Insurance Acquisitions in Iowa
Iowa Insurance Deal Themes (2020–2025)
Insurance acquisitions in Iowa over 2020–2025 reflect a mix of local agency tie-ins and broader platform building by larger brokers, specialty firms, and capital providers. The deals shown range from retail property/casualty agency acquisitions to employee benefits consulting and technology-led capabilities.
Across the transactions, recurring buyers such as ALKEME Insurance, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., World Insurance Associates LLC, Inszone Insurance Services, and USI Insurance Services appear alongside reinsurance and investment-backed activity. Several acquisitions explicitly emphasize expanding regional footprint in the Midwest while preserving local advisors and client continuity.
Other deals point to capability build-outs beyond brokerage storefronts—such as employee benefits services, health benefits consulting, and benefits audit software—along with one insurer/capital-solutions move involving Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd.
What Stands Out
- Iowa agencies are being added to Midwest platforms: deals often describe integrating advisors while maintaining local service continuity (e.g., ALKEME Insurance adding Marion-based Sheets Forrest Draper Insurance; Gallagher adding Acumen Advisors and Horak Insurance).
- Employee benefits and health-related capabilities show up repeatedly, including benefits consulting (Acumen Advisors, Sagacity Benefits) and audit/consulting technology (Claim Technologies (CTI)).
- Specialty insurance segments are represented, including trucking-focused insurance via Árachas Group acquiring Cedar Falls–based Paladin Group, and coverage themes such as agribusiness and crop insurance mentioned in Kingsgate’s acquisition of Calvert & Johnson Insurance Services.
- Capital solutions and insurer platform activity also appears, including Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. acquiring American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (AEL) to bring annuities and life capabilities into its platform.
| Deal thread | Examples from Iowa deals |
|---|---|
| Midwest broker expansion | ALKEME Insurance, Inszone Insurance Services, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Kingsgate Insurance |
| Benefits consulting / advisory | Acumen Advisors, Sagacity Benefits, Calvert & Johnson (employee benefits) |
| Benefits software / audit services | Claim Technologies Incorporated (CTI) |
| Specialty + operational staffing | Árachas Group trucking division; continuity of advisors in retail deals |
-
August 21, 2025
- Buyer
- ALKEME Insurance
- Target
- Sheets Forrest Draper Insurance
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
ALKEME Insurance, a Top 25 U.S. insurance brokerage based in Ladera Ranch, California, has acquired Sheets Forrest Draper Insurance, a fourth-generation independent agency headquartered in Marion, Iowa. The deal expands ALKEME's Midwest footprint and brings SFD Insurance access to ALKEME's resources while preserving the agency's local focus and client relationships.
-
- Buyer
- Inszone Insurance Services
- Target
- LJ Insurance, Inc.
- Seller
- Jon Little, Jr.
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Inszone Insurance Services, a national insurance brokerage based in Sacramento, has acquired LJ Insurance, Inc., a longtime Keokuk, Iowa agency with an office in Fort Madison. The deal expands Inszone's presence in Iowa and broadens its life and health insurance offerings while providing LJ Insurance clients access to Inszone's broader carrier relationships and resources.
-
- Buyer
- Kingsgate Insurance
- Target
- Calvert & Johnson Insurance Services
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Kingsgate Insurance has acquired Calvert & Johnson Insurance Services in a deal effective Monday, adding the Fort Dodge-based agency's advisors and client relationships to Kingsgate's platform. The acquisition expands Kingsgate's local presence and product offerings — including employee benefits, agribusiness, and crop insurance — while Calvert & Johnson clients will continue with the same advisors during the transition.
-
December 12, 2024
- Buyer
- ALKEME
- Target
- Relion Insurance Solutions
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
ALKEME, a Top 35 insurance brokerage based in Ladera Ranch, California, acquired Relion Insurance Solutions, one of Iowa's largest insurance agencies. The deal expands ALKEME's Midwest presence and allows Relion to leverage ALKEME's resources while maintaining service continuity.
-
July 9, 2024
- Buyer
- Árachas Group
- Target
- Paladin Group
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Addon
Árachas Group has acquired Paladin Group, a trucking-focused insurance agency based in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The add-on strengthens Árachas Group's trucking division, brings approximately 50 employees and new technology, and names Paladin's former CEO Corey Schatz as President of Árachas's trucking division.
-
- Buyer
- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
- Target
- Acumen Advisors, Inc.
