The Warner Companies

What The Warner Companies does

The L. Warner Companies, Inc., operating as The Warner Companies, is a privately-held, independent financial and benefit consulting firm headquartered in Timonium, Maryland. Founded in 1992 by Chairman & CEO Lee Warner, the firm serves corporations and high-net-worth individuals throughout the United States from offices in Timonium MD, Beverly Hills CA, Haddonfield NJ, Winter WI, and Huntington NY. The service catalog spans two practice areas: corporate consulting (employee benefits, executive benefits, voluntary benefits, 401(k) design, business continuity, auditing, wellness solutions) and individual consulting (comprehensive financial planning, estate planning, retirement planning, investment analysis, charitable planning, insurance consulting, and tax planning). The firm also serves dedicated verticals including professional athletes, business owners, executives, medical professionals, and non-profits.

The operational backbone combines proprietary technology with relationship-driven consulting. Core technology assets include a proprietary plan-participant database developed in-house, web-based benefit enrollment technology, proprietary computer software, and a claims data analytics platform used to audit pharmacy classifications and monitor plan outcomes year-round. The Private Briefing methodology uses over 500 proprietary multimedia presentation designs to model complex financial scenarios for prospects with $10M+ net worth. TWC integrates with Charles Schwab (custody), Pershing (correspondent clearing through M Holdings Securities), E Money Advisor (wealth management platform accessible via schwaballiance.com and emaplan.com), and GoToMeeting.

The business model monetizes through professional services fees on financial planning and benefits consulting engagements, recurring investment advisory fees (TWC operates a Registered Investment Advisor), and transaction-based commissions on securities offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc. (FINRA/SIPC member). The firm is independently owned with no external institutional investors, employs 101-250 staff, and participates in the M Financial Group network of over 155 financial services firms exclusively serving the upscale market. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; no funding rounds are on record. Active senior management with 350+ years of combined experience is assigned to every engagement, and the firm has earned Baltimore's Top Workplaces recognition for five consecutive years (2018-2022).

Name

The Warner Companies

Legal name

The L. Warner Companies, Inc.

Website

https://lwarner.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Warner Companies is an independent financial and benefit consulting firm serving corporations and high-net-worth individuals throughout the United States with corporate benefits, executive benefits, voluntary benefits, and individual wealth, estate, retirement, and investment planning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lutherville Timonium

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Financial Planning & Consulting Fees: Advisory fees for comprehensive financial, estate, retirement, and investment planning services provided to affluent individuals and corporations.
2. Investment Advisory Services: Registered investment advisor services offered through The L. Warner Companies, Inc. Investment advisory fees for asset management and investment planning.
3. Securities Transactions: Securities offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc., a Registered Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Commission-based revenue from securities transactions and investment products.
4. Employee & Executive Benefits Consulting: Consulting fees for employee benefits, executive benefit planning, voluntary benefits, and related insurance services for corporations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Warner Companies is an independent, full-service financial and benefit consulting firm serving corporations and high net worth individuals throughout the United States. It delivers corporate consulting (employee benefits, executive benefits, voluntary benefits, 401(k) programs, auditing, and wellness) and individual consulting (personal financial planning, estate, retirement, tax, charitable, insurance, and investment advisory services). Securities are offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc., and investment advisory services are offered through The L. Warner Companies, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor.

