What Disability Insurance Services does

Disability Insurance Services (DIS), headquartered in San Diego, California, is a private disability insurance wholesaler founded in 1997 that operates as the self-described largest DI wholesaler in the United States. The company does not sell directly to consumers; instead it functions as an intermediary that gives independent insurance brokers and agents access to ten or more top-rated individual disability insurance carriers (including Ameritas, Assurity, Illinois Mutual, Lloyd's, Mass Mutual, MetLife, Mutual of Omaha, Principal, The Standard, and Petersen International Underwriters), provides quoting, contracting, co-selling, and back-office support, and earns commissions on placed policies. Its product surface spans individual disability income insurance, retirement-plan DI, simplified-issue, long-term, supplemental, own-occupation and any-occupation, mortgage, business overhead expense, buy-sell, key person, business loan, multi-life, and guaranteed standard issue coverage, plus critical illness as an adjacent line.

DIS's competitive positioning rests on a custom-built proprietary technology stack: a DIS Quote Engine that produces quotes rapidly and is embedded into broker and affiliate partner sites, a Broker Portal for application and client management, a Quote Analyzer Tool to optimize carrier matching and placement outcomes, and automation tools for benefit increases and GSI renewals. Internally these tools are configured to lift placement economics — DIS reports a 25% policy placement rate on quoted business versus a 10% industry average — and to lower back-office effort for contracted brokers and affiliate partners.

The revenue model is commission-based insurance wholesaling. DIS receives a share of the first-year commission (typically ~50% of premium on a DI sale) plus renewal trail commissions, with the agent retaining a portion and DIS earning the wholesale override; revenue is therefore tied to placed premium volume and the persistency of the in-force book (industry average DI persistency exceeds 12 years). Customers are segmented into insurance agents and brokers as the primary B2B buyer and individual consumers, business owners, medical professionals, and high-income executives as end-buyer personas. The go-to-market combines a nationwide independent broker network, affiliate/IMO partnerships with embedded technology, and a free co-selling/mentorship program. Additional revenue-adjacent service lines include affiliate back-office support and a newly articulated Mergers and Succession offering for insurance broker/agency buyers and sellers.

Name

Disability Insurance Services

Legal name

Disability Insurance Services, Inc.

Website

https://diservices.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Disability Insurance Services is a private San Diego-based disability insurance wholesaler that supplies independent brokers and IMOs with carrier access, quoting tools, and back-office support to place individual and business disability policies. It self-describes as the largest DI wholesaler in the United States and operates on a commission-based revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Insurance Wholesaling

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), 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

Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance (FSAIAIAD), Own-Occupation Specialty Disability Insurance (Professional Occupations) (FSAIAIAI), Disability Buy-Sell / Business Continuation Insurance (FSAIAIAL), Key Person Disability Insurance (FSAIAIAK)

Keywords

• Disability insurance wholesaling
• Disability income insurance
• Broker sales support
• Insurance carrier portfolio
• Group disability coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commission-based insurance wholesaling: DIS earns commissions from insurance carriers when policies are placed. Brokers join the network and earn commissions on sales; DIS receives a share as the wholesaler. A typical disability insurance sale offers first-year commission of 50% with additional commissions in subsequent years. DIS places 25% of quoted DI policies in force compared to the industry average of 10%.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Disability Insurance Services is the largest disability insurance wholesaler in the United States, enabling independent brokers, agents, IMOs, and financial firms to quote, contract, and place individual and business disability insurance with multiple top-rated carriers. The firm earns carrier commissions on placed policies and equips its distribution network with custom-built technology, contracting, underwriting advocacy, sales coaching, and white-glove co-selling support.

