James McPhee, an insurance agent at the recently opened State Farm Agency office in Ridgefield, said that when most people think of State Farm, they think of just auto and home insurance, but he says that’s just the start.
“We offer products for auto, home, life, health, banking, retirement planning and commercial services, and are licensed to provide those services in both Washington and Oregon,” McPhee said.
The new State Farm office in Ridgefield is located at 7509 S. 5th St., Suite 113A, and first opened its doors March 2 of this year. McPhee has two team members, Tin Nguyen and Krystal Weisenhaus, who both live locally in the Vancouver area.
McPhee said he has worked in sales and management for industries closely related to insurance for seven years and has been with State Farm for just more than a year now.
“There is an intense training and internship process potential agents must pass through before having the opportunity to open their own agency,” he said. “In my office we focus on the big four: auto, home, family protection planning and retirement planning.”
McPhee said there are many aspects of his job that he enjoys, but if he had to pick just one he would say that helping people protect their family and planning for a comfortable retirement would be the most gratifying. He also said he strives for an “open door policy.”
“We are happy to provide information and have a real conversation to get to know our neighbors and clients,” he said. “Stop in and say hello, have some coffee, see the new office and ask what we can do to help you plan and become better protected.”
McPhee, 27, was born in Calais, ME. He lived in Maine until moving to Alaska when he was 20. He and his wife, Kimberly, were married in August 2014. McPhee said he has worked long and hard on the path to opening his office, a “testament that hard work and dedication will get you far in life.” McPhee and his wife eventually purchased a home in Ridgefield and are now proud to call it home. They have one “child” at this time named Guy, he is a 3-year-old chocolate lab.
“My wife and I look forward to raising our family here, becoming more involved in the community and providing a welcoming, locally minded agency,” McPhee said.
To contact McPhee and his team at the State Farm Ridgefield office, call (360) 727-3321. Office hours are Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. McPhee can also be reached via email at james.mcphee.D90C@statefarm.com.
