The Insurance Center

What The Insurance Center does

The Insurance Center (legally T.I.C., Inc.) is an independent insurance brokerage founded in 1966 and headquartered at 701 Sand Lake Road, Onalaska, Wisconsin. Operating as a subsidiary of Alera Group, Inc., the firm provides a full-service insurance brokerage and risk management platform spanning three lines: business insurance (commercial property and casualty, corporate benefits, and a specialized school district practice covering 40+ Wisconsin schools), individual insurance (auto, home, health, life, renters, Medicare, recreational vehicles, builders risk, umbrella/excess liability, and financial planning), and farm and agriculture insurance (property, liability, workers' compensation, crop, business auto, and animal mortality).

The company monetizes primarily through carrier commissions on policies placed with multiple insurance partners under an independent agency model, with pricing quoted individually based on risk assessment rather than published tiers. Its technology stack consists of standard brokerage tooling — carrier portals (CSR24, Zywave Select Access), HR360, and a guided online insurance discovery tool — rather than proprietary AI or insurtech systems. Distribution is sales-led and consultative, delivered through 100+ agents and support staff across 12+ physical offices in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Montana, supplemented by an annual Employee Benefits Seminar serving 130+ local business owners and content marketing through its blog and social channels.

Customer segments are diversified across SMBs, individuals, farms, and public-sector clients (notably Wisconsin school districts, where the firm has 20+ years of tenure). The company is led by Managing Partner Jeff LeClaire with second-generation owner Tim Johnson, supported by a Partner-level executive team overseeing finance, operations, sales, and specialty practices. The Insurance Center is not publicly traded, has no disclosed funding rounds, and operates as a private subsidiary within the broader Alera Group national network.

Name

The Insurance Center

Legal name

T.I.C., Inc.

Website

https://ticinsurance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Insurance Center is a Wisconsin-based independent insurance brokerage providing business, individual, and farm insurance across the Midwest as a subsidiary of Alera Group, serving customers through 12+ offices and 100+ agents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Onalaska

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Services: Acts as an independent insurance agency offering products from multiple insurance carriers. Earns commissions on insurance policies placed with carrier partners. Services include business insurance (commercial property and casualty, corporate benefits, school districts), individual insurance (auto, home, health, life, renters, Medicare, recreational vehicles, builders risk, umbrella/excess liability, financial planning), and farm/agriculture insurance (property, liability, workers compensation, crop, business auto, animal mortality).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Insurance Center is an independent insurance agency that places personal, commercial, farm/agricultural, and employee benefits coverage with multiple carrier partners for individuals, families, businesses, and schools. It sells policies through licensed producers across 12+ offices and serves specialized niches including Wisconsin K-12 school districts (40+ districts), farm and agribusiness, and corporate employer benefits programs. Revenue is generated via commissions on placed coverage rather than underwriting its own policies.

