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| When you visit the Riehn Insurance, the first thing you'll notice is that the signs on the door are in German. One says "Bitte Füsse abtreten," (in English, "Please wipe your feet") and the other warns "VORSICHT frisch gebohnert," or "Caution! The floor has been recently cleaned." Karl Riehn bought both signs in a hardware store when he was visiting Germany, and brought them back as a souvenir to remind everyone of his insurance agency's strong German heritage. Born in Germany, Karl Riehn is happy to let his customers know that he will conduct business with them in German, if they prefer. "I still have customers who enjoy speaking German when they come in to see me, though not as much any more," says Karl. |
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Karl Riehn comes from a family that has been in the insurance business since the 1940s. The name of his agency, H.G. Riehn Agency, Inc., pays homage to Karl's father, Heinz Riehn, who founded the Lincoln Square business in the 1950s after working in the life and health insurance business in Germany. Karl was born in Mettingen, a small town in Westphalia, in northwestern Germany. When Karl was a year old, his family followed the waves of German immigrants who left for the US and settled just south of Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. Shortly after his family arrived, Heinz Riehn began serving the German community of Chicago with life and health insurance, working part time at first, then full time in 1956. He opened an office at 4710 N. Lincoln, in the space above what is now International Fashions by Ingrid. "German immigrants had to struggle for acceptance. In those years it was difficult starting out in business, especially when you didn't know the language, but you find a way to struggle through," says Karl of his dad's first venture in the US. But Heinz quickly transformed his background into an asset, as he was able to provide insurance to the many other German immigrants in the area who shared his language. |
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| Growing up in the Lincoln Square/North Center area, Karl spent his summers and afternoons in his dad's office. "Whenever my dad needed me," recalls Karl, "I helped out in his office. And I eventually grew to really like it." After he graduated from college, Karl then went to work for several other insurance agencies to learn different aspects of the business. He worked as an underwriter for Hanover Insurance for three years to build experience in the property and casualty areas. The plan was for Karl to complement his father's extensive experience in life and health insurance. In the early 1970s, Karl finally joined his father's business. Sadly, Heinz Riehn passed away shortly afterward. To honor his father's years of dedication, Karl took charge but kept his father's original name for the business when he incorporated it in 1979. |
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Since the 1970s, Karl's customer base has expanded significantly. In 1981, Karl bought a building at 4541 N. Lincoln and moved the business to its current location. Like his father, Karl offers life and health insurance, although he specializes in property and casualty. As an independent insurance agent, he works with a number of insurance companies and is able to offer a variety of products. Because of the range of products available, Karl and his staff of customer service agents can tailor each policy to a customer's needs. "We represent excellent, financially sound companies," Karl says.
Although he has always focused on serving the Lincoln Square neighborhood, Karl does business with customers all over the greater Chicago area, from the northwest suburbs to the city—including accounts in Wisconsin, where he and his family have a vacation home. His typical customers range from property owners and landlords, to small businesses and light manufacturers, as well as individuals and families for all their personal insurance needs. |
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| Karl has been an active member of the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce since the early 1970s. "I think it's important that every business owner get involved with the community. Lincoln Square is a good place to live and a good place to work," says Karl. "It's good for the rest of the community to be involved, too. We all do business with one another." His involvement with the chamber fits in with Karl's business philosophy, which he considers "honesty, integrity and treating people fairly." His approach to business and emphasis on service is one of the reasons why H.G. Riehn Agency, Inc. has many long-standing relationships with its customers. "Excellent service is what really distinguishes us from other insurance agencies," says Karl. |
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| At this point, it looks like the insurance legacy will carry on through the Riehn family. Karl has four daughters, one of whom is named Kristine and currently works as an adjuster for Farmer's Insurance Companies in Denver. At this point, Kristine is following Karl's lead and is working for another company to learn the business. She may eventually join her dad at H.G. Riehn Insurance, Inc. "Right now she's getting her feet wet and the experience that she will need in the future," Karl says. |
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Although H.G. Riehn Agency, Inc. specializes in property and casualty insurance, it offers a full range of services, including automobile, homeowners and renters, watercraft, life, health, disability and packages for business owners. As an independent agency, H.G. Riehn Agency, Inc. allows access to products from multiple insurance companies, so its customers can benefit from competitive pricing and a broad choice of options to fit their personal needs. Karl works with many high quality companies, such as SAFECO, West Bend Mutual, General Casual, Hanover/Citizens, Andover Insurance Company, Progressive, Mercury and BlueCross BlueShield. If you need help evaluating your insurance needs, Karl has a staff of expert customer service agents who can put together insurance solutions that are right for you. Visit his office Monday through Friday between 9:00am and 5:00pm, or call 773.561.4200 for an appointment. You can also find out more information by visiting the company's website at www.hgriehn.com or by sending an email to karl@hgriehn.com. |
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Riehn Insurance
4541 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
773.561.4200
www.riehninsurance.com |
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