Minimizing the Risks of an Agency Acquisition: Lessons From Those Who Have Been There
Buying or selling an independent insurance agency can be one of the fastest ways to spark growth, but it’s not without risk. Financial hurdles, cultural misalignment, and integration challenges can turn what looks like a great opportunity into a headache. A group of industry leaders recently sat down for a candid conversation about what makes […]
Valuation Views: 2025 Q2 Marketplace Report
2024 AGENCY CONTINGENCY PERFORMANCE CONTINUES DOWNWARD TREND WHILE P&C INDUSTRY REBOUNDS TO UNDERWRITING PROFITABILITY Last year was another rough year for contingency bonuses. While the P&C Industry posted a combined loss ratio of 97.1% and many carriers started to get back to underwriting profitability (Chubb was the league leader with 86.6% combined ratio and $9B […]
Help! Our Agency Owner Passed Away Unexpectedly. How Will it Affect the Agency’s Value?
In almost every scenario, the unexpected passing of an agency owner will have a profoundly negative impact on the value of an agency. With 39,000 independent insurance agencies in the US, sadly, unexpected deaths of agency principals are an everyday occurrence. Particularly when you factor in that 22% of agency owners are over the age […]
Building Value Through Acquisition – A Case Study for Independent Insurance Agencies
There are many ways to increase agency value, but there are always questions. Is organic or acquired growth better? What do I need to think about when considering an acquisition? How do I create the financial model to decide what to offer in an acquisition? What is the benefit of a new producer? Is an […]
Independent Insurance Agencies and the Evolving M&A Landscape
The independent insurance agency (IA) system is in the midst of a significant evolution. In a recent conversation between industry leaders, experts from across the country weighed in on where the IA market is headed, what’s driving M&A activity, and how agencies can better position themselves for growth or exit. Among the featured voices were […]
Benefits as a Tool to Recruit and Retain Talent in the IA System
IA Valuations has worked with hundreds of independent insurance agencies over the past eight years. While working with clients and discussing their pain points, we hear two themes pretty consistently: agencies continue to struggle with growth and talent acquisition. Many owners are actively searching for and recruiting next-generation talent, but the industry and its potential […]
2025 Q1 Marketplace Report
2025 Q1 MARKETPLACE REPORT – AGENT/BROKER M&A ACTIVITY 2024 was the year of the Mega Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). With four deals accounting for over $35B in M&A activity, 2024 represented another year of consolidation in the independent agency space. The IA system has been experiencing heavy M&A activity since 2014 when Private Equity (PE) […]
The Valuation Rule of Thumb
In insurance industry circles, there is a certain industry parlance tied to what independent agencies are worth. Agency owners have historically thrown out numbers like “I am worth “X” times revenue.” Many buy-sell agreements will incorporate language that stipulates that the value of the agency will be determined in such a manner at the time […]
The Power of Preparation – How Asking for Help Can Drive Growth
One of the most noble things you can do as a business owner is recognize when you need help and ask for it. Dan Kiesewetter, of Kiesewetter Insurance in Farmington, IL, began contemplating selling his agency when he came to terms with the fact that his small agency in rural Illinois did not have the […]
The Independent Agency System Report Card – 2025 Evaluation
Do you remember when you were a kid and you’d get your report card? It created such buzz and anticipation with your classmates. The nervous energy was palpable as you prepped for opening the report card and thinking of how you were going to explain your school’s progress report to your parents. In this article, […]