American Benefits Exchange

What American Benefits Exchange does

American Benefits Exchange (ABX) is a privately held National Marketing Organization and AmeriLife affiliate that distributes individually underwritten insurance and financial products to three target segments: federal, postal, and state employees plus members of the U.S. Armed Forces; small business owners; and individuals outside employer-provided benefits. The company's product portfolio spans life insurance, health insurance (including Medicare solutions and under-65 individual coverage), annuities, disability insurance, long-term care, critical illness, hospital indemnity, supplemental retirement planning, Thrift Savings Plan guidance, pension maximization, debt elimination strategies, living trusts, and final expense insurance through its Tribute sub-brand. It also operates a Tax Incentive Program (TIP) covering R&D tax credits, business development incentives, employer reimbursements, and cost segregation.

The company has no proprietary technology platform and operates as a marketing and distribution organization rather than a technology builder. Its core technology is human expert consultation delivered through a sales-led go-to-market model, with subject matter experts supporting field agents via case management, marketing strategy, product guidance, and carrier outreach. The firm is led by President and CEO Brian S. Pearson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Val Majewski, National Sales Manager Ron Rothermel, National Director of Medicare Sales Stella Hattox, and Regional Manager Paul Kresowik, supported by a contracting specialist.

ABX generates revenue primarily through commissions from insurance carriers and, secondarily, through contingency-based fees from the Tax Incentive Program, where clients pay only if tax incentives are successfully secured. The company was founded in 2008 as IHC Financial Group (a subsidiary of Madison National Life and Independence Holding Company), was acquired via management buyout in February 2016 by Pearson, Majewski, and Mark Saccomanno, and was acquired by AmeriLife in November 2020. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, with operations centered at its Austin, Texas headquarters and national distribution through its field agent network.

Name

American Benefits Exchange

Legal name

American Benefits Exchange, LLC

Website

https://thinkabx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

American Benefits Exchange is a privately held National Marketing Organization and AmeriLife affiliate that distributes individually underwritten insurance, retirement, and tax incentive products to federal and state government employees, small business owners, and individuals across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Distribution and 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

Benefits Administration & Enrollment Support (BPAAAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Eligibility, Enrollment & Benefits Administration (HLAEALAH)

Keywords

• Insurance brokerage services
• Federal employee benefits
• Retirement planning solutions
• Tax incentive programs
• Annuity distribution services

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Product Distribution: ABX generates revenue through commissions from distributing individually underwritten insurance products including life insurance, health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions. As a National Marketing Organization affiliate of AmeriLife, ABX earns commissions from carrier partnerships for products placed with government employees, business owners, and individuals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

American Benefits Exchange (ABX) is a National Marketing Organization and AmeriLife affiliate that distributes individually underwritten insurance and financial products through expert consultation. Its core business is delivering specialized insurance, retirement, and tax-incentive solutions to three customer segments: federal, postal, and state government employees (FEGLI, FEHB, TSP, pension, disability, long-term care), business owners (group health, life, retirement, R&D tax credits, cost segregation), and individuals (final expense, Medicare, health under 65, living trusts). Revenue is generated via carrier commissions on placed policies and contingency-based fees on its Tax Incentive Program.

Product overview

American Benefits Exchange (ABX) is a National Marketing Organization and AmeriLife affiliate that provides specialized insurance and financial solutions through three main channels: Government Employee Benefits (focused on FEGLI, TSP, pension maximization, supplemental retirement, disability, long-term care, and critical illness coverage), Business Solutions (health insurance, life insurance, retirement planning, and tax incentives), and Individual Services (final expense/Tribute, Safe Money retirement, health insurance, Medicare solutions, hospital indemnity, disability, and living trusts). The Tax Incentive Program (TIP) represents a distinct offering covering R&D tax credits, business development incentives, employer reimbursements, and cost segregation. The company operates as a brokerage connecting customers with insurance carriers rather than as a technology product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tribute: An individual whole Life Insurance policy designed to help pay for funeral expenses or allow you to leave a gift for a loved one.