Product overview

The Warner Companies operates as a full-service financial and benefit consulting firm serving corporations and high-net-worth individuals throughout the United States. The company offers a portfolio of integrated services organized into Corporate Consulting (Employee Benefits, Executive Benefits, Voluntary Benefits) and Individual Consulting (Personal Financial Planning). Corporate consulting covers strategic benefits planning, 401(k) programs, business continuity, audits, and wellness solutions. Individual consulting encompasses personal financial planning, charitable planning, estate planning, insurance consulting, investment analysis, retirement planning, and tax planning. The firm is a member of M Financial Group and is independently owned and operated.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Employee Benefits Consulting Strategic planning, data analysis, and ongoing management of corporate health and benefit plans including medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability programs. Includes pharmacy benefit analysis, PBM contract negotiation, HR technology administration, and employee communication strategies. Target customers are corporate HR and benefits leaders.
• Executive Benefits Organizational executive benefit services including benefit design, nonqualified executive deferral plans, supplemental executive retirement plans, plan communication, administration, security, and financing strategies. Serves organizations with plans ranging from 10 to over 500 eligible participants across diverse industry sectors.
• Voluntary Benefits End-to-end voluntary benefits solution including critical illness programs, accident insurance, short and long-term disability, long-term care, vision care, property and casualty, pet insurance, and employee purchase programs. Features web-based enrollment technology, call center support, and face-to-face enrollment.
• 401(k) Programs Design and implementation of retirement strategies including fiduciary services, objective investment selection, and plan participant education through multiple investment platforms with daily valuation.
• Business Continuity Planning Financial planning and benefits/compensation package development for business succession, buy-sell agreements, and tax-efficient exit strategies for business owners.
• Auditing Services Data-driven auditing covering dependent eligibility, employee eligibility, working spouse, medical claims, Rx claims, stop loss, care management, disease management, and workers compensation auditing.
• Wellness Solutions Risk management strategy through collaboration with employers, healthcare providers, and health management companies focused on sustainable health outcomes and long-term healthcare stability.
• Personal Financial Planning Comprehensive financial planning for affluent individuals including wealth accumulation, tax planning, estate planning, investment planning, qualified distribution planning, charitable financial planning, insurance planning, retirement planning, and college education funding.
• Charitable Planning Planned giving programs for individuals and institutions that maximize donor and nonprofit benefits while minimizing taxes. Includes donor seminars, planned gift structuring, and technical support for philanthropic goals.
• Estate Planning Wealth transfer planning that models economic impact of various courses of action to minimize estate and gift taxes. Integrates tax reduction techniques with family governance and succession objectives.
• Insurance Consulting Unbiased insurance recommendations based on client needs and objectives. Provides access to proprietary research and systems for proper design and carrier selection.
• Investment Analysis and Wealth Accumulation Five-step investment management process including investment policy creation, strategic asset allocation, manager search and selection, performance monitoring, and periodic reviews.
• Retirement Planning Comprehensive retirement planning study exploring qualified plans, non-qualified plans, and wealth accumulation plans for tax-efficient accumulation and distribution.
• Tax Planning Tax-efficient financial planning in coordination with the client's tax advisor, attorney, accountant, and investment advisor.
• Retirement Distribution Analysis Exit strategy development for accumulated retirement plan assets to minimize tax burden, which can approach 75 percent without proper planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce healthcare costs and deliver better benefits ROI through 3-year strategic planning vision
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• M Financial GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Warner Companies is a member of M Financial Group, a prestigious national network of over 155 financial services firms exclusively serving the upscale market. This membership provides access to the network's resources, products, and referral opportunities for serving high net worth clients.
• M Holdings Securities, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationSecurities offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc., a Registered Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. The Warner Companies provides investment advisory services through this relationship as a registered investment advisor.
• PershingcoreTechnology or IntegrationCorrespondent clearing broker for securities transactions. Information shared with broker/dealer M Holdings Securities, Inc., its clearing correspondent Pershing, third party money managers or unaffiliated custodians as necessary to provide advisory services.
• Carson Scholars FundminorOthersLee Warner serves as Chairman of The Carson Scholars Fund. Edwin Killinger serves as advisor to the Finance Committee of the Carson Scholars Fund.
• T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdwin Killinger was with T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland prior to joining The Warner Companies in 1994. Historical employment relationship providing investment management background.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CBIZ: CBIZ is a national professional services provider offering financial advisory, tax, and benefits consulting to middle-market businesses. Its benefits and retirement plan consulting closely mirror Warner's corporate benefits practice.
• Aon: Aon is a global professional services firm providing risk management, insurance brokerage, reinsurance, and human capital consulting. Its benefits consulting and wealth management lines overlap directly with Warner's corporate benefits and HNW advisory services.
• Mercer: Mercer is a global consulting leader in health, wealth, and career advisory, with deep employee benefits and executive benefits consulting practices serving corporate clients. It is comparable to Warner in the corporate benefits segment, though at substantially greater scale.
• Willis Towers Watson (WTW): WTW is a global advisory, broking, and solutions firm with large employee benefits and corporate risk consulting practices. It competes with Warner for mid-to-large corporate benefits and executive benefits engagements.
• Brown & Brown: Brown & Brown is a national insurance brokerage providing employee benefits, property/casualty, and personal lines. Its benefits brokerage practice directly competes with Warner's corporate and voluntary benefits offerings.
• Hilb Group: Hilb Group is a mid-market insurance and employee benefits brokerage with growing wealth and retirement services. It is comparable to Warner in serving middle-market employers with benefits consulting while also serving high-net-worth individuals.
• Carson Group: Carson Group is a financial services firm offering wealth management, coaching, and advisor support services. Its advisor-centric model and HNW focus closely parallel Warner's private client wealth advisory practice.
• Bleakley Financial Group: Bleakley Financial Group is an independent, fee-only RIA serving high-net-worth individuals and families with comprehensive wealth, tax, and retirement planning. It is highly comparable to Warner's private client division in business model and affluent clientele.
• NFP (an Aon company): NFP is an insurance brokerage and consulting firm specializing in property/casualty, employee benefits, and wealth management. It is comparable to Warner as a hybrid broker-advisor serving both corporate and affluent individual clients.

Broad incumbents

• Marsh McLennan: Marsh McLennan is the parent of Mercer and Oliver Wyman and a global leader in risk, strategy, and people advisory. It is comparable as the broader incumbent parent in the same consulting category in which Warner competes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-warner-companies

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Warner Companies