About Us

In 1971, Jim Burda was a recent college graduate working as an Allstate agent, while Jim Seymour was playing for the Chicago Bears and in the market for insurance. One fateful Saturday morning, Burda visited Seymour's home for a meeting, and the two strangers forged a close friendship from that day forward. In the summer of 1974, with Seymour retired from football and Burda remaining with Allstate, the duo embarked on an independent agency of their own. BGS was originally based on the far northwest side of Chicago, before establishing a longtime location in River Grove. After more than a dozen memorable years on Grand Avenue, where many of our most loyal customers came to know us, in 1990 operations shifted to a more spacious location at the northern tip of Arlington Heights. Nearly thirty years later in the fall of 2019, the firm relocated to Hawthorn Woods, IL.

Now 45 years strong and counting, BGS Insurance Agency is a second-generation family business with a vastly experienced, close-knit team of personnel. As a traditional "Main Street" business, our customers are not just a number and we are proud to call many friends. Our job does not end at the dawn of a new relationship, by virtue of our stance at your side throughout a claim, via numerous risk management strategies, and as a Trusted Advisor you can always rely on. Afforded the privilege of representing thousands of clients since that summer of '74, we have developed a portfolio of valuable wisdom along the way. Granted the opportunity to protect the assets you’ve worked hard to earn, we are serious about offering an unmatched experience in service and acumen.

Please contact us to see firsthand what we can offer you or your business; our team will eagerly provide immediate professional assistance with a personal touch!