About Carlstan Insurance Agency
Carlstan Insurance Agency has been protecting New York businesses and families since 1948. We're a third-generation, family-owned independent agency now based in Melville, New York — and we've spent more than 75 years building the kind of agency we'd want to work with ourselves: small, responsive, and run by people who actually know their clients.
Our History
1948 — Founded in New York
Carlstan Insurance Agency was established in 1948 by our grandfather. From the beginning, the agency was built on a straightforward idea: clients should have direct access to a real agent who knows their situation, knows their coverage, and picks up the phone.
1976 — The Second Generation
In 1976, Ken Erickson took over the agency, carrying forward the same principles his father established. Under Ken's leadership, the agency grew its presence throughout the New York metro area, deepening carrier relationships and expanding coverage across both commercial and personal lines. Ken built the agency's reputation as a trusted, long-term partner for businesses and families across the region.
Queens, Then Garden City, Now Melville
For many years, Carlstan operated out of Queens — embedded in the heart of the New York City metro market. The agency later relocated to Garden City, where it served Nassau County and the surrounding area for approximately ten years. Most recently, we relocated to our current home at 145 Pinelawn Road in Melville, on the Nassau/Suffolk County border — a central position that reflects the full scope of the markets we serve today.
Today — The Third Generation
Adam and Ryan Erickson are the current principal owners of Carlstan Insurance Agency. Ken is retired, though his influence is felt in everything the agency does. Adam and Ryan have continued to grow the agency's commercial and personal lines capabilities while keeping what has always made Carlstan different: a small team, direct service, and the same agents on every call.
What Makes Us Different
We've heard it from clients more times than we can count: they came to us after a frustrating experience somewhere else. A large agency where they felt like a policy number. A carrier where every call meant starting over with a new representative. An agent who was quick to quote and slow to respond when something actually went wrong.
We're different because we're small — and that's intentional.
When you work with Carlstan, you're working with Adam or Ryan directly. They know your policies. They know your history. They know your name. That consistency doesn't happen by accident — it's the result of staying small enough that every client relationship is a real one.
We're also fast. As an independent agency without layers of approvals or internal queues, we move quickly. Most quotes come back within one business day. Coverage changes, certificates, and questions are handled the same day in most cases. When you have a claim or an urgent coverage need, you don't wait.

And we're flexible. Because we're independent and not tied to any single carrier, we can find solutions for clients and risks that larger or captive agencies turn away. We've placed coverage for businesses and properties that standard markets wouldn't write — because we have the carrier relationships and the experience to find the right fit.
Our Involvement in the Community and Industry
Carlstan Insurance Agency remains active in the professional and business community. We maintain memberships in Trusted Choice and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA / Big I), both of which reflect our commitment to ethical, client-first agency practices and ongoing professional development.
We stay involved in local business and civic organizations across Long Island and the New York City metro area. For us, community involvement isn't a line item — it's an extension of what it means to be a local, family-owned business in this market for over 75 years.
The Carlstan Insurance Agency offers
commercial insurance and
personal insurance to clients across Long Island and New York City. We provide coverage for clients seeking
Suffolk County insurance,
Nassau County insurance,
Queens insurance,
Brooklyn insurance,
Manhattan insurance,
Bronx insurance, and
Staten Island insurance. As an independent agency based in Melville, NY, we have been helping businesses and families find the right coverage since 1948. Ready to get started?
Contact us
for a free quote or call us directly at (516) 437-6565.
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Meet the Team
Adam Erickson
Principal Owner
Ryan Erickson
Principal Owner
Ken Erickson
Founder Emeritus
Memberships and Affiliations
Trusted Choice
Carlstan Insurance Agency is a Trusted Choice member agency. Trusted Choice is a national consumer brand of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America — it identifies independent agencies that have committed to a specific code of conduct centered on the client's interests, not the carrier's.
What that means for you in practice: as a Trusted Choice agency, we are obligated to offer you choices across multiple carriers, provide coverage options tailored to your specific needs, and advocate for you — not for an insurance company. When there's a conflict between what's best for you and what's convenient for a carrier, we're on your side. That's not marketing language — it's a condition of membership.
The Trusted Choice mark is also a signal that you're working with a legitimate, professionally vetted independent agency, not a captive agent who can only sell one company's products.
Professional Insurance Agents (PIA)
Carlstan Insurance Agency is a member of the Professional Insurance Agents association. PIA is a trade association representing independent property and casualty insurance agents across New York and the broader Northeast. Membership in PIA requires adherence to professional standards and provides access to ongoing education, legislative advocacy, and industry resources.
What that means for you: PIA membership reflects a commitment to staying current in a constantly evolving regulatory and market environment. New York insurance law changes frequently — particularly around workers' compensation classifications, building codes, and employment practices liability. PIA ensures that agents working under its membership are plugged into those changes as they happen, not after the fact.
It also means Carlstan has a voice in the legislative and regulatory process that shapes the New York insurance market. As a small, independent agency, that kind of industry representation matters.
Ready to Work With Us?
If you're looking for an independent insurance agency that answers the phone, knows your name, and actually works for you — we'd like to talk.
Text:
(516) 437-6565
Address:
145 Pinelawn Road, STE 210s, Melville, New York 11747, United States
Monday–Friday: 9:00am–5:00pm
Saturday: By appointment only
Sunday: Closed
Email monitored 24/7 | Voicemail checked regularly
Licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
