About Us
Same little town since 1921, same values. Here's who we are and why we do things the way we do.
How We Think About Insurance
Look — insurance can feel like a chore. We get it. But it doesn't have to be confusing, impersonal, or something you dread dealing with. At Mc-Wright Insurance Group, we show up for our clients like we'd show up for family. We answer the phone, we explain things in plain English, and we make sure your coverage actually makes sense for your life — not just on paper. We're also big believers in the independent agent channel, and we pour into it. If we can help another agency do better work, everybody wins — especially the people we all serve.
The Short Version
Mc-Wright Insurance Group has been around since 1921 — same little office on Third Street in Belmont, Mississippi. Over the years, the agency has changed hands four times. Tamara and Brandon Pharr are the fourth owners, having purchased it from First American National Bank (now Guaranty Bank and Trust). It's not a family lineage — it's a legacy that's been passed forward, and Tamara and Brandon take that seriously. We also acquired the book of business of the late Donita Trotter's Insurance Services — and we're proud to continue her legacy as a female agency owner in this community. A lot has changed since 1921, but the way we treat people hasn't. We still believe insurance is about people, not paperwork. Whether it's walking someone through a claim after a storm, helping a new business owner figure out what coverage they actually need, or just being the person who picks up the phone when things go sideways — that's what we're here for. We also have a payment location in Iuka, MS for clients in that area, and a 13-year-old Malti-Pom named Calvin who's been the unofficial welcome committee for years. He'll size you up at the door — and odds are, you'll pass with flying colors.
Why People Work with Us (and Stay)
Here's what it comes down to: we take the time. We're not trying to be the fastest quote in your inbox. We want to be the one that's actually right. We'll walk you through what you're buying, why it matters, and what to watch out for — no jargon, no runaround. When you call us, a real person picks up. And that person probably already knows your name. We work with 20+ carriers so we can shop your coverage across multiple companies, and we stick around for the long haul — renewals, claims, life changes, all of it.
We're Not Tied to One Company
We're independent, which means we shop 20+ carriers on your behalf. You get options — not just whatever one company happens to offer.
We Speak Human, Not Insurance
No jargon, no fine-print games. We walk through your coverage, your options, and what to watch out for — in language that actually makes sense.
We Know Your Name
When you call, you get a person — not a menu. And that person probably knows your policy, your history, and what you asked about last time.
We Don't Ghost After the Sale
Renewals, changes, claims, random questions at 3pm on a Tuesday — we're here for all of it. Year after year.
Industry & Community
Awards, Recognition & Involvement
We believe in showing up — not just for our clients, but for the industry and the communities that shaped us.
Tamara Pharr
- Mississippi Big I Board Member (3rd year)
- Safeco Regional Advisory Council
- State Auto Pacesetter 2017–2018 & Super Producer Speaker
- Mud & Magnolias Most Influential — Finalist (2021)
- President, Belmont Promotional Association (Volunteer of the Year, 2018)
- Communications Director — Koinonia Emmaus & Fellowship Christian Retreat
- PLCS Designation · CIC (in progress)
- Co-Founder, EffiZoom (Insurtech)
Brandon Pharr
- Mayor of Belmont, Mississippi
- Ole Miss Alumni Top 40 Under 40 (2023)
- Tishomingo County Development Foundation Board
- Founder & President, Belmont Athletic Foundation (School Booster Club)
- Multiple PepsiCo North America Performance Awards
Real Situations, Real Results
We can't share names, but we can share the kind of work we do every day. Here are a few examples of how we've helped clients in our area.
Storm Damage Claim — Turned Around in Days, Not Weeks
The situation: A homeowner in North Mississippi had significant roof and siding damage after a severe spring storm. Their previous agent at a captive agency had been hard to reach during past claims. They switched to us before storm season and were glad they did.
What happened: We filed the claim the same day they called, coordinated directly with the adjuster, and helped them understand every step of the process. The claim was settled and repairs were underway within two weeks. No runaround, no confusion.
New Contractor Needed Coverage Before the Job Started
The situation: A local contractor landed a commercial job that required a certificate of insurance before work could begin — and the deadline was three days out. They had no existing commercial policy and weren't sure where to start.
What happened: We put together a general liability and commercial auto package, got it bound within 48 hours, and issued the certificate the same day. The contractor started the job on time and has stayed with us since.
Family Saved Over $1,200 by Shopping Carriers
The situation: A family in our area had been with the same carrier for years and assumed loyalty would keep their rates reasonable. After back-to-back renewals with significant increases — and no claims — they came to us for a second opinion.
What happened: We shopped their home and auto across multiple carriers and found comparable coverage that saved them over $1,200 a year. Same coverage limits, better price, and now they have an agent who actually pays attention when things change.
Restaurant Owner Discovered a Major Coverage Gap
The situation: A restaurant owner in Northwest Alabama came to us for a quote on their business insurance. During our review, we found their existing policy had no liquor liability coverage — even though they served alcohol. One incident could have shut them down.
What happened: We restructured their commercial package to include liquor liability, updated their property limits to reflect current rebuild costs, and added employment practices liability. They're now properly covered for what they actually do — not just what a generic policy assumed.
Renter Recovered $8,000 After a Water Leak
The situation: A young professional renting an apartment in Tupelo didn't think renters insurance was worth it — until a pipe burst in the unit above theirs and destroyed a laptop, furniture, and most of their wardrobe. They had signed up for a renters policy with us just two months earlier on a friend's recommendation.
What happened: The claim covered nearly $8,000 in personal property replacement, plus temporary housing while the apartment was repaired. Total annual premium? Less than $200. It paid for itself forty times over.
Communities We Serve
From our office in Belmont, Mississippi, we serve clients across three states:
- North Mississippi: Tupelo, Fulton, Corinth, Iuka, Amory, Pontotoc
- Northwest Alabama: Florence, Muscle Shoals
- Southern Middle Tennessee: Pickwick, Jackson, Columbia, Spring Hill
Born From Within: The EffiZoom Story
Modern Automation for Independent Agencies
In late 2024, Tamara Pharr had a problem. She'd just moved Mc-Wright Insurance Group onto a new CRM platform and immediately hit a wall. Building automations took hours per stage. Consultant packages cost thousands and produced messaging that sounded like every other agency. The DIY approach was robotic. Her standard was simple: if it doesn't sound like us, it doesn't go out.
She asked Matthew Henry — a friend with a background in operations and process engineering — to take a look. What started as "help me fix this one thing" turned into something neither of them expected. Matthew built a system that could capture how Mc-Wright actually communicates — the tone, the warmth, the way the team talks to clients who've been with them for decades — and generate automation sequences that preserved all of it.
Justin Timbs, an agent and operations lead at Mc-Wright, became the proving ground. Every feature got tested against real client workflows, real service tickets, real pipeline pressure. Six months later, they took what worked for one Mississippi agency and opened it up to agencies everywhere.
EffiZoom was born — not from a whiteboard, not from a pitch deck, but from an agency that needed better tools and a team stubborn enough to build them.
What EffiZoom Does
EffiZoom is an insurtech startup that builds AI-powered automation tools for independent insurance agencies. The platform helps agencies build automation systems that sound like them, find revenue hiding in their pipelines, and operate with consistency that used to require a much bigger team. Built by agency operators, for agency operators.
Want to See What Working with Us Looks Like?
No pressure, no weird sales pitch. Just reach out and let's talk about what you need. We'll take it from there.