R.K.Tongue

What R.K.Tongue does

R.K. Tongue Co., Inc. is a fully independent insurance agency and brokerage founded in 1911 in Baltimore, Maryland, and currently headquartered in Nottingham, MD. The firm is family-owned across three generations and operates four practice groups: Professional & Commercial Markets, Group Benefits, Personal Insurance, and Worksite/Voluntary Benefits Marketing. It is licensed in 31 U.S. states and places business with 20+ insurance carriers including Hartford, Liberty Mutual, Aflac, AIG, Chubb, Travelers, Prudential, and United Healthcare.

The company's core offering is multi-carrier insurance placement and risk advisory, with specialized programs for healthcare professionals (dental, medical, optometry, veterinary), attorneys and CPAs, government employee associations, small and mid-sized businesses, and high-net-worth individuals. Products span professional liability, cyber liability, commercial property and casualty, group health/dental/vision, 401(k), voluntary/worksite benefits with proprietary payroll deduction infrastructure, and personal lines including classic car, yacht, and wedding coverage. Technology assets are limited to a relationship-driven service model supplemented by interactive clickable coverage graphics on the company website.

R.K. Tongue earns revenue primarily through insurance brokerage commissions on policies placed across its carrier relationships, supplemented by professional services fees for benefits administration, compliance resources, and policy services. Distribution relies on licensed agents and brokers supported by association endorsements with the Virginia Dental Association, D.C. Dental Society, Maryland Classified Employees Association, the SSA Employee Activities Association, and an exclusive relationship with the Vermont State Employees Association. The firm serves as a "single nerve center" for clients' insurance and financial planning needs, including wealth management delivered through affiliated entities.

Name

R.K.Tongue

Legal name

R. K. Tongue Co., Inc.

Website

https://rktongue.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

R.K. Tongue Co., Inc. is a family-owned independent insurance agency and brokerage founded in 1911, placing commercial, personal, employee benefits, and worksite/voluntary coverage across 31 states for healthcare professionals, attorneys, SMBs, and government employee associations through 20+ carrier partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAIAGAH

Medicare Plan Distribution & Brokerage (Captive, Independent, FMOs)

Financial & Insurance/Insurance — Life & Health/Medicare Advantage & Medicare Supplement (Medigap)

Keywords

• Independent insurance agency
• Commercial insurance brokerage
• Employee benefits consulting
• Professional liability insurance
• Worksite voluntary benefits

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: As an independent insurance agency and brokerage, R.K. Tongue earns commissions from placing insurance policies across multiple carrier relationships. The agency offers products through various platforms including individual, group and association arrangements.
2. Professional Services Fees: Service consulting fees for benefits administration, compliance resources, and policy services for employers and individuals

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

R. K. Tongue Co., Inc. is a fully independent insurance agency and brokerage that places business, personal, employee benefits, and Medicare insurance coverage on behalf of clients across 31 U.S. states through relationships with 20+ insurance carriers. The agency also offers proprietary risk management programs tailored to healthcare and legal professionals and proprietary payroll deduction enrollment services for voluntary benefits to federal, state, and municipal employee groups.

