Tanner Financial Services

What Tanner Financial Services does

Tanner Financial Services is a privately held, independent insurance brokerage founded in 1999 and headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The firm operates as an exclusive advisor for the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan — the largest not-for-profit small-business group benefits plan in Canada, endorsed by more than 900 Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade and administered through Johnston Group with Desjardins as primary insurer. Tanner distributes a full suite of group benefits (extended health care, dental, prescription drugs, life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability, critical illness, business overhead expense, EAP, HSAs, and group RRSP/pension) and individual insurance products through carrier partnerships with Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life, Desjardins, and Empire Life, augmented by value-added integrations such as Best Doctors, Teladoc HEALTH mental health services, and payroll synchronization with Payworks and Tandem.

The company's revenue model is commission-based: Tanner earns carrier commissions on premiums placed into group benefits and individual insurance policies. Pricing is quote-based, recurring (monthly billing on group plans), and varies by firm size, coverage mix, and claims experience. The customer base is concentrated in small businesses with 1–100 employees across the Greater Toronto Area (Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Brampton), with secondary service to individuals and families seeking personal coverage.

Go-to-market combines direct advisor-led sales with community-led demand generation: the firm holds active memberships and board positions across multiple Boards of Trade, maintains a long-running blog, and runs the annual Tanner Financial Services Charity Golf Classic alongside recurring appearances on The Humble & Fred Radio Show. The team comprises President Brett Tanner, Group Benefits Brokers Christopher Tanner and Manuel Ferreira, Client Service Manager Cynthia Sani-Bakhtiari, Customer Service Representative Tanya Lea Barber, and Financial/Administrative Assistant Jane Ho.

Name

Tanner Financial Services

Legal name

Tanner Financial Services

Website

https://tannerfinancial.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tanner Financial Services is a privately held Canadian insurance brokerage founded in 1999, operating as an exclusive advisor for the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan and serving small businesses (1–100 employees) across the Greater Toronto Area with group benefits, individual insurance, and payroll-integrated plan administration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail (Personal Lines) Insurance Brokerage (FSAEADAA)

Keywords

• Group benefits brokerage
• Small business insurance
• Employee benefits plans
• Insurance advisory services
• Individual life insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond Hill

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: The company operates as an independent insurance broker earning commissions from insurance carriers for placing group benefits, individual life insurance, disability insurance, and critical illness coverage. They are exclusive advisors for the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan and work with multiple insurance carriers including Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life, Desjardins, Empire Life, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tanner Financial Services is an independent insurance brokerage that places group benefits and individual insurance products for small businesses and individuals in the Greater Toronto Area. Its flagship is the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan, a not-for-profit pooled plan offering extended health, dental, prescription drugs, life, disability, critical illness, AD&D, and group retirement solutions. It also brokers individual life, disability, critical illness, and health and dental insurance through carriers such as Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life, Desjardins, and Empire Life.

Product overview

Tanner Financial Services offers the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan as its core product, a not-for-profit group benefits plan for small Canadian businesses. The company provides a comprehensive suite of benefit products including: Extended Health Care Benefits (prescription drugs, paramedical services, vision, hospital, medical equipment, emergency travel); Group Dental Benefits (basic, major, orthodontic); Group Life Insurance; Accidental Death and Dismemberment; Group Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance; Group Critical Illness Insurance; Business Overhead Expense Coverage; Employee Assistance Program; Best Doctors; Business Assistance Service; my-benefits Online Portal; Health Care Spending Accounts; and Group RRSP & Pension Plans. Individual insurance products (Life, Disability, Critical Illness, Health and Dental) are also available. These products are offered with various add-on integrations including Payworks and Tandem for synchronized payroll/benefits management, TELUS Assure pay direct card for instant drug claim processing, and Teladoc HEALTH services for mental health support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chambers Plan: A not-for-profit group benefits plan for small businesses, endorsed by Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across Canada, that provides stable rates and comprehensive employee benefits.

