Chris Webb likes to say Webb Financial Group builds moats. Insurance policies are about protecting assets, and his insurance company operates with that principle in mind. The company’s logo includes an image of a knight in shining armor.

“We’re your partners in protection,” Webb says. “Whether it’s your income, your home, or your car, we protect it.”

Based in Lake Forest, Webb Financial Group is a full-service insurance broker, a one-stop shop for all of the insurance needs of individuals, families, and businesses. While consumers have many options for purchasing insurance policies, especially online, Webb is interested in building relationships with his individual and business clients.

“We enjoy working with people who value relationships. Some people want to buy insurance online. They want to be anonymous,” says Webb. “We like working with people who want someone to call and text on the weekend when their kid takes a wrong turn and floods the car after a rainstorm. Clients want someone who’s going to be responsive and get back in touch with them so they can be heard.”

Another advantage to working directly with an insurance broker such as Webb Financial Group is being able to understand your policy options and to get sound advice on which policies are for you.

“Insurance is a black hole for a lot of people. They just really don’t take the time to understand what they have versus what they should have,” Webb says. “They certainly don’t read the fine print in most of the policies so they don’t know. We are an independent company and don’t represent one insurance agency like what are called ‘captive agents.’”

Working with many different insurance companies that offer a wide array of benefits gives Webb the ability to offer a broad variety array of insurance options to clients. Among his hundreds of clients are small to medium-sized businesses that have unique needs.

“We work on behalf of the policy holder, not the insurance company, and can go to the best company that fits the client based on what they’re trying to accomplish,” he says. “Whether it’s to save money or get the best coverage money can buy or somewhere in between.”

Webb cites the flooding on the North Shore as an example of specialized coverage that clients can obtain.

“A lot of people in our area on the North Shore have very nice basements where they’ve spent upwards of $100,000 but you can get water down there,” he says. “In the last year we’ve seen nearly $1 million in water-related claims, so it’s a significant factor.”

Webb’s advice, especially for homeowners, is to purchase policies with the highest level of deductible they can afford and to file claims only for significant damages.

“When you file two or three small claims it’s just a matter of time before you have a big one and eventually the insurance company will cancel your policy,” Webb says.

What is most important, Webb says, is that clients understand what their needs are and find solutions that match those needs.

“You just have to be smart about it and that’s why we help our clients make educated choices,” he says. “They take our advice and understand what the risks are.”

Webb Financial Group is located at 250 E. Illinois Road in Lake Forest, 847-604-5434, webbfg.com.