Risk Strategies Company acquires Benefits Network Insurance Agency, adds wholesale expertise to national employee benefits practice

Ohio-based specialist offers capabilities that also add to existing retail benefits practice

BOSTON, January 23, 2018 -- Risk Strategies, a leading national specialty insurance brokerage and risk management and consulting firm, today announced the acquisition of Benefits Network Insurance Agency (BNIA), a specialist brokerage focused on the development of employee benefits plans. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, with additional offices in Dayton, BNIA was founded in 1989 by Phil DiCiero as a wholesale broker providing services to the small group business of Blue Cross Blue Shield’s independent agents. BNIA added its own retail service capability in 1993 and its business today is almost equally balanced between retail group insurance sales and wholesale brokerage.

In building out its wholesale business, the company expanded its footprint to represent Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Medical Mutual of Ohio, United Healthcare, Principal Financial, and Aetna.

“Ohio firms represented by BNIA and the brokers who rely on them for wholesale placements acknowledge the broad expertise and service commitment that Phil DiCiero brings to the business and has instilled in his entire team,” said John Greenbaum, Risk Strategies’ national employee benefits practice leader. “Phil’s son Philip joined the firm several years ago and has aided in bringing their practice to a new level.”

Risk Strategies’ employee benefits practice is one of the country’s largest and most capable, with deep expertise ranging from regulatory compliance and strategic benefits planning to the implementation of technology solutions and wellness programs. Like Risk Strategies, BNIA provides both their retail and wholesale clients with a wide range of resources and expertise.

 “The rapidly consolidating brokerage environment gave us a lot of choices when we thought about selling our company,” said Phil DiCiero. “Going with Risk Strategies meant we’d become part of a growing national brand with extensive resources and a true national-scale support system.”

In addition to BNIA, Risk Strategies recently acquired three brokerages with benefits specialty focuses, specifically: Mosse & Mosse, located north of Boston; Tikia Consulting, just outside New Orleans; and TSG Financial on Long Island, New York.

To learn more about Risk Strategies, please visit www.riskstrategies.com

About Risk Strategies

Risk Strategies is the 9th largest privately held US brokerage firm offering comprehensive risk management advice, insurance and reinsurance placement for property & casualty, employee benefits, private client services, as well as consulting services and financial & wealth solutions. With more than 30 specialty practices, Risk Strategies serves commercial companies, nonprofits, public entities, and individuals, and has access to all major insurance markets. Risk Strategies has over 100 offices including Boston, New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Grand Cayman, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Nashville, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. RiskStrategies.com.

For all media inquiries:
Ed Marshall
Risk Strategies
Director of Marketing & Communications
617-330-5767
emarshall@risk-strategies.com