Products and services

• Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan (Chambers Plan) A not-for-profit group benefits plan providing stable, flexible employee benefits for small to medium-sized Canadian businesses. Offers customized coverage including extended health care, dental, prescription drugs, life and disability insurance, critical illness, AD&D, health spending accounts, business overhead expense insurance, employee assistance, and group retirement solutions. Sold via direct advisor relationships to small businesses of 1-100 employees.
• Individual Life Insurance Permanent or term life insurance for individuals and families, with investment component options for advanced tax, investment, and estate planning. Also available for business purposes including partnership buy-sell, key person protection, and loan repayment. Sold through carriers including Manulife.
• Individual Disability Insurance Protection for ability to earn income, providing a percentage of monthly income during disability. Plan design includes benefit amount, start date, benefit period, and optional benefits. Sold to individuals and self-employed professionals.
• Individual Health and Dental Insurance Individual coverage provided through Manulife for health and dental needs. Designed for individuals and families not covered by an employer group plan.
• Individual Critical Illness Insurance Lump sum payment following diagnosis and survival of covered critical illness such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, or other conditions. Designed for individuals seeking financial protection against critical illness.

Quantifiable outcome

• Claims processed within 48 hours
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance PlancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTanner Financial Services is an exclusive advisor for the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan, the largest small business group benefits plan in Canada. The plan is overseen by the Chambers of Commerce Insurance Corporation of Canada and provides not-for-profit benefits to Chamber and Board of Trade members. The company services Toronto Regional Board of Trade, Brampton Board of Trade, and serves as exclusive agent for North York, Scarborough, and Brampton areas.
• Johnston GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party administrator for the Chambers Plan, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Selected as one of Canada's Top 50 Best Managed Companies every year since 2001. Handles claims processing, billing, and plan administration.
• Toronto Board of TradecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Toronto Board of Trade to provide group benefits to members. Tanner Financial is an advisor for the Toronto Board of Trade member benefits plan.
• Brampton Board of TradecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManuel Ferreira serves as Honorary Ambassador of the Brampton Board of Trade and provides exclusive Chambers Plan services to members.
• Best DoctorscoreTechnology or IntegrationBest Doctors program is included at no cost with every Chambers Plan. Helps employees make important medical decisions by connecting individuals and their treating physician to world-renowned specialists.
• AretecoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Business Assistance Service (BAS) for Chambers Plan clients. BAS provides professional accounting, counselling, legal, and human resource experts.
• Teladoc HEALTHcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides mental health services including Teladoc HEALTH Mental Health Navigator and Teladoc HEALTH myStrength digital mental health program for Chambers Plan members.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• GroupHEALTH Benefit Solutions: Canadian group benefits provider focused on small and mid-sized businesses, including pooled benefit plans comparable to the Chambers Plan. Highly relevant direct competitor targeting the same underserved SMB segment with similar commission-based brokerage economics.
• Benefits Alliance: Network of independent Canadian group benefits advisors and brokers serving SMBs and mid-market employers. Operates with a similar advisor-based model and similar commission revenue structure, making it a directly comparable peer for Tanner's exclusive-advisor go-to-market.
• BFL Canada: One of Canada's largest independent commercial insurance brokerages with a benefits and specialty practice. Comparable Canadian brokerage with overlapping SMB and mid-market group benefits capabilities.
• Manion Wilkins & Associates: Canadian insurance brokerage with strong focus on group benefits, retirement, and individual insurance for businesses and professionals. Comparable mid-sized Canadian broker with similar product breadth and SMB-to-mid-market client mix.
• Cowan Insurance Group: One of Canada's largest independent insurance brokerages offering group benefits, commercial, and personal lines through multiple offices. Comparable Canadian peer with overlapping group benefits practice serving SMB clients across multiple provinces.
• Jones DesLauriers Insurance Management: Canadian insurance brokerage (part of Intact Public Entities) providing group benefits, commercial, and personal insurance. Comparable full-service Canadian broker with overlapping group benefits capabilities for SMBs.

Broad incumbents

• Hub International: Large global insurance brokerage with significant Canadian operations, including group benefits and commercial lines. Broad incumbent peer for the same SMB and mid-market segment but at substantially larger scale.
• Aon Canada: Global insurance brokerage and advisory firm with a major Canadian presence in group benefits, health & benefits consulting, and risk solutions. Broad incumbent with overlapping group benefits capabilities but focused on larger employers.
• Marsh Canada: Subsidiary of global insurance brokerage Marsh & McLennan, offering large-enterprise risk advisory, group benefits, and consulting. Relevant incumbent peer for group benefits capabilities but skewed toward larger accounts than Tanner's SMB focus.

Emerging players

• League: Digital-first health benefits platform targeting employers with self-serve onboarding and integrated health-navigation tools. Emerging peer for the same underserved SMB segment but competing via a technology-led, lower-friction model that could pressure traditional brokers over time.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tanner-financial
• Xx.com/TannerFinServ
• Facebookfacebook.com/TannerFinancial

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Tanner Financial Services