Long-time insurance agent in Albion retiring – sort of

Photo by Tom Rivers: Bernie Baldwin is pictured today in his Albion office at 121 North Main St. He has worked out of the building for 13 years selling MetLife insurance. He started his career with MetLife at an office in Rochester.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 January 2018 at 5:49 pm

Bernie Baldwin has been selling MetLife for 25 years

ALBION – A local insurance agent for MetLife is closing his office in Albion next week and retiring – sort of.

Bernie Baldwin has 30 years in the insurance business, including 25 years with MetLife. He started with MetLife 25 years ago out of an office on Latta Road in Rochester. The Albion resident convinced the company to open an office in Albion in 2005. Baldwin has been running that one-man office since then out of 121 North Main St.

He is retiring as an agent and closing the office next week. However, Baldwin will continue as a customer service representative for MetLife, working out of his Albion home.

Baldwin wanted to stay on and help many of his clients while the they transition to a new agent.

“The clients have been great – that’s what I’ll miss the most,” Baldwin said today.

But he said the job is demanding – “everybody needs something.”

At his Albion office, he has done it all without any coworkers. He thinks the clients liked talking directly to him, whenever they reached out to the office.

Baldwin started his career selling auto and home insurance, but expanded into life insurance, and coverage for boats and small businesses.

He used to go door to door, meeting clients in their homes and filling out applications by hand on paper. Now, much of the work is online. Some clients he’s never actually met in person. But most he knows quite well and considers friends.

Baldwin said 121 North Main has been a great spot for the business. The building is owned by the Village of Albion. He shares space with the Orleans Economic Development Agency, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern and Crossroads Abstract.

Return to top