Products and services

• Federal Employee Benefits Advisory Services Consultative services covering Thrift Savings Plan, FEGLI, Federal Employees Health Benefits, pension maximization, supplemental retirement, disability, long-term care, critical illness, and debt elimination for federal, postal, and state employees and U.S. Armed Forces members.
• Business Insurance Solutions Employer health insurance, business life insurance (employee coverage, buy-sell, key man, executive bonus), and Safe Money retirement planning products for small business owners.
• Tax Incentive Program (TIP) IRS-approved tax incentive, reimbursement, and credit execution service covering R&D tax credits, business development incentives, employer reimbursement programs (up to 50% of employee salaries for up to six months), and cost segregation studies for commercial real estate owners.
• Individual Insurance and Retirement Solutions Individual insurance and retirement offerings including Tribute final expense whole life insurance, Safe Money retirement solutions, health insurance for individuals under 65, Medicare solutions for those over 65, hospital indemnity insurance, disability insurance, and revocable and irrevocable living trusts.

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

One partnership is on record.

• Madison National Life (MNL) / Independence Holding Company (IHC)minorOthers · 1 February 2016Originally founded in 2008 as IHC Financial Group (IHCFG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Madison National Life and Independence Holding Company, a publicly traded company out of New York City, NY. In February 2016, IHCFG was purchased from IHC and MNL by Brian Pearson, Val Majewski, and Mark Saccomanno, and renamed to American Benefits Exchange.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Integrity Marketing Group: Large private equity-backed National Marketing Organization that acquires and consolidates insurance marketing organizations — structurally the closest comparable to AmeriLife, ABX's parent. Operates the same NMO roll-up playbook across life, health, annuities, and retirement products.
• NFP (an Aon company): Large diversified insurance brokerage and benefits consulting firm serving mid-market and corporate clients. Comparable to ABX at the business-solutions level for benefits placement, retirement, and risk solutions, though at materially larger scale.
• Bankers Life: CNO Financial subsidiary distributing life, health, annuity, and retirement products to middle-income Americans through career agents. Directly comparable to ABX's Individual segment and historically the firm where ABX's VP of Sales began his insurance career.

Direct peers

• Senior Market Sales: Insurance marketing organization specializing in senior-market and Medicare products distributed through independent agents. Highly comparable to ABX's individual-segment business, including final expense, Medicare solutions, and hospital indemnity.
• BenefitMall: Benefits distribution and brokerage organization serving small and mid-sized employers with health, life, and ancillary products. Directly comparable to ABX's Business Solutions segment for employer-sponsored benefits placement.
• Goosehead Insurance: Publicly traded personal-lines insurance agency leveraging a franchise/agent model for distribution scale. Comparable as an agent-driven distribution model for insurance products across personal and small-commercial lines.
• World Insurance Associates: National insurance brokerage distributing personal, commercial, and benefits products through an agent network. Comparable distribution architecture to ABX with a similar focus on small business and individual insurance.
• BENEFED: Federal-contracted benefits enrollment platform for FEHB and FEDVIP, specifically targeting the federal employee segment that is ABX's primary market. Most direct competitor for federal benefits advisory services.

Emerging players

• SelectQuote: Direct-to-consumer insurance distribution platform focused on senior market life and health products. Competes with ABX's individual/Medicare segment via a technology-led, lower-friction distribution model that contrasts with ABX's consultative approach.

Others

• HealthEquity (WageWorks): Benefits-administration platform for HSA, FSA, HRA, and commuter benefits — adjacent rather than directly competitive. Relevant as a technology-enabled benefits administration counterweight illustrating where ABX does not compete.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPn90jbuILUAhRi_oT6snqw
• Facebookfacebook.com/thinkabx
• Xx.com/thinkabx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 American Benefits Exchange