Gerard Fischer Announces Retirement, Introduces New American Family Agents
Gerard Fischer retires after 30+ years; new agents lead Godfrey, Maryville offices.
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GODFREY/MARYVILLE - Gerard Fischer has announced his retirement from American Family Insurance, and two local agents will take his place at his Godfrey and Maryville offices.
Fischer has served the Riverbend region for over 30 years as an insurance agent. His final day is Feb. 20, 2026. Jessica Eardley will take over his office in Godfrey and Dan McAteer will take over the Maryville office.
“I think the cat’s out of the bag,” Fischer laughed. “American Family was able to go out and search for some people and found some really overqualified individuals who can step in.”
Eardley and McAteer expressed their appreciation for Fischer’s guidance since they began working with him last month. They noted that they hope to keep existing clients while also expanding their clientele. They are also looking to hire a few new faces to help in their offices.
“We’ve been learning a lot from Gerard,” McAteer said. “He’s been great at the communication aspect. It’s continuing what he has done traditionally from a customer service standpoint and also just making sure people are protected properly.”
McAteer grew up in Missouri but has lived in Maryville for the past few years. He has six years of experience in the insurance industry.
Eardley, an Alton/Godfrey native, currently lives in Bethalto. She is eager to engage with her hometown in this new position. She noted the importance of understanding the community and her clients.
“Really, most importantly, it’s just great to get to know you,” she explained. “What’s important to you? What will help you sleep at night to make sure everything is covered? God forbid the worst happens, we want to make sure that you’re covered, whether it’s through your home, your auto, your business, even your life. Everyone needs some sort of coverage. What will let you sleep at night if something should happen?”
McAteer echoed Eardley, adding that American Family Insurance is a strong company that can do a lot for its clients. He wants to help community members find the best coverage for them, and he looks forward to getting to know his neighbors in a new light.
“With American Family, I think it’s really understanding the brand that you represent. I’m super proud to be able to represent American Family from an insurance aspect,” he said. “It’s a great company. We have a lot of options for people. I’m super excited to be able to provide those for people.”
Eardley added that American Family allows the agents to contact them with any questions or concerns, so they can always get the answers they need to support their clients. This is especially valuable as Eardley and McAteer settle into their new roles. The two can’t wait to begin this next chapter of their careers.
“There’s someone I can always reach out to, not just in the office but on the corporate side of things,” Eardley said. “No matter what, I’ve got a lot of support, and that makes me feel great. That makes me feel like I can be successful.”
Fischer admitted that he might pop in the offices from time to time, but he is mostly looking forward to spending time with his grandchildren, golfing, and investing more energy into his role as a Village of Godfrey trustee. He shared that he will always treasure the “great times and great memories” from his time as an insurance agent with American Family.
“It’s been great,” he said. “I’m blessed to be able to develop relationships with people in the community and everything. That’s the funnest part of the job.”
For more information about American Family Insurance, contact Eardley at the Godfrey office at 618-792-1633 or contact McAteer at the Maryville office at 618-659-2483.
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