Investing in Producers: The Best Investment an Agency Can Make
When agency leaders talk about growth, the conversation often turns to acquisitions, carrier relationships, technology investments, or market opportunities. While those areas certainly matter, there is another investment that can have the best impact on an agency’s future value creation: developing a strong producer pipeline. A conversation between Mike Wagar and Melissa Hama-Wardle from Peoples Bank, Jarod Steed from IA Valuations, and Brian Lawrence from the […]
From Scratch to Success
How Frank Chan Created an Excellent Agency IA Valuations has been valuing independent insurance agencies for nearly a decade. From Palmer, Alaska to Quincy, Massachusetts, we’ve had the opportunity to evaluate the operations and financials of over 400 agencies across the country. Through this work, we have been identifying and qualifying the metrics that make […]
Why Due Diligence is More Than a Checklist: A Conversation About Protecting Agency Value
Agency growth almost always involves risk. Whether you are buying another agency, hiring a producer, merging with a peer, or transitioning ownership internally, the decisions you make today can shape your agency’s future for decades. In a recent conversation, IA Valuations’ Jeff Smith, CEO, and Jarod Steed, Business Planning & Valuations Analyst, sat down to unpack one of the […]
Valuation Views 2026 Q1: Quarterly Marketplace Report
Beyond the Headlines: Where Most Agency M&A Really Occurs A 2025 recap of transaction volume, buyer demand, and the structural forces reshaping agency ownership as we move into 2026. The independent insurance agency system continues to experience elevated M&A activity, but the story heading into 2026 is more nuanced than the headlines suggest. After more […]
When Values Drive Value
A Thoughtful Agency Transition Done Right Growing up the son of an independent insurance agent, Alan Sills of Ralph P. Sills Insurance Agency, didn’t originally plan to be part of the family business. He pursued a legal career, attending law school and practicing as an attorney for several years before his father asked him for […]
IA Valuations Announces Strategic Partnership with HawkSoft
Partnership connects performance analytics with HawkSoft’s agency management system to deliver insights that help owners confidently plan for their future. CANBY, Ore., March 19, 2026 – Today, IA Valuations and HawkSoft are announcing a collaboration to help independent agency owners take control of their future with data-driven business insights. IA Valuations, a leading provider of […]
Passing the Torch: A Conversation on the Future of Insurance Agency Perpetuation
In a candid and wide-ranging conversation in front of agents across the country, Jeff Smith and Jarod Steed of IA Valuations unpacked the challenges, missteps, and opportunities surrounding perpetuation planning for independent insurance agencies.
A Boutique Brokerage Built to Endure: The BlueStone Advisors Growth Story
Husband and wife duo, Andrew Royce and Tracie Rasmussen, started BlueStone Advisors over a decade ago, and in that time, they’ve built a firm rooted in purpose, innovation, and lasting impact.
Catching Lightning in a Bottle in Small Town Ohio
Phelan Insurance Agency in Versailles, Ohio is a tale of success for attracting and developing young talent in a small, rural town. In a small town like Versailles, sourcing and retaining young talent at a local business is a challenge, but Phelan Insurance has figured out its own secret formula. About ten years ago, the […]
Valuation Views: 2025 Q3 Marketplace Report
The New Competitive Edge: Attracting and Developing the Next Generation In today’s competitive insurance landscape, staffing transcends routine hiring; it’s a strategic imperative. IA Valuations’ 2025 Q3 data shows that agencies with a higher proportion of younger producers significantly outperform their peers. Agencies with 41% of producers under age 35 (among those over $5M in […]