Product overview

Disability Insurance Services (DIS) operates as the largest disability insurance wholesaler in the nation, offering a comprehensive portfolio of disability insurance products and proprietary technology tools for brokers and affiliates. The core product offering centers on disability income insurance—replacing a percentage of lost income when policyholders cannot work due to disability—with multiple product lines including Individual Disability Insurance (IDI), Retirement Plan Disability Insurance, Simplified Issue Disability Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Supplemental Disability Insurance, Private Disability Insurance, Income Protection, Mortgage Disability Insurance, Own-Occupation Disability Insurance, and Any Occupation Disability Insurance. Business-focused products include Business Overhead Expense Disability Insurance, Disability Buy-Sell Insurance, Key Person Disability Insurance, Business Loan Disability Insurance, Multi-Life Disability Insurance, and Guaranteed Standard Issue Disability Insurance. Critical Illness Insurance is offered as an additional option. DIS complements its product portfolio with proprietary technology including the DIS Quote Engine, Broker Portal, Quote Analyzer Tool, and Benefit Increase/GSI Renewal Automation Tools, enabling brokers to generate quotes, manage cases, and improve placement rates of 25% compared to the industry average of 10%.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Disability Insurance Personal disability income insurance that replaces a percentage of lost income if a disability prevents the policyholder from working, providing portable coverage that can continue through job changes.
• Retirement Plan Disability Insurance Retirement income protection that contributes to a retirement plan when a policyholder is unable to make contributions due to total disability, with benefits paid into a trust for investment.
• Simplified Issue Disability Insurance Disability insurance with a streamlined underwriting process that does not require medical exams, blood work, or inspection reports, ideal for people with pre-existing conditions.
• Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage that replaces a portion of lost income for disabilities lasting longer than short-term policies, with benefit periods of two years, five years, or until retirement age.
• Supplemental Disability Insurance Additional disability coverage that supplements job-based group long-term disability insurance to fill income gaps and provide portable coverage independent of employment.
• Private Disability Insurance Privately purchased disability insurance that provides long-term coverage beyond state-mandated programs, with customizable terms, benefit periods, and definitions of disability.
• Mortgage Disability Insurance Disability coverage that specifically helps policyholders keep making mortgage payments during disability, though individual disability insurance offers more flexibility for covering various expenses.
• Own-Occupation Disability Insurance Policy that provides benefits if the policyholder cannot perform the duties of their own occupation due to disability, offering more robust coverage than any-occupation definitions for specialized professionals.
• Any Occupation Disability Insurance Policy that defines disability based on the policyholder's inability to work in any suitable occupation, typically more affordable than own-occupation coverage.
• Business Overhead Expense Disability Insurance Coverage for small business owners that pays for overhead expenses including employee salaries, rent, utilities, and other operational costs if the owner experiences a disability.
• Disability Buy-Sell Insurance Insurance that funds buy-sell agreements for business partners, providing funds to purchase a disabled partner's stake in the business when triggered by a qualifying disability.
• Key Person Disability Insurance Coverage that provides disability income payments to a company when a key employee covered under the policy becomes unable to work due to a covered disability.
• Business Loan Disability Insurance Coverage that covers bank loan payments if the business owner experiences a qualifying disability.
• Multi-Life Disability Insurance Disability insurance coverage available at a discount for groups of three or more, covering multiple individuals under a single arrangement.
• Guaranteed Standard Issue Disability Insurance Coverage available for employee groups of five or more without medical underwriting, providing guaranteed issue disability insurance for workers with pre-existing conditions.
• Critical Illness Insurance Insurance providing benefits upon diagnosis of specified critical illnesses, available as an additional coverage option.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AmeritascoreOthersAmeritas offers individual disability income insurance products including DInamic Fundamental (simplified underwriting) and DInamic Foundation series. They have an A (Excellent) A.M. Best rating.
• AssuritycoreOthersAssurity offers affordable disability income insurance with elimination periods as short as 30 days. They are a Certified B Corporation with an A.M. Best rating of A- (Excellent).
• Illinois MutualcoreOthersIllinois Mutual offers disability income insurance with total disability benefits including retroactive injury benefit rider and home modification rider. A.M. Best rating of A- (Excellent).
• Lloyd's of LondoncoreOthersLloyd's is an insurance and reinsurance marketplace where members specialize in different types of risk including disability insurance policies.
• Mass MutualcoreOthersMass Mutual offers disability income insurance that can help protect 45% to 65% of regular income. They have an A.M. Best rating of A++ (Superior).
• MetLifecoreOthersMetLife provides disability insurance products for businesses including short-term and long-term disability insurance for employee benefits packages. (No longer sells individual DI through agents.)
• Mutual of OmahacoreOthersMutual of Omaha offers disability insurance with waiting periods of 30 to 730 days and benefit periods from six months to age 70. Monthly benefits from $300 to $20,000. A.M. Best rating of A+ (Superior).
• PrincipalcoreOthersPrincipal offers disability income insurance and DI Retirement Savings to help individuals continue saving for retirement if unable to work. A.M. Best rating of A+ (Superior).
• The StandardcoreOthersThe Standard offers individual disability insurance, business protection, and employer-sponsored disability insurance including Platinum Advantage product. A.M. Best rating of A (Excellent).
• Petersen International UnderwriterscoreOthersSpecialty insurance carrier providing unique disability insurance solutions including coverage for pilots and other specialized occupations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brokers International: Insurance marketing organization offering life, disability, and annuity products to independent agents with carrier contracts and back-office support; competes in the same wholesale distribution channel as DIS.
• Ritter Insurance Marketing: One of the largest independent marketing organizations (IMOs) in the U.S., specializing in life, health, and disability insurance distribution through a nationwide agent network with contracting, back-office, and quoting support — directly comparable to DIS's wholesale-broker model.
• Senior Market Sales: Insurance marketing organization distributing life, disability, and health products to independent agents with contracting, training, and carrier portfolio services, overlapping meaningfully with DIS's broker enablement model.
• Crump Life Insurance Services: National life and disability insurance wholesale distributor serving independent producers with multi-carrier access, advanced case design, and back-office services — a direct functional comparable to DIS.
• DMI Agency: A national insurance wholesale agency focused on life and disability income insurance for independent agents, providing carrier access, quoting tools, and back-office support that closely mirrors DIS's service stack.

Others

• Goosehead Insurance: Public, tech-enabled personal lines insurance agency with carrier partnerships and a digital agent experience; adjacent rather than directly competitive, but a benchmark for tech-enabled distribution that may pressure traditional DI wholesale economics.

Broad incumbents

• SelectQuote: Public insurance distributor operating a tech-enabled, direct-to-consumer platform for life, disability, and health coverage; competes for the same underlying individual disability demand that DIS's broker channel ultimately serves, though via a fundamentally different distribution model.
• AmeriLife: Large, PE-backed insurance distribution platform representing multiple carriers across life, health, and annuity products with a national agent network; a much larger incumbent that overlaps with DIS in life and disability wholesale.

Emerging players

• Benefytt Technologies: Tech-forward insurance distributor (formerly Health Insurance Innovations) using digital channels to distribute health, life, and supplemental products; an emerging distribution competitor that may increasingly reach individual disability buyers without a broker intermediary.

Regional players

• The Insurance Store: California-based insurance brokerage specializing in individual disability and life insurance, particularly for medical professionals; comparable product focus and high-income professional segment as DIS, but operates more as a retail broker than a national wholesaler.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DiservicesSanDiego
• Xx.com/diservices
• Facebookfacebook.com/disabilityinsuranceservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1106432

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Disability Insurance Services