Rinker becomes Burlington’s new Shelter Insurance agent [The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa]

Oct. 06--As a Navy military police officer, Matthew Rinker learned to deal with difficult situations regarding personnel. In his new career as a Shelter Insurance agent, he has to deal with people's issues in terms of home, auto, health and life -- and sometimes those issues will be difficult.

"I worked with a local State Farm agent (John Korschgen) and found it really interesting. The customer aspect of it," Rinker said of the insurance business.

Rinker set up his life insurance agency Aug. 26 at 321 N. Main St. -- the corner of Main and Washington streets in downtown Burlington. He has assumed all the policies written by Duane Knak over the last 35 years, whose office was at the corner of Central Avenue and Division Street. Knak died May 23.

"He was very well respected, and very well liked," Rinker said. "I'm taking over all of his accounts."

Rinker went through an interview process in July in order to become the new Shelter Insurance agent in Burlington. He attained his insurance license for life, health, property and casualty before he went on a monthlong vacation in August to England. Rinker's wife, Sophie, is English, and the reason for the trip was to visit her family.

Upon their return, training for Rinker's new career picked up. Rinker spent a solid week studying insurance and insurance law, plus underwent 25 hours of computer training. Shelter Insurance had Rinker attend 13 days of training in September at its headquarters in Columbia, Mo., where he learned the company's products and coverages. Rinker will make another trip to Columbia in November for further training.

Rinker's office will offer insurance policies for auto, home, renters, commercial, life and health through Blue Cross Blue Shield.

"I've got a lot to learn with the new health care law," Rinker said.

What he enjoys most about his new career is getting to know his clients.

"There's a bunch of different thoughts when it comes to sales. Some people are very aggressive and use bait and switch," Rinker said. "Somebody walks in for insurance for security. The way we want to approach that is to get to know them and find what they need."

In order to help his clients, Rinker wants to get to know their background -- income, lifestyle, children, etc. -- so he can match policies to their needs.

It was a desire to raise children in a nice neighborhood that led Rinker back to his hometown after a five-year stint in the Navy.

He grew up in a house at the corner of South Street and South Garfield Avenue in Burlington. Not long after his graduation from Burlington High School in 2003, Rinker enlisted in the Navy on Feb. 19, 2004. His active duty took him to California, Army infantry training in Texas, two years in Iraq and finally stationed in Greece where he met Sophie.

"We wanted to have kids and wanted them to have the same neighborhood experience," Rinker said.

Matt and Sophie recently celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary. The Rinkers have two daughters: Elin, two years old; and Olivia, four months.

Upon his return to the States after his military service, Rinker went back to school. He took general studies courses at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, before going on to Western Illinois University in Macomb to earn a degree in 2012 in political science with a minor in economics. He continues to make the commute to Macomb as Rinker is working on his masters in political science.

Rinker is happy with his career choice.

"I could not sit at a computer eight hours a day and not talk to anybody," Rinker said.

He wants to be a helping hand in people's lives and update their policies as things in their life change. He also wants to help the uninsured and underinsured protect themselves with affordable policies.

"That's why I really like doing what I'm doing," Rinker said. "I hope to be a part of this agency as long as I can. The long-term goal is just to make this a success, and complete what Duane started."

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