one you should sign.” they can trust that.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
It will sound cliche, but it really is when clients call and earnestly say thank you. We know there is a certain perception of the insurance industry among the general public, but we really are here to help. When someone has lost everything but is able to get back on their feet in a new house and they call and say Thank you, that makes you really proud that you were able to get someone through what may have been the hardest point in their lives.
Contact Info:
- Address: 188 Needham St Suite 220 Newton, MA 02464
- Website: www.kovalevinsurance.com
- Phone: 617-562-6060
- Email: insurance@kovalevinsurance.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kovalevinsurance/
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