About Us

Sweet Insurance Agency was established in 1919 as “A.L. Sweet Agency” it started as a partnership between Ernest N. Sweet and his son, Allen L. Sweet, Sr., with a mission to provide families with both homes and insurance. During the Depression, the insurance business proved crucial in sustaining the family and keeping them fed. In 1948, the agency became A.L. Sweet Agency, Inc., a “C” Corporation.

In 1953 after graduating from Michigan State University and serving in Korea, Allen L. Sweet, Jr. (we’ll call him Al Sweet) joined the family business. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, the agency focused primarily on personal lines insurance and real estate. While Allen L. Sweet, Sr. continued with real estate, his son specialized in insurance. Al Sweet earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Licensed Insurance Counselor (LIC) designations, with his LIC being the first ever issued by the State of Michigan (License No. 1).

With these credentials, Al Sweet shifted towards commercial insurance. As his father retired, the real estate division was phased out, and the agency concentrated solely on insurance. In 1969, Al Sweet partnered with Wesley N. Peterson from the Lang-Heenan Agency, further strengthening their commercial insurance focus.

Fast forward through many ups and downs, and even some awards (one of which now serves as our office fantasy football trophy—sorry, Citizens), to January 2001. Kenneth N. Sanders, Allen L. Sweet, Jr.’s son-in-law, took over the agency, bringing on James T. Waun Jr. as a partner. Together, they began expanding the agency to what it is today. In 2008, the agency grew further by acquiring Powrie & Associates, with Thomas Powrie Jr. joining as a third partner. Now, with three locations across Metro-Detroit and in its fifth generation—an achievement less than 3% of family businesses reach—Sweet Insurance continues to provide personalized and comprehensive insurance options to businesses (local and international), families and individuals.