Irwin Cohen Group

What Irwin Cohen Group does

Irwin Cohen Group is a privately held insurance brokerage and financial advisory firm founded in 1977 by Irwin Cohen, headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. The firm specializes in disability insurance, long-term care planning, life insurance, and business continuation advisory services, with an explicit focus on three customer segments: high-income professionals (particularly Am Law 200 attorneys, physicians, and dentists), business owners requiring buy-sell and key person planning, and families with special needs dependents. Its flagship offering is a 10-minute consultation with Irwin Cohen personally, followed by a tailored protection program covering supplemental disability, key person, permanent life, and long-term care products.

The firm operates as a broker for multiple insurance carriers and serves as a Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, earning commissions on placed policies. It is licensed to sell insurance in 30 of 50 US states and reports coast-to-coast attorney relationships. The team consists of approximately five members led by Irwin Cohen (President and owner), Melissa Cohen (Vice President), Michael Weiner (Chief Operating Officer, CPA/CFP), a Customer Service Coordinator, and one additional business professional. Distribution is sales-led and direct, augmented by content marketing on disability, business continuation, and wealth-building topics, and referral channels anchored by the Chicago Bar Association endorsement received in 2004.

Revenue mechanics are commission-based on placed disability, life, long-term care, and group benefit policies, with no disclosed pricing tiers, subscription fees, or technology products. The firm has no external funding, no parent company, and no public revenue disclosures. Its competitive position is built on four decades of founder-led specialty expertise, multi-carrier brokerage access, and professional-association credibility rather than proprietary technology or scale advantages.

Name

Irwin Cohen Group

Legal name

Irwin Cohen Group

Website

https://irwincohengroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Irwin Cohen Group is a Northbrook, Illinois insurance brokerage founded in 1977 that places disability, life, long-term care, and business continuation products for Am Law 200 attorneys, physicians, dentists, business owners, and families with special needs dependents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance brokerage services

NAICS

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

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Individual Disability Income Insurance (Non-Group) (FSAIAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trust & Fiduciary Advisory for HNW/UHNW (Trust Structuring & Trustee Oversight) (FSAAABAF), Special Needs & Supplemental Needs Trust Services (FSAAANAJ)

Keywords

• Disability insurance brokerage
• Income replacement planning
• Long-term care insurance
• Business continuation planning
• Life insurance advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Northbrook

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: Irwin Cohen Group operates as a broker for several insurance companies, earning commissions on placed policies. The firm serves as a Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, placing insurance products for clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Irwin Cohen Group is an insurance brokerage and financial advisory firm that places disability, life, and long-term care insurance policies on behalf of clients, primarily through The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and other carrier partners. The firm sells income replacement solutions (individual disability, supplemental coverage, key person), funding life needs (family protection, special needs planning, business continuation on death), and long-term care planning (home health care and facility services), with a specialization in serving Am Law 200 attorneys, physicians, dentists, and closely-held businesses.

