Roberson & Associates

The Roberson family’s legacy in Saline County can be traced back at least six generations and continues to this day through Roberson & Associates, an insurance firm owned and operated by the determined women in this storied family. 

Peggy (whose family has lived and owned property in Bryant, Sardis, and Benton) and her late husband Del Roberson (who was born and raised in the Sharon community) lived, worked, and raised daughters Laura Stilwell and Nancy Jackson in Benton. 

In 1967, Del left Travelers Insurance in St. Louis to come home and open an independent insurance agency. The present business, Roberson & Associates Insurance, was established in 1987. Del Roberson was also a founding member of the Saline County Economic Development Commission and served as Saline County Judge.  

When Mr. Roberson passed away in 2022, Peggy became the owner of Roberson & Associates, with daughter Nancy serving by her side as CEO of the company. “I have been a partner in the ownership since the agency’s inception. I find that being a woman-owned business has advantages because laws have been passed that prohibit prejudices against women in business, especially in property ownership and financial decisions,” explains Peggy. 

Nancy’s daughter Kaci Vance serves the agency as an Agent and Vice President. “So, we have three very strong-willed women at the helm,” adds Nancy. Since graduating from the University of Texas—Dallas in 1984, Nancy’s 42-year career in the insurance business has afforded her many opportunities in a predominantly male industry. 

“I have served on the Board of Directors for the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas (IIAAR) and then on the Executive Committee as President in 2022. In the history of IIAAR, I was only the second woman ever to be named President of the Association.”

In this role, Nancy attended leadership conferences and traveled to Washington, D.C. with the delegation from IIAAR. “Being in Washington and meeting with our legislative representatives was an honor and very educational. The representation of IIAAR plays a pivotal role in lobbying for or against legislation affecting our industry, which trickles down to our customers. Throughout my career in this industry, I have developed long-term relationships with customers and gained respect from our insurance company partners that I never thought  possible.” 

The agency was honored in 2018 when its President, Nancy Jackson, received The Charlotte Patterson Award from the Big I. This award is bestowed upon a woman in the insurance industry for her outstanding service to the community, to women in the insurance profession, and to the insurance industry collectively. 

Nancy has also followed in the footsteps of her great-grandfather C.W. Lewis, as a past member of the Board of Directors of the Benton Chamber of Commerce. 

One aspect of Roberson & Associates that differentiates it from others in the industry is that they continue to be a local, family-owned insurance agency. According to Nancy, the industry is fraught with buyouts by larger corporations that can take the personal touch out of the equation. “I love the ‘small-town’ feel our agency has even though it serves a huge market base. Our employees resonate with our customers in that they, too, want what is best for the individual client. We want every customer to know they’re seen, valued, and protected. Insurance is not ‘one size fits all,’” explains Nancy. 

Also, an Independent Insurance Agency can far more effectively serve the customer, in that agents have access to many insurance companies and brokers. “We have more than one product to offer to our customers. This is very important; especially navigating a “hard” insurance market. Prices are up, deductibles are up, and specific underwriting guidelines are fluid. It is our goal to find a product and price for each of our customers.”

The guiding principles Del and Peggy established remain the foundation of the business: to protect people, businesses, and their futures with professionalism, integrity, and genuine care. “I learned from the best—my dad—to always be fair, stand for what is right, and make sure that the customer’s best interest always comes first,” says Nancy. “It is our agency’s goal to carefully listen to our customers and execute a game plan specific to their needs.” 

The agency supports Boys & Girls Club of Saline County; Christmas on the Square, Ponder the Kids Kauses, Royal Players, Benton Athletic Museum, CJOHN, Habitat for Humanity, and other local non-profit organizations. 

Peggy was a member of the Benton School Board and acted as President in 1980, served on the Benton Historical Committee as well as ad hoc committees, and is a lifetime member of Benton First United Methodist Church, where she still teaches Sunday School. 

Whether needs call for Personal, Business, Life, Church, Recreational, Non-Profit, or Special Event coverage, with each and every policy written and every claim resolved Roberson & Associates holds to its founding promise: to protect people, businesses, and their futures with professionalism, integrity, and genuine care—the kind of steady partnership small businesses and individual customers need in an increasingly complex insurance landscape. 

For more information about Roberson & Associates, visit robersoninsurance.com. νCarolyn Bucker