GDK & Company

What GDK & Company does

GDK & Company is an independent insurance brokerage and employee benefits advisory based in Canton, Ohio, operating under the legal name Greenwald Underwriting Associates. Founded in 1975 by Life Insurance Hall of Famer Stanley Greenwald, the firm provides life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance alongside group benefits administration for businesses and wealth-transfer planning for affluent individuals. Its current principals and owners are Jordan Greenwald, Quinn Parker, and Rod Strata, supported by VP of Sales Scott Nosse; the firm serves clients across Northeast Ohio through direct, principal-led engagement and accepts no self-serve or digital-first motion.

The firm's core products span Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Long-Term Care Insurance delivered through two service lines (Private Client Services for high-net-worth families and Corporate Client Services for businesses up to 500 employees, with select accounts up to 1,000), supplemented by Group Benefits management and the proprietary M Advantage suite supplied through its M Financial Group membership. Its technology foundation is the M Financial network's proprietary product set and 30+ carrier integrations rather than a custom platform. Securities are offered through a regulated pass-through relationship with M Holdings Securities, Inc. (member FINRA/SIPC).

Revenue is generated via carrier commissions on placed policies, advisory fees on employee benefits design and administration, and securities services through the M Holdings arrangement. GTM is entirely relationship-based: principals build book of business through referrals from clients' CPAs and estate-planning attorneys, with the website and LinkedIn serving primarily as lead capture rather than as sales channels. The firm is independently owned and operated, with no disclosed funding, M&A activity, or revenue figures.

Name

GDK & Company

Legal name

Greenwald Underwriting Associates

Website

https://gdkandco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GDK & Company is an independent Canton, Ohio insurance brokerage founded in 1975 that delivers life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance plus group benefits to affluent individuals and Northeast Ohio employers, operating as an M Financial member firm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Group Health Insurance (2–50/100) (FSAIAFAD)

Keywords

• Life insurance brokerage
• Employee benefits administration
• Group health insurance
• Disability insurance planning
• Long-term care insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Canton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Commissions: GDK & Company earns commissions from insurance carriers for placing life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance policies for individual and corporate clients. As an independent broker, commissions vary by carrier, product type, and policy size.
2. Employee Benefits Advisory: Revenue from designing and administering group benefit plans including health insurance, ancillary benefits, and supplemental disability for businesses. The firm charges for advisory services alongside carrier commissions.
3. Securities Services: Securities offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc., a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. GDK & Company is independently owned and operated but operates within this regulatory framework for investment-related services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GDK & Company is an independent insurance brokerage that sells life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance policies to affluent individuals/families and to businesses, and provides employee benefits advisory and group benefits administration services. As a member of M Financial Group, the firm also offers proprietary M Advantage life insurance, disability, and long-term care products, distributing policies from 30+ carriers and serving clients regionally across Ohio.

