WHO WE ARE
Jason McKinley
Jason McKinley, a licensed insurance and risk management professional, is the founder of Smart Risk Insurance Group. He specializes in multi-layered coverage solutions for small to middle market companies and affluent families. Typically partnering with clients who require an agency having a high degree of contract and coverage knowledge, along with the resources to utilize multiple regional, national and international carriers while assembling insurance packages tailored to each clients specific needs. Additionally, all clients enjoy risk management advice, risk audits, claim advocacy and total confidentiality.
Jason is a graduate of Coulterville HS, US Army BCT, Great Lakes Area I.B.B. Apprenticeship and the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studied Labor Management. Prior to founding Smart Risk Insurance, Jason held various leadership positions throughout a 20 year career in the Industrial Construction sector before accepting a position for a national property & casualty carrier in 2017.
In 2018 Jason received an industry award recognizing top performing agents based on client satisfaction and sales metrics. He has since earned the Transportation Risk and Insurance Professional designation and is currently continuing his education by pursuing additional designations.
In his personal time he is the proud father of two children, with the oldest married and serving our country and the youngest pursuing undergraduate studies abroad. When time allows he enjoys St. Louis Cardinal baseball, golf, fishing and hunting. Jason also supports several social initiatives with donations of time and financial assistance for select charitable organizations.
Patrick James
As a 20+ year resident of Southern Illinois, Patrick is honored to serve as your local Smart Risk Insurance Agent in Edwardsville, IL. You can find him at the Smart Risk Edwardsville
office, conveniently located on South State Route 157 in the Lexow Professional Building.
We are a proud, veteran-owned agency, and our priority is serving the people of our
community. Patrick brings to his business the discipline, focus, and commitment he learned serving in the US Army from Nov. 1983 to Sep. 1992. With a strong attention to detail, we will make sure that you have the right coverage.
After serving and living abroad, he began a successful career in telecommunications. This work taught him the importance of listening and really understanding when people communicate. In 1999, after marrying his wife, they relocated to the Edwardsville area where they have lived and raised our family ever since.
In 2015 Patrick became concerned with the trends he was seeing in the telecommunications industry. It was then he decided to make a change to better his family. Later that year he tendered his resignation and went to work for Farmers Insurance. While with Farmers he was able to broaden his insurance knowledge and develop his customer service skills. One of the many “truth-nuggets” he obtained while owning a Farmers agency, was how limited his ability to serve clients was due to being a captive agent. Since he was captive, he could only offer one company’s products and rating. To truly put clients first, he needed a wide selection of products and carriers. He needed the ability to work for his client instead of an insurance carrier. This is what led him to the independent side and ultimately, to Smart Risk Insurance Group.
He loves meeting the wonderful folks from his area, and he loves helping to protect his neighbors and their families. When you're a customer at our agency, you are family. We work hard to educate our clients on their coverage options and will help create a customized insurance package that works for you.