America's Benefit Specialist May 2023

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

over the long-term and this acquisition puts us in a position to do that while also helping our customers scale their busi nesses as brokers, HR departments and the broader ecosys tem digitize their operations,” said Reese. Employee Navigator has offices in Bethesda, Maryland, Frederick, Maryland, and Salt Lake City, Utah. SENIOR MARKET SALES CONTINUES STRATEGIC GROWTH Senior Market Sales has acquired Sizeland Medicare Strate gies, a greater Detroit area health and life insurance agency focusing on Medicare plans and licensed in 40 states. “This partnership provides Sizeland with resources to continue serving its 15,000 customers with the meticulous care that has fueled its success, and to accelerate its growth even more,” said SMS President Jim Summers. “SMS is proud to expand our national presence with a valued partner who shares our long-term vision for growth.” Since 2009, the Brighton, Michigan, agency has utilized the SMS platform, which includes proprietary technology, proven marketing systems, back-office support and a prod uct portfolio of health and wealth solutions from top carriers. Founder and Owner Paul Sizeland Sr. said he chose SMS be cause he wants to triple the size of the agency on its telesales side and leverage SMS’ technology for efficiencies. SMS and Alliant Insurance Services, which acquired SMS in 2020, are able to provide the synergy and support that Sizeland wants and needs to better serve clients and to grow, he said. After serving in the U.S. Navy Submarine Force, Sizeland sold long-term care insurance for about eight years before starting his own agency in 1996. Sizeland Medicare Strategies has built its success by educating customers in a clear and concise way on their insurance options – a model that has led to repeat customers and that aligns with SMS values, Summers said. SMS has also entered the under-65 individual health market with its acquisition of O’Neill Marketing. The move also opens the ACA market to SMS’ parent company, Alliant Insurance Services. SMS’ more than 71,000 contracted independent agents gain access not only to a flourishing market but also to O’Neill Marketing’s ACA product and technology platform.

WARNER PACIFIC COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF AGENTS MARKETING GROUP Warner Pacific, a general agency for brokers across California, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma, has expanded into Florida by successfully completing its acquisition of Agents Marketing Group, a Miami-based GA. AMG has a history of providing its brokers with solid analysis and case strategy, ensuring its clients have the best possible employer benefits solutions. “This transaction enables us to expand Warner Pacific into one of the largest states in the country as we continue to grow and scale nationally,” said John Nelson, co-CEO of Warner Pacific. “Through this acquisition, Warner Pacific will be able to deliver new tools and technologies to brokers throughout the state.” “For over 20 years, AMG has provided its clients with unri valed service and expertise in the employee benefits space,” said AMG President and CEO Daniel Wolansky. “Warner Pacific provides a strong platform to build upon this and presents numerous new opportunities for growth.” EMPLOYEE NAVIGATOR ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF EASE Employee Navigator, a benefits administration and HR soft ware solution for insurance brokers and employers, recently announced the acquisition of Ease, a broker-centric HR and benefits software solution for small businesses. The com bined company will support over 150,000 businesses, more than 4,000 insurance brokers, a marketplace of 300 integrat ed partners and over 13 million employees in the U.S. Employee Navigator founder and CEO George Reese will be the CEO of the combined company. “The combination of Ease with Employee Navigator’s industry leading integra tions will drive tremendous value for brokers and HR manag ers,” said Reese. “As a single company, we will continue our strategy to help every business in the U.S. offer their employ ees a Fortune 500 set of benefits by providing the largest agnostic marketplace of integrated partners in the industry.” The two products will continue to operate separately but, over time, many of Ease’s features will be incorporated into Employee Navigator’s platform, creating a more compelling product for insurance brokers. “Our goal has always been to increase the insured population and lower insurance costs

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