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, […]
Help! I’m Getting a Divorce and My Ex Wants Half of the Value of My Agency. How Will It Affect My Agency Value, and What Should I Do Next?
Life happens and you are getting a divorce. As you are negotiating the settlement terms, your spouse’s attorney is requesting the value of your insurance agency because it is subject to the division of assets 50/50. While your personal life is being turned upside down, it is not ideal that you may have to pay […]
Navigating Private Equity in the Independent Agent System: Strategic Insights for Agency Owners
The world of independent insurance agencies is undergoing transformational change transformational change as private equity (PE) continues to reshape the industry landscape. In a recent discussion, experts Jeff Smith and Jarod Steed from IA Valuations, along with Dan Girardi from Keystone Agency Partners and James Parker from BroadStreet Partners, explored how private equity’s influence is […]
Help! I’m 65 and Want to Sell My Insurance Agency
The highly anticipated day has finally come: you are getting ready to retire. After spending 30+ years working in your insurance agency, you have made the difficult decision that it is time to sell the agency and step down. Hopefully, you have been running your business over the years as if you were going to […]
The Five Factors that Have the Greatest Impact on Value at Sale
After years of owning and operating an independent agency, navigating the waters of selling your agency in the open market is a tall task. It raises many difficult questions, including: When is the right time to sell? What factors are third-party buyers looking for when it comes to acquiring an agency? What should an owner […]
The Effect of the Hard Market on Agency Values
For many insurance agencies, the hard market yields a double-edged sword as it relates to agency values. Some of the impacts of the hard market can have a positive impact on agency value, while others will work to depress values. Understanding these impacts will be key to helping you navigate these uncertain times. The Insurance […]
The Importance of a Strong Balance Sheet
The value of a balance sheet is a key component in the calculation of agency value. We encourage our IA Valuations clients to bolster their balance sheets, not only to increase their agency value, but also for a myriad of reasons that will have both short-term and long-term impacts on the agency. Agency Reinvestment Agencies […]