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Gallagher) has acquired Cedar Rapids-based Acumen Advisors, Inc., an employee benefits consulting firm serving small and mid-size businesses throughout Iowa. The Acumen team, led by Andrew Morf and Kirby Moss, will remain in place and operate under Gallagher's Midwest employee benefits consulting organization; terms were not disclosed.
-
- Buyer
- Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd.
- Target
- American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (AEL)
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Brookfield Reinsurance (BNRE) entered into and expected to close its acquisition of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (AEL), with the transaction expected to close after market on May 2, 2024. The deal brings AEL’s annuities and life insurance capabilities under Brookfield Reinsurance’s capital-solutions platform to expand liability-driven asset allocation and private asset management capabilities.
-
January 30, 2024
- Buyer
- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
- Target
- Horak Insurance, Inc.
- Seller
- Paul Horak, Luke Horak
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquired Washington, Iowa–based Horak Insurance, Inc., a retail property/casualty insurance agency serving commercial, personal and farm clients in eastern and central Iowa. Paul Horak and Luke Horak will remain with the business and continue operating under Gallagher’s Midwest retail property/casualty brokerage leadership; terms were not disclosed.
-
December 20, 2023
- Buyer
- Bain Capital Insurance, The Mutual Group
- Target
- GuideOne Insurance Company
- Seller
- GuideOne Insurance Company
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
Bain Capital Insurance invested $200 million to acquire the operational platform of GuideOne Insurance Company and to launch The Mutual Group, a new insurance services platform focused on mutual insurers. GuideOne will remain an independent mutual and serve as The Mutual Group’s inaugural member while using the capital to strengthen its balance sheet and support growth.
-
March 2, 2023
- Buyer
- World Insurance Associates LLC
- Target
- Sagacity Benefits
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
World Insurance Associates LLC (WIA), a Top 100 insurance brokerage headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, acquired Sagacity Benefits of Burlington, Iowa on July 1, 2022. Terms were not disclosed; Sagacity is an employer-focused benefits consulting firm that specializes in health benefits platforms, and WIA said the acquisition will expand its benefits capabilities and services for clients.
-
August 30, 2022
- Buyer
- BenefitMall
- Target
- Mutual Med
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
BenefitMall has acquired Mutual Med, a Davenport, Iowa-based insurance distributor, to expand carrier relationships and voluntary benefits offerings and strengthen BenefitMall's presence across the Midwest. Mutual Med will operate as a division of BenefitMall under its existing leadership and broaden BenefitMall's service territory into several new Midwestern and Southern states.
-
May 16, 2022
- Buyer
- Brown & Brown of Massachusetts, LLC, Brown & Brown, Inc.
- Target
- Claim Technologies Incorporated (CTI)
- Seller
- Claim Technologies Incorporated, Donald (Don) R. Brandt, Randall (Randy) J. Brandt
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Brown & Brown of Massachusetts, LLC, a subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc., has acquired substantially all of the assets of Claim Technologies Incorporated (CTI). CTI — a Des Moines-based provider of proprietary software and benefit-plan audit services for governmental and private employers — will continue to operate from Des Moines and will be integrated into Brown & Brown's Retail segment to expand its employee benefits audit and consulting capabilities.
-
- Buyer
- AssuredPartners, Inc.
- Target
- Midwest Group Benefits, Inc.
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
AssuredPartners, Inc., a national insurance broker based in Lake Mary, Florida, announced the acquisition of Midwest Group Benefits, Inc. of Decorah, Iowa. The Midwest Group Benefits team of 10 — led by Sara Hotvedt — will join AssuredPartners; the agency reports approximately $1.1 million in annualized revenues and the deal expands AssuredPartners' employee benefits presence in Iowa and the Great Plains region.
-
- Buyer
- Integrity Marketing Group, LLC
- Target
- Western Marketing Associates Corporation
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Integrity Marketing Group, a Dallas-based distributor of life and health insurance and insurtech provider, has acquired Western Marketing Associates Corporation, an independent marketing organization (IMO) headquartered in Missouri Valley, Iowa. The deal will connect Western Marketing's network of more than 18,000 agents to Integrity's proprietary insurtech platform and shared services to accelerate growth and expand product and technology capabilities; financial terms were not disclosed.
-
January 13, 2022
- Buyer
- Integrity Marketing Group
- Target
- Brokers Clearing House Ltd.
