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.
Four Insurance Agency Valuations Trends to Watch in 2026
As we step into 2026, independent insurance agencies face a valuation landscape shaped by a softening insurance market, prolonged economic uncertainty, continuing agency consolidation, shifting ownership dynamics, and rapidly evolving technology. For agency owners contemplating perpetuation, a sale, or simply benchmarking their business value, understanding the following trends is critical for 2026 business planning. 1. […]
No Business Plan & No Growth
Now Is the Time to Sell Your Insurance Agency If you own an independent insurance agency and have not grown in revenue in the last two years, and you do not have a business plan to change course, it’s time to sell your agency. I do not write these words lightly, but if you continue […]
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 […]
Is Now the Right Time to Transition Your Agency? 10 Critical Factors to Consider
Transitioning ownership of your insurance agency isn’t a decision you make lightly. It’s the culmination of decades of work, relationships, and strategic planning. Yet many agency owners struggle with the fundamental question: When is the right time?
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 […]
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 […]