Jim Carl (left) and David Boatright of Ironclad Insurance in Corpus Christi. The company name is derived from Proverbs 27:17 in the Bible: ‘As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the face of his friend.’ Photo by Jane Kathleen Gregorio
After hearing from his financial clients about their insurance woes, Certified Public Accountant David Boatright ran his own insurance quote and found he was vastly overpaying for coverage.
“I observed many instances where my clients weren’t really being told what was included in their insurance policies,” said Boatright, owner of Boatright Consulting Inc. “After talking to my clients, I liked the idea of having an insurance company and felt it complimented my business well.”
With the help of agency partner James “Jim” Carl, Boatright started Ironclad Insurance as a way to provide affordable options along with his professional tax and accounting services. The name comes from the Bible.
“We’re a Christian-based company, and the name was derived from a Bible verse in Proverbs 27:17,” Carl said. “‘As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the face of his friend,’ meaning man helps man as in we help one another.”
Carl designed the company logo, which consists of an iron shield, two swords, and the words “Ironclad Insurance” forming a cross in front of the shield. The strong image depicts what the company represents: fighting for the little guy and helping consumers make the right decisions.
Boatright started the insurance part of his business in 2016, at first with a national franchise. In January 2017, Ironclad Insurance became an independent insurance broker.
“Now, we have a wide number of companies we can write with so this gives us the ability to shop and compare rates to offer the best deal to clients,” Boatright said. “People have to make educated decisions when choosing insurance. I want to educate and help my own customers with the best rate insurance for their coverage needs.”
Boatright and Carl make sure customers get what they are paying for and know what the premiums actually cover.
“We ask them how much risk do they want to take and how much risk they want the insurance company to take,” Boatright said. “The more risk you take, the lower premiums. The less risk, the higher premiums.”
The goal is to find just the right policy for the right price without jeopardizing coverage.
Ironclad Insurance offers a variety of insurance products, including home, auto, commercial, renters, motorcycle, boat, RV, flood, windstorm, umbrella, and other specialty insurances.
“Every year, when it’s time to renew your insurance, you should always look at other policies because things change,” Carl said. “Don’t be afraid to shop around and discover if there are ways to save money, whether it’s home insurance or auto insurance.”
Carl is always on the hunt for a better rate-coverage ratio for his personal insurance needs as well as his customers.
“If you buy with us, because we are more of a broker, when it’s your turn to come up for renewal, we shop different insurances companies we have for you to get you the best deal for your needs,” Carl explained.
Since launching two years ago, the business has grown steadily. Many are Boatrights’ financial clients. Many other customers are word-of-mouth referrals.
“It means a lot to us because it means we’re doing something right,” Carl said. “Our slogan is ‘because insurance is complicated enough,’ so our goal is to make things simple for our customers.”
Boatright is one of seven candidates vying for three at-large City Council seats in the Nov. 6 election. Fighting injustice is one of the reasons he decided to run and part of the push behind going into the insurance industry.
“I always stand up for the small guy,” he said. “I hate it when people are taken advantage of.”
Ironclad Insurance is located at 5262 S. Staples in Corpus Christi. For more information, call (361) 994-4881 or visit ironclad-ins.com.
