Insurance Offices Owner Issues Public Comment to FTC

Targeted News Service

TARGETED NEWS SERVICE (founded 2004) features non-partisan 'edited journalism' news briefs and information for news organizations, public policy groups and individuals; as well as 'gathered' public policy information, including news releases, reports, speeches. For more information contact MYRON STRUCK, editor, [email protected], Springfield, Virginia; 703/304-1897; https://targetednews.com

WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Michael D. Mathias, owner and operator of Insurance Offices , Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, has issued a public comment to the Federal Trade Commission. The comment was posted on June 7, 2023.

The comment was on Docket No. FTC-2023-0026-0001.

* * *

My business, Insurance Offices, Ltd., is part of Keystone Insurers Group, a franchisor of independent insurance agencies. My agency is both locally owned and operated by me and my business partners. Keystone does not have ownership in my agency.

Insurance Offices, Ltd., has been a successful insurance agency in our area for 39 years. I plan to grow sales and increase staff over the next 5 years and will not be able to do so without the franchise model that has helped make me more successful than I was on my own.

Part of that success is related to networking and communication among franchisees as well as between the franchisees and franchisor. Keystone and my peers have helped me identify and resolve many issues over the years and also provided for innovation I never would have come up with on my own. Between meetings, conferences, and digital communications, myself and many other franchisees stay engaged and are able to seek guidance regularly. With Keystone, we are truly better together. The franchisor is very open and transparent with rules and regulations expected by me. They keep us up to date on issues and initiatives that may impact my business.

However, I am in control of my business and make decisions about hiring, training, and local marketing strategies that can only be made by local business owners who know their community and have made their own plans for how to work within said community. I am able to respond more quickly to both opportunities and challenges that the franchisor would not be able to and this really highlights the need for me to run my business as a franchisee with support from the franchisor.

To that end I have built equity in my business, for which I have invested and sacrificed for and do not want to see it damaged or destroyed by undue government interference. I believe in the free-market, competition, and the opportunity for growth. I want to make decisions based on these things and avoid overregulation, which I believe will decrease the value offered to my customers and prevent growth in the community as a local business.

Franchising gives me better strategies while I remain an autonomous employer and decision maker for what is best for my business and my community while keeping the equity I have built from my investment. I do not want to see this destroyed by government action.

Michael D. Mathias

Insurance Offices, Ltd.

1 Greenwood Mall

Wyomissing, Pa. 19610

* * *

Original text here: https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FTC-2023-0026-0700