Product overview

The Insurance Center is a full-service insurance brokerage offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products and risk management solutions. The company provides three main business lines: Business Insurance (including Commercial Property and Casualty, Corporate Benefits, and School Districts), Individual Insurance (including Auto, Home, Health, Life, Renter's, Medicare, Recreational Vehicles, Builder's Risk, Umbrella/Excess Liability, Financial Planning, and Open Enrollment coverage), and Farm & Agriculture Insurance (including Property, Liability, Workers' Compensation, Crop, Business Auto, and Animal Mortality coverage). The company operates as part of Alera Group and serves clients across Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Montana with 12+ locations and over 100 agents and support team members, specializing particularly in Wisconsin School Districts where they insure over 40 schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Insurance (Commercial Property & Casualty) Commercial property and casualty insurance placement for businesses across Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Montana, using multiple carrier partners to address property, liability, workers' comp, and other commercial exposures.
• Corporate Benefits Employer-sponsored benefits programs including group health, retirement, and ancillary benefits, placed with carrier partners, including dedicated support for K-12 school districts in Wisconsin.
• K-12 School District Insurance Program Specialized insurance package for Wisconsin public-school districts covering property, liability, workers' comp, fleet, and benefits needs, delivered through dedicated district-account teams.
• Personal Auto Insurance Personal auto insurance placement for individuals and families, with multi-carrier comparison, bundling options, and local agent service.
• Home / Renters Insurance Homeowners and renters insurance placement for individuals, including multi-line bundling discounts.
• Life Insurance Life insurance placement (term, whole, and supplemental) for individuals and families, supported by LUTCF-credentialed producers.
• Health Insurance & Open Enrollment Support Individual and family health insurance placement with hands-on Open Enrollment support and year-round guidance from licensed producers.
• Medicare / Medicare Supplement Insurance Medicare-related coverage and supplement insurance for individuals, supported by a dedicated sales director and AEP-cycle servicing.
• Recreational Vehicle Insurance Insurance coverage for recreational vehicles (boats, RVs, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, etc.) for individuals.
• Builder's Risk Insurance Builder's risk / construction insurance for property under construction, serving builders, property owners, and contractors.
• Umbrella / Excess Liability Insurance Personal and commercial umbrella and excess liability coverage to layer excess limits over underlying home, auto, or commercial policies.
• Financial Planning Services Financial-planning services offered alongside insurance, including retirement, education, and personal risk strategy planning for individuals.
• Farm & Agribusiness Insurance Farm and agribusiness insurance combining property, liability, workers' comp, business auto, and specialty coverages including crop insurance and animal mortality, tailored to Upper Midwest producers.
• Crop Insurance Federal and private crop insurance coverage for farm operators, providing yield and revenue protection.
• Animal Mortality Insurance Specialty animal mortality insurance for high-value livestock, covering death from specified causes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 schools in Wisconsin currently insured
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• DeWitt Ross & Stevens Law FirmminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2015Timothy L. Stewart, Employee Benefits & ESOP Attorney at DeWitt Ross & Stevens, spoke at The Insurance Center's Annual Employee Benefits Seminar on topics including 2016 Cadillac Tax, Reporting Requirements, and Regulatory Updates.
• Wellness Council of WisconsinminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2015Kate Elliott represented the Wellness Council of Wisconsin at the Annual Employee Benefits Seminar, providing a presentation on worksite wellness strategies, best practices, and resources for creating results-oriented wellness programs. The Wellness Council of Wisconsin is the local affiliate of WELCOA, the only nonprofit in Wisconsin dedicated exclusively to helping employers develop successful wellness initiatives.
• Viterbo UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2015Tom Thibodeau, Master of Arts in Servant Leadership at Viterbo University, spoke on the concept of Servant Leadership at The Insurance Center's Annual Employee Benefits Seminar, discussing how this philosophy can be adapted into professional careers.
• Alera Group, Inc.coreOthersThe Insurance Center is part of Alera Group, Inc., a national insurance and benefits services firm. Alera Group has awareness of fraudulent impersonation attempts using fake internet domains.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lockton Companies: Lockton is the world's largest independent insurance brokerage, offering commercial, benefits, and personal insurance globally through partner-led offices. Comparable to TIC as an independent brokerage emphasizing partner-led service and multi-line offerings across multiple geographies.
• HUB International: HUB International is a leading North American insurance brokerage providing commercial, personal, and employee benefits products through regional offices and acquired agencies. Comparable to TIC as a multi-line brokerage with a strong presence in the Midwest and similar independent agency heritage.
• Marsh McLennan: Marsh McLennan is a global professional services firm offering insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting through Marsh and other subsidiaries. Comparable to TIC as a broad incumbent operating in the same insurance brokerage and risk advisory category, though with global reach.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Gallagher is one of the largest global insurance brokerage and risk management firms, providing commercial, benefits, and personal insurance through its own offices and acquired agencies. Comparable to TIC as a broad incumbent competing in the same multi-line brokerage space, though at vastly larger scale.
• Acrisure: Acrisure is a global insurance brokerage and financial services platform built largely through acquisition of independent agencies, offering commercial, personal, and specialty lines. Comparable to TIC as a large aggregator whose portfolio includes regional independent agencies like TIC itself.

Regional players

• Horton Group: The Horton Group is a Midwest-based independent insurance, benefits, and risk management brokerage serving businesses, individuals, and families across Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and other states. Highly comparable to TIC in its multi-line independent agency model, regional Midwestern footprint, and emphasis on risk advisory services.
• M3 Insurance: M3 Insurance is a Wisconsin-headquartered independent insurance brokerage offering commercial, personal, benefits, and surety products to businesses and individuals. Directly comparable to TIC in its Wisconsin-centric footprint, multi-line independent agency structure, and mid-market commercial focus.
• R&R Insurance Services: R&R Insurance Services is a Wisconsin-based independent insurance agency providing commercial, personal, benefits, and specialty lines to businesses and individuals throughout the state. Closely comparable to TIC in its Wisconsin independent agency model, broad product suite, and regional density.

Direct peers

• AssuredPartners: AssuredPartners is a national insurance brokerage aggregator that acquires and operates independent agencies across the U.S., offering commercial, personal, and benefits products. Directly comparable to TIC as a multi-line independent agency that operates within a larger aggregator platform.
• Hilb Group: Hilb Group is a mid-market insurance brokerage that acquires and partners with regional agencies across the U.S., providing commercial, personal, and employee benefits solutions. Comparable to TIC in its independent-agency roll-up model, multi-line offering, and regional operating structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tic_insurance
• Facebookfacebook.com/TICinsurance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-insurance-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Insurance Center