Product overview

R.K. Tongue Co., Inc. is a fully independent insurance agency and brokerage offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products and financial services through multiple business units. The company operates four practice groups: Professional & Commercial Markets (property, casualty, life, and health insurance for businesses and healthcare specialists including dentists, attorneys, physicians, and veterinarians); Group Benefits (medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance for small and mid-sized employers); Personal Insurance (auto, home, classic car, yacht, and high net worth coverage); and Worksite/Voluntary Benefits Marketing (payroll deduction enrollment for voluntary benefits to government employee associations). Products include industry-specific coverages such as Dental Practice Insurance, Legal Professional Insurance, Cyber Liability Insurance, Trucking Insurance, and Wedding Insurance, alongside standard business and personal insurance lines. The company also provides wealth management, financial services, and proprietary risk management programs through affiliated entities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dental Practice Insurance
• Medical Practice Insurance
• Professional Services Insurance
• Legal Professional Insurance
• Veterinary Office Insurance
• Trucking Insurance
• Golf Course Insurance
• Distillery Insurance
• Jewelers Insurance
• Transportation Insurance
• Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Insurance
• Business Owners Insurance
• General Liability Insurance
• Commercial Umbrella Insurance
• Business Auto Insurance
• Commercial Property Insurance
• Cyber Liability Insurance
• Workers' Compensation Insurance
• Employment Practice Liability Insurance (EPLI)
• Surety Bond
• Group Health Insurance
• Group Dental Insurance
• Group Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Group Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits with Payroll Deduction
• Home Insurance
• Auto Insurance
• Classic Car Insurance
• Yacht Insurance
• High Net Worth Insurance
• Individual Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Umbrella Insurance
• Wedding Insurance
• Medicare Plans
• Hospital Indemnity Plans
• Wealth Management and Financial Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 112+ years of continuous independent operation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• AflaccoreTechnology or IntegrationInsurance carrier partner offering supplemental insurance products including accident, cancer, and short-term disability coverage.
• AIGcoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor insurance carrier partner providing property and casualty, casualty, and specialty insurance solutions.
• Blue Cross Blue ShieldcoreTechnology or IntegrationHealth insurance carrier partner providing medical and health insurance coverage options.
• Boston Mutual InsurancecoreTechnology or IntegrationInsurance carrier partner offering life and health insurance products, notably serving Vermont State Employees Association members.
• CareFirstcoreTechnology or IntegrationRegional health insurance carrier serving Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia areas.
• ChubbcoreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal insurance carrier providing property and casualty insurance solutions for individuals and businesses.
• CNAcoreTechnology or IntegrationCommercial insurance carrier specializing in business insurance including property, liability, and specialty coverages.
• Guardian LifecoreTechnology or IntegrationInsurance carrier partner offering life, disability, and dental insurance products.
• The HartfordcoreTechnology or IntegrationFeatured insurance carrier partner prominently displayed as a key partner, providing business and personal insurance products.
• Liberty MutualcoreTechnology or IntegrationFeatured insurance carrier partner prominently displayed as a key partner, offering personal and business insurance products.
• Lincoln Financial GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationFinancial services and insurance partner offering life insurance, annuities, and retirement plan services.
• PrincipalcoreTechnology or IntegrationInsurance and financial services partner offering retirement, insurance, and asset management products.
• PrudentialcoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor financial services and insurance carrier partner offering life insurance and retirement solutions.
• TravelerscoreTechnology or IntegrationProperty and casualty insurance carrier partner offering business and personal insurance products.
• United HealthcarecoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor health insurance carrier partner providing medical coverage options including Medicare plans.
• UnumcoreTechnology or IntegrationInsurance carrier partner offering employee benefits including life, disability, and voluntary benefits.
• ZurichcoreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal insurance carrier partner providing commercial and specialty insurance solutions.
• Virginia Dental Association (VDA)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEndorsed insurance provider for VDA members offering specialized dental practice insurance programs including malpractice, property, and cyber liability coverage.
• D.C. Dental Society (DCDS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEndorsed insurance provider for DCDS members offering dental practice-specific insurance solutions.
• Maryland Classified Employees Association (MCEA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEndorsed insurance provider for MCEA members offering employee benefits and insurance products.
• Employee Activities Association of the Social Security Administration (EAA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEndorsed insurance provider for SSA employees offering voluntary benefits with payroll deduction.
• Vermont State Employees Association (VSEA)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive benefits provider for VSEA members and families offering life insurance, short-term disability, accident, hospital indemnity, and cancer insurance with guaranteed-issue policies and payroll deduction convenience. Tammy Whelan serves as dedicated VSEA Benefits Administrator.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Hilb Group: Mid-Atlantic-headquartered independent insurance brokerage built largely through acquisitions of regional agencies, with comparable specialty focus on professional and commercial lines and a similar multi-carrier independent model.
• Heffernan Insurance Brokers: Privately held independent brokerage serving businesses and individuals through multiple practice groups, including professional services and employee benefits — closely mirrors R.K. Tongue's multi-segment, relationship-driven model.
• RPS (Risk Placement Services): Specialty wholesale and retail insurance broker with deep expertise in professional liability and niche industry programs — directly comparable in its focus on profession-specific insurance products distributed through independent agency channels.
• PayneWest Insurance: Regional independent insurance agency with practice groups spanning commercial, personal, and employee benefits — comparable multi-segment structure and carrier-agnostic positioning, though operating in the Pacific Northwest rather than Mid-Atlantic.
• Brown & Riding Insurance Services: Privately held specialty insurance brokerage focused on professional services and niche industry programs — analogous to R.K. Tongue in its proprietary program development and vertical specialization.
• Lyons Companies: Regional insurance and benefits brokerage serving professional services clients in the Mid-Atlantic — most directly comparable in size, geography, and emphasis on healthcare and professional liability specialties.

Broad incumbents

• USI Insurance Services: Large national insurance brokerage with comprehensive commercial, personal, and employee benefits practices — overlaps significantly with R.K. Tongue's four-segment model but at substantially greater scale and geographic reach.
• Marsh McLennan Agency: Middle-market arm of Marsh McLennan offering employee benefits, commercial, and personal insurance through regional offices — competes for the same professional and SMB accounts but with national delivery capability.
• AssuredPartners: National insurance brokerage assembled through acquisitions of regional independents, with overlapping practice areas in commercial, personal, and benefits — represents the consolidator model R.K. Tongue has resisted.

Emerging players

• Next Insurance: Digital-first insurtech offering small business and professional liability coverage direct online — relevant both as a competitive threat to traditional brokerage and as an existing carrier partner referenced in R.K. Tongue's distribution mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RKTongue
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/r.k.-tongue-co-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 R.K.Tongue