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Integrity Marketing Group, the Dallas-based insurtech and leading independent distributor of life and health insurance products, has acquired Brokers Clearing House Ltd. (BHC), a West Des Moines-based insurance brokerage and marketing organization. Lutz M&A served as exclusive financial advisor to BHC on the transaction, which strengthens Integrity's distribution and broker services capabilities.
-
October 19, 2021
- Buyer
- AssuredPartners, Inc.
- Target
- Jester Insurance Services, Inc.
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
AssuredPartners, Inc. (headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida) has acquired Jester Insurance Services, Inc., an independent insurance agency based in Des Moines, Iowa. The 15-person Jester team will remain in place under existing leadership as AssuredPartners expands its Great Plains footprint and client offerings.
-
- Buyer
- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
- Target
- River Valley Capital Insurance, Inc.
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquired Dubuque, Iowa-based River Valley Capital Insurance, Inc., a retail property/casualty brokerage specializing in insurance for the long-haul trucking industry. The River Valley team will remain in Dubuque and join Gallagher's Midwest transportation practice; financial terms were not disclosed.
-
September 7, 2021
- Buyer
- USI Insurance Services
- Target
- Reynolds & Reynolds, Inc.
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
USI Insurance Services has acquired Reynolds & Reynolds, Inc., a Des Moines-based independent risk management and employee benefits agency, to expand USI's local presence in Iowa. Terms were not disclosed; Reynolds & Reynolds' leadership and staff will join USI to deliver expanded risk management and employee benefits solutions.
-
April 15, 2021
- Buyer
- Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Company
- Target
- FBL Financial Group, Inc.
- Seller
- Public shareholders of FBL Financial Group
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Company (FBPCIC) agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of FBL Financial Group, Inc. for $56.00 per share in cash. The Iowa Insurance Division cleared the transaction (no Form A required), and FBL scheduled a special shareholder meeting for April 29, 2021 to vote on the proposed buyout.
-
- Buyer
- World Insurance Associates LLC
- Target
- Two Rivers Insurance Company, Inc.
- Seller
- Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc.
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
World Insurance Associates LLC (WIA) acquired Two Rivers Insurance Company, Inc. (TRIC) of Burlington, Iowa (which includes Two Rivers Insurance Services and Employee Benefits Systems) effective December 31, 2020. TRIC will remain headquartered in Burlington and continue operating its offices in Ft. Madison, Earlham, and West Des Moines; WIA said the acquisition expands its presence in Iowa and strengthens its employee benefits and TPA product offerings.
-
September 23, 2020
- Buyer
- AmeriLife Group, LLC
- Target
- The Achievement Group (TAG)
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Buyout
AmeriLife Group, LLC has acquired a majority interest in The Achievement Group (TAG), a brokerage specializing in annuities and life insurance for pre-retirees and retirees. The deal expands AmeriLife’s retirement planning and annuity distribution capabilities while keeping TAG founder Brad Tison in a leadership and principal role within AmeriLife's annuity and retirement planning brokerage division.
-
February 10, 2020
- Buyer
- AssuredPartners, Inc.
- Target
- LMC Insurance & Risk Management
- Industry
- Insurance
- Location
- Iowa, United States
- Type
- Addon
AssuredPartners, Inc. announced that LMC Insurance & Risk Management, headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, is joining AssuredPartners’ national broker team. The deal brings LMC’s 290 employees and 11 offices into AssuredPartners to expand its upper Midwest footprint and grow its agricultural practice.
Track M&A activity that matters to you
Get real-time deal alerts, build buyer lists with AI, and access our full acquisition database. Start your free trial today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which types of insurance acquisitions are shown in Iowa?
The page highlights acquisitions spanning retail property/casualty agencies, employee benefits consulting, health benefits-focused consulting, benefits audit/software services, and one annuities/life-capital solutions transaction.
Do these Iowa deals typically keep local advisors in place?
Several transactions explicitly note continuity, such as advisors remaining with the acquired agency or team and operating under the acquiring firm’s Midwest structure.
Which recurring buyers appear in Iowa insurance acquisitions?
Recurring names include ALKEME Insurance, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., World Insurance Associates LLC, Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd., Inszone Insurance Services, USI Insurance Services, ALKEME Insurance/ALKEME, and others listed on the page facts.
Are there acquisitions in Iowa beyond traditional brokerage?
Yes. Examples include technology-led benefits audit/software capabilities (Claim Technologies (CTI)) and insurer/capital platform activity via Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. acquiring AEL.