Product overview

GDK & Company is an insurance brokerage firm offering a unified portfolio of insurance products and advisory services. The core product suite includes Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Long-Term Care Insurance, which are delivered through both Private Client Services (for affluent individuals and families) and Corporate Client Services (for businesses up to 500 employees). The company supplements its standard carrier offerings with proprietary M Financial products (M Advantage) including exclusive life insurance, disability, and long-term care solutions. Group Benefits management rounds out the corporate offering, covering group health, ancillary benefits (dental, vision), and supplemental disability. The company operates with access to 30+ insurance carriers and all Ohio health insurance providers, positioning its services as a comprehensive insurance and benefits solution rather than a modular platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Life Insurance Individual life insurance coverage providing financial security for families, including options for wealth transfer, estate planning, and business succession. Offered through partnerships with 30+ insurance carriers and proprietary M Financial products for affluent individuals, families, and business owners.
• Health Insurance Medical expense coverage ensuring access to necessary care without overwhelming costs, including individual health plans and group health plans sourced through all health insurance providers throughout Ohio.
• Disability Insurance Income replacement coverage protecting against loss of earnings due to illness or injury, serving both individual clients and business owners for key employee income protection and business continuity.
• Long-Term Care Insurance Coverage protecting savings from extended care costs including in-home aid, assisted living, and nursing home care, offering policyholders choices for future care support.
• Group Benefits Employee benefit solutions including group health insurance, ancillary benefits (dental, vision), and supplemental disability coverage designed for businesses seeking to attract and retain talent, covering employers up to roughly 500 employees (with selected portfolios up to 1,000 employees).
• Private Client Services Personalized insurance solutions for affluent individuals and families focused on wealth protection, estate tax mitigation, family financial security, and charitable planning through collaborative engagement with clients' CPA, estate planning attorney, and other advisors.
• Corporate Client Services Business-focused benefit plan solutions helping companies manage employee benefits, ensure compliance, navigate legislative changes, and maximize value for organizations up to 500 employees, with advisory support alongside carrier placement.
• M Advantage Exclusive proprietary life insurance products, disability coverage, and long-term care planning solutions available through the M Financial network, offering clients unique wealth transfer and executive benefits options not available through standard carriers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 million in annual savings for a university client through fixed rate negotiation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• M Financial GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGDK & Company is a proud member of the M Financial Group, a leading life insurance distribution, service, and product organization serving high-net-worth individuals, executives, and employers. This partnership provides access to proprietary life insurance products, exclusive wealth transfer solutions, and support from over 155 independent financial services firms. M Financial brings together leading minds in the industry for client advocacy and innovative solutions.
• M Holdings Securities, Inc.coreOthersSecurities offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc., a registered broker/dealer and member of FINRA/SIPC. GDK & Company operates within this regulatory framework for investment-related services, providing securities offerings alongside insurance products.
• 30+ Insurance CarrierscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGDK & Company maintains partnerships with over 30 insurance carriers, enabling access to a wide range of life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance products to find the best fit for each client's unique needs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Highstreet Insurance Partners: Mid-sized independent insurance brokerage serving businesses and individuals across multiple product lines including group benefits, life, and commercial insurance. Directly comparable in business model to GDK & Company as an independent agency leveraging carrier partnerships rather than proprietary underwriting.
• Foundation Risk Partners: Mid-market independent insurance brokerage offering commercial, personal, and employee benefits solutions. Comparable as an independent, partner-led agency with a multi-product, multi-carrier model serving both businesses and high-net-worth individuals.
• Alera Group: National independent insurance brokerage providing commercial, personal, life, and employee benefits solutions through a partnership model with regional firms. Directly comparable as a multi-line, partner-driven independent agency operating across multiple geographies.
• Risk Strategies Company: National specialty insurance brokerage with strong HNW and executive benefits practice serving complex personal and commercial risks. Comparable to GDK in targeting affluent individuals and businesses with specialized life, disability, and LTC solutions.

Regional players

• The Hilb Group: Regional insurance brokerage with strong East Coast presence offering commercial, personal, and benefits products. Comparable in structure to GDK as a mid-sized, relationship-driven agency serving businesses and individuals through carrier partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Brown & Brown: Large publicly-traded insurance brokerage delivering commercial, personal, and employee benefits products nationally. Comparable in product breadth and carrier-agnostic brokerage model, though materially larger and more diversified than GDK & Company.
• Marsh McLennan: Global professional services firm and one of the largest insurance brokerages in the world. Comparable in offering life, health, benefits, and risk solutions, but operates at vastly greater scale across geographies and enterprise client tiers.
• Aon: Global professional services firm providing risk, insurance, and health solutions including HNW life and benefits advisory. Comparable in wealth transfer, executive benefits, and group benefits capabilities, though at massively greater scale and geographic reach.
• WTW (Willis Towers Watson): Global advisory, insurance brokerage, and solutions firm serving large enterprises and HNW individuals. Comparable in life, health, and benefits brokerage capabilities, particularly for executive benefits and corporate clients.

Emerging players

• Acrisure: Tech-enabled insurance brokerage rapidly consolidating independent agencies nationally. Comparable in offering multi-line insurance and benefits products through acquired agency partners, though pursuing growth through technology investment at a much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gdk-&-company
• Facebookfacebook.com/138207956227035

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 GDK & Company