History of The Hunken Agency

In 1926, after graduating from Colgate University and Cornell Law School, Henry C. Hunken Sr. began his career as an insurance agent in Brooklyn, New York. In 1929, Henry went to work as an agent and brokerage supervisor for Connecticut Mutual Life’s New York agency. In 1936 he took over Connecticut Mutual’s (CML) Springfield, Massachusetts agent as General Agent. While located in Springfield, Henry served as President of the General Agents and Managers Association (GAMA) of Springfield and Vice President of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, NAIFA of Springfield. During his career, Henry brought Charles Zimmerman into the insurance business with CML. Charlie would later become President of the National Association of Life Underwriters (now NAIFA) and President and CEO of Connecticut Mutual. Charlie, who was one of the industry’s early legends, asked Henry to move to Chicago to take over the reigns of Charlie’s Chicago Agency, when Charlie moved into CML’s home office.

In 1940 The Hunken Agency was born in Chicago. The agency, which was located at One North LaSalle Street in Chicago’s loop, was a mix of career agents and brokers. When Henry Sr. retired in 1966, his two sons Henry Jr. and Alan, who were both CML agents, took over as Co-General Agents. Both Henry Jr. and Alan started in the insurance business right out of college. Henry, after graduating from the University of Illinois, and Alan after graduating from UCLA and the University of Colorado Law. The agency was always extremely successful; winning numerous company awards including five of CML’s agency of the year awards called “The President’s Organization Trophy”. Alan Hunken served as President of NAIFA-Chicago, President of GAMA-Chicago and would later win NAIFA-Chicago’s Distinguished Service Award.

In 1989, Henry Hunken Jr. left CML to become a General Agent with Guardian Life Insurance Company, located in Northbrook, Illinois. Henry’s agency jumped out of the blocks quickly and was awarded Guardian’s “New Agency of the Year” award in 1990. In 1993, The Hunken Agency was awarded Guardian’s two most prestigious awards, “Agency of the Year” and the “National Life Insurance” award, for leading the company in life premium. In 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2002 The Hunken Agency was awarded Guardian’s “Quality Award” for leading premium persistency.

In 1998 Henry Hunken Jr. retired after 40 extremely successful years as an agent and General Agent. Henry Jr.’s two sons, Scott and Henry Hunken III (Chris), were named General Agents. Chris had started with Connecticut Mutual in 1985, after graduating from Arizona State University, and came over to Guardian in 1991. Scott had started with Guardian in 1990, after graduating from Colorado State University in 1988. Both Chris and Scott have qualified for Guardian’s Leaders Club numerous times, and have qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table, including the prestigious Court of the Table and Top of The Table. Chris Hunken serves on Guardian’s Product Committee, and has served as a director for NAIFA Chicago. He is a member of NAIFA Chicago, GAMA and the Advanced Association of Life Underwriters (AALU). Scott Hunken is a member of NAIFA Chicago, GAMA and has served on the Board of Directors for NAIFA Chicago as President and also National Committeeman. Scott has authored articles for many different insurance trade periodicals.

The Hunken Agency has won many other company and industry awards. Some of those include: The 1998 Professional Growth award from The American College; an eight-time winner of GAMA’s top award for production, including GAMA’s new Diamond Award in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009; two-time award winner of GAMA’s Gold Award; the Guardian National Group Pension Award in 2000 and 2002 for leading the company in this category. The Hunken Agency led Guardian in brokerage premium in 2000, 2002 and 2009; and finished second in brokerage premium in 2003, 2004 and 2008. In 2004 the agency headquarters was moved to Glenview, Illinois, where it is located today.

For over seventy years and three generations, The Hunken Agency has been, and will continue to be, an industry leader in Chicago.