Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Wells.
Hi Justin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started Preferred Insurance after seeing how often customers were left in the dark—policies were sold, but rarely explained. Too many people didn’t know what their insurance truly covered, or what it wouldn’t. I wanted to change that. With my background as a veteran and entrepreneur, I built the agency from the ground up nearly six years ago.
What began as a small operation quickly grew into one of the top-rated agencies in Central Florida, earning recognition like the 2024 and 2025 Best of Florida Insurance Agency awards, the 2025 Best of Florida Regional Insurance Agency award, and an A+ BBB rating. Our success has come from keeping things simple: explain coverage clearly, put people first, and stay consistent. Today, we’re proud to serve families across Ocala, Belleview, The Villages, and beyond, with a new chapter ahead as we expand into our Belleview Square office.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We opened our doors in January 2020, just before COVID, after I left my previous job as an agent excited to finally go out on my own. I had no idea that within a few short months the world would shut down. We started strong out of the gate, but by late March into April things nearly came to a stop. My referral partners—realtors and mortgage brokers—were telling me they couldn’t hold open houses or show homes because of lockdowns. That was one of my main sources of leads for homeowners insurance.
So I decided to pivot. I shifted my focus to life insurance and final expense policies, using the power of social media. At a time when so many people were panicking about COVID and worried about leaving their families with expenses, they were shopping for life insurance. That pivot kept enough revenue coming in to survive. By June, our referral partners started coming back, and we were able to get back on track. It was a rough start, but we didn’t let it slow us down.
We’ve been impressed with Preferred Insurance , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets us apart is consistency: we put people first, treat our clients like family, and stay deeply connected to our community. We’ve been recognized with awards like the 2024 and 2025 Best of Florida Insurance Agency and the 2025 Best of Florida Regional Insurance Agency, as well as maintaining an A+ BBB rating and hundreds of five-star reviews.
What I’m most proud of is that our brand is built on relationships, not just policies. When people think of Preferred Insurance, I want them to think of a neighbor they can count on—whether it’s protecting their home, their car, or their family’s future. Our customers know that our mission is simple: we don’t just write policies, we protect what matters most.
What’s next?
We’re entering an exciting new chapter. In early 2026, Preferred Insurance will be moving into our new Belleview Square office, which gives us the space to grow our team and better serve families across Ocala, Belleview, and The Villages. The new location will also allow us to host training events and community gatherings, something I’m especially proud of because giving back to our community is part of our DNA.
Looking forward, our focus is on continuing to simplify insurance for our clients—making sure every policy is explained clearly and every customer feels protected and supported. We’re also investing in new technology to make quoting, communication, and service even faster and easier. The goal is simple: keep building trust, keep growing, and keep making insurance feel personal again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.PreferredInsurance.llc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreferredInsuranceAgency
