Berker Hazar’s Bold Vision: 1,000 Employees and Billion-Dollar Policies

Hazar’s journey to America began in 2004 when he arrived on an F-1 visa, encouraged by a friend to study English for three months. He worked in various jobs, and a restaurant in Washington, DC sponsored his green card.
In 2008, while working as a loan officer at a mortgage company, Hazar helped secure a $1 million loan for a business. Impressed by his determination, a Nationwide Insurance executive offered him a job at his own agency. Initially uninterested due to his success in mortgage financing, Hazar reconsidered after the 2008 financial crisis shook the mortgage market. “I couldn’t give up my freedom. I had never worked on commission before,” he recalls. The executive then suggested, “Open your own insurance agency and work independently.” And so, Hazar founded his own agency.

Hazar Insurance quickly gained recognition in the Maryland area, eventually obtaining licenses to offer insurance nationwide. “Our company is growing. Our goal is to have thousands of employees and generate billions in premiums. We’re on that path, but it takes time,” Hazar explains.

NATIONWIDE CUSTOMERS
Hazar Insurance can issue policies for a wide range of clients, from a restaurant in New York to a warehouse selling on Amazon in Texas, or even a car owner in Florida. Hazar claims they can provide competitive pricing or comparable quotes for any type of policy need.

“Since 2004, we’ve been growing at an above-average rate. I work an average of 16 hours a day, and my team works just as hard, whether it’s a weekday, weekend, early morning, or late at night,” Hazar says.
To better serve its New York clients and expand its customer base, Hazar Insurance is planning to open an office in the city. “We have clients in New York. Establishing a permanent office will strengthen our presence here,” Hazar notes.

While insurance policies share similarities across states, pricing can vary. Commercial clients make up 80% of the policies issued by Hazar Insurance.
As the chair of the Maryland Insurance Association, which includes 500,000 agents nationwide, Hazar is also a member of the six-person board at Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Following the Maryland headquarters, Hazar is working on opening an office in Miami, which he views as a challenging market. After Miami, he plans to expand to Texas, Chicago, and California. “In ten years, I want to be a billion-dollar policy issuer with over 1,000 employees. It’s a big goal in the service industry and will take time, but we’re on the path to achieving it,” Hazar says. A fan of table tennis, chess, and soccer, Hazar is also a father of two children, aged 7 and 9.

Hazar Insurance is authorized to issue policies from over 20 companies, including Progressive, Travelers, AIC, AmTrust, The Hartford, Chesapeake, Ascent, AllState, and Liberty Mutual, providing nationwide coverage.