Product overview

Irwin Cohen Group is an insurance brokerage firm founded in 1977 that offers a comprehensive portfolio of insurance and financial planning services. The company operates three core service pillars: Income Replacement Solutions (individual and group disability insurance, key person coverage, business continuation), Funding Life Needs (family protection, special needs planning), and Long-Term Care Planning. The firm specializes in serving professionals (particularly Am Law 200 attorneys), business owners, and concerned individuals with special needs family members. Additional offerings include key person insurance, permanent life insurance, supplemental disability insurance, business continuation planning, and the 'Be Your Own Banker' wealth building program utilizing whole life insurance strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Income Replacement Solutions Comprehensive income protection services including individual disability income replacement, employer-sponsored disability insurance programs, key person replacement coverage for businesses, and business continuation planning for shareholders and partners facing disability. Designed for high-income professionals, professional firms, and closely-held businesses seeking to protect earning capacity and ownership value.
• Funding Life Needs Financial planning services that provide life insurance-based protection for family members, planning for families with special needs children and adults, and business continuation funding in the event of death of a shareholder or partner. Aimed at families, special-needs households, and business owners who need to safeguard dependents and ownership continuity.
• Long-Term Care Expenses Planning Long-term care planning services covering home health care and facility services to help clients prepare for care needs as they age. Targeted at individuals and families — including those approaching age 65 and families with special-needs dependents — given that 52% of people turning 65 will need some type of long-term care services.
• Key Person Insurance Life insurance coverage designed to protect businesses from the financial impact of losing a key partner or leader. Provides funds for immediate cash flow needs, client retention, debt payoff, or recruiting a successor, primarily for law firms and other professional partnerships.
• Permanent Life Insurance Whole life insurance offering tax-advantaged cash value growth, estate planning benefits including estate liquidity, buy-sell agreement funding, key person protection, and supplemental retirement income streams. Targeted at law firm owners and other high-income professionals seeking multi-purpose permanent coverage.
• Supplemental Disability Insurance Individual disability insurance policies designed to complement employer group coverage, providing customizable coverage, income continuity, portability between employers, and longer benefit duration. Targeted at Am Law 100 attorneys and other high-income professionals whose group disability benefits are inadequate.
• Business Continuation Planning Strategic planning services helping businesses prepare for unexpected events such as the death or disability of an owner or key employee. Includes structuring of buy-sell agreements, business valuation support, and the funding mechanisms required to execute those plans. Aimed at professional firms and closely-held companies with multiple owners.
• Am Law 200 Program Specialized insurance program designed specifically for Am Law 200 law firms that protects both current income and retirement income for associates and partners. Combines review of group long-term and short-term disability plans, supplemental individual disability coverage, and retirement income protection.
• Be Your Own Banker Program Wealth building strategy utilizing specially designed whole life insurance policies to create a personal banking system. Leverages cash value for investments, purchases, and retirement while accruing interest and dividends within the policy. Aimed at high-income professionals and business owners seeking tax-advantaged, policy-based financing.
• Special Needs Planning Expert planning services for families with special needs children, spouses, relatives, or life partners. Creates comprehensive plans to provide ongoing care and financial security for the dependent, typically combining long-term care, life insurance, and specialized funding structures.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Chicago Bar AssociationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Irwin Cohen received the endorsement of the Chicago Bar Association in 2004 due to his expertise in the area of Am Law group insurance and how it impacts attorneys in those firms. This endorsement provides credibility and trust within the legal professional community and serves as a significant referral source.
• Guardian Life Insurance Company of AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIrwin Cohen Group is a Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY. The firm operates as a broker for several insurance companies and places products through this carrier relationship. The firm is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Guardian.
• CAI (Chicago Insurance Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe firm maintains membership and visibility with the Chicago Insurance Association, as evidenced by their logo on the website footer.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• LPL Financial: Largest independent broker-dealer in the U.S., supporting thousands of advisors who place life, disability, and LTC products for HNW individuals; comparable independent-producer distribution model serving overlapping customer profiles.
• Cambridge Investment Research: Independent broker-dealer platform supporting financial professionals serving HNW clients with insurance and wealth planning; comparable in the independent-advisor distribution model and target buyer base.
• Brown & Brown: Public insurance brokerage firm with employee benefits and executive lines practices that serve professional services firms and business owners; comparable product breadth (life, disability, supplemental health) and business-continuation brokerage focus.
• HUB International: Large insurance brokerage with specialty practices including life, disability, and executive benefits for professionals and business owners; comparable business model as a multi-carrier brokerage placing specialty coverage for HNW clients.
• Guardian Life Insurance Company of America: ICG's primary carrier partner whose disability and life products are placed through the firm; comparable as a major provider of individual disability income and group disability products targeting the same HNW professional segment.
• Northwestern Mutual: Large incumbent offering individual disability income, life, and long-term care products to HNW professionals through a captive financial advisor network; comparable because it serves the same buyer profile (especially attorneys and physicians) with overlapping product mix, though at materially larger scale.
• Cetera Financial Group: Large independent broker-dealer supporting independent financial professionals who serve HNW clients with insurance, retirement, and wealth strategies; comparable independent-advisor business model and HNW buyer focus.
• New York Life: Mutual insurer with a large career-agent channel distributing life, disability, and long-term care coverage to high-income individuals and business owners; comparable offering mix and customer profile to ICG with materially larger scale.
• MassMutual: Broad mutual insurer with significant individual disability, life, and retirement products distributed through career and independent advisors to white-collar professionals; overlaps directly with ICG's core product set and target buyer.
• Principal Financial Group: Diversified financial services firm offering individual disability, life, and retirement products distributed through independent advisors to HNW professionals and business owners; comparable product mix and target customer profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/irwincohen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Irwin Cohen Group