Historically, the two agencies share common elements. Both are now in their third-generation of leadership. Jim Smith, who carried forward the name of Ray Hunt, has now seen his son-in-law, Jim Peabody, put his name above the door. Moreover, at the Stiles agency leadership passed from the elder Stiles to his son Edison who then turned over the reins to his son Jeri. At one time, the two firms conducted business on the same street in downtown Fenton, just two doors apart. Both firms have operated as independent agents, without ties to one major carrier, working instead from a menu of multiple carriers to ensure that coverage and rates can be tailored to individual needs.

Joining the two companies came from a need to meet the ever-changing challenges of a rapidly changing industry. For small firms, the basic rule of finding safety in numbers applies. "Large companies, based hundreds of miles away, have gobbled up small agencies in towns just like Fenton," said Peabody. "Instead of doing business face-to-face, as our agencies have always done, customers are left to handle transactions through the mail and by way of toll-free phone numbers. "That's not what we want and we don't think that's what the people in our communities want."