American Family Insurance (aka AmFam) is a private mutual company that focuses on property, casualty and auto insurance, but also offers commercial insurance, life, health, and homeowners coverage, as well as investment and retirement-planning products. A Fortune 500 company, its revenues for 2008 were over $6.7 billion. It should not be confused with American Family Home Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Munich Re subsidiary American Modern Insurance Group, Inc., or American Family Life Insurance Company of Columbus.
American Family Insurance's history began on October 3, 1927,
when insurance salesman Herman Wittwer opened the doors of Farmers Mutual Insurance Company in Madison, Wisconsin (not to be confused with the Farmers Insurance Group). At the time, the company's only product was auto insurance and its target market was farmers. Wittwer believed farmers presented lower risks than city drivers because they drove less often and not at all in the winter.
Over the years, Farmers Mutual expanded its market and product line to meet the changing needs of its customers. In 1963, Farmers Mutual changed its name to American Family Mutual Insurance Company to reflect its broader customer base.
Subsidiaries
Companies of the American Family Insurance Group include:
American Family Mutual Insurance Company
American Standard Insurance Company
American Family Life Insurance Company
American Family Brokerage, Inc.
American Family Insurance Company of Ohio
American Standard Insurance Company of Ohio
American Family Securities, LLC
Amfam.com Inc.
PGC Holdings Corporation (General Insurance Companies
Significant Milestones
Below is a list of milestones in the corporate history of American Family Mutual Insurance.
