Ingenuity Group
Ingenuity Group is an independent insurance agency in Clarkston, Michigan, acting as an authorized agent for 80+ carriers to provide commercial and personal insurance, employee benefits, Medicare solutions, and fee-based consulting across Michigan, Florida, and New Jersey.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersClarkston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Ingenuity Group does
Ingenuity Group, LLC is an independent insurance agency headquartered in Clarkston, Michigan, founded in 2003 by James A. Ward Jr., LIC, who continues to serve as President & CEO. The firm operates as an authorized agent and broker for more than 80 insurance carriers, offering commercial insurance (Business Owners Policy, Commercial Package, Workers Compensation, General Liability, D&O, EPLI, Cyber Liability, Commercial Auto, Property, Flood, Umbrella), personal insurance (Home, Auto, Collector Car, Life, Disability, Vision, Boat/Yacht, RV, Flood), employee benefits (Group Health, Life/AD&D, Disability, Dental, Vision, Voluntary), Medicare insurance solutions, and fee-based insurance consulting services. The company holds multi-state licensing in Michigan, Florida, and New Jersey for Life, Health & Accident, Property, and Casualty lines, and maintains AHIP Medicare, AHIP Self Insurance, PPACA Federal Marketplace, and NFIP Flood certifications.
The firm has no proprietary technology platform; its distribution runs through a corporate website (financeclipper.com), phone-based direct sales, and carrier-partner platforms. Revenue is generated primarily via commissions on policy placement as an authorized agent, supplemented by project- or hourly-based fees for Licensed Insurance Counselor Services. Customer segmentation spans small and middle-market businesses, non-profits, associations (business, home, condo), and individuals/families, with specialty vertical practices in behavioral health, pregnancy centers, industrial hemp, hunt clubs, and country clubs. The company is a member of industry associations including NABIP, NAHU, MAIA, and BIG I.
Operationally, the firm is a micro-entity with 1-10 employees, no disclosed parent company, no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no public listing. Leadership is concentrated in a single founder with 30+ years of industry experience and multiple professional certifications. The business model is relationship-driven, advisory-led, and dependent on carrier appointment continuity; technology plays a minimal role, and growth signals are limited to incremental geographic and specialty-vertical reach rather than scale-based expansion.
Ingenuity Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ingenuity Group
- Legal name
- Ingenuity Group, LLC
- Website
- https://financeclipper.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ingenuity Group is an independent insurance agency in Clarkston, Michigan, acting as an authorized agent for 80+ carriers to provide commercial and personal insurance, employee benefits, Medicare solutions, and fee-based consulting across Michigan, Florida, and New Jersey.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ingenuity Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Insurance Brokerage
- NAICS
- Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)
- SIC
- Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Embedded Insurance & Affinity Distribution Platforms (FSAGAGAL)
Keywords
Where Ingenuity Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clarkston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ingenuity Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Insurance Commission Revenue: Compensated by commissions for policy placement as authorized agents for insurance company principals. Also compensated by project or hourly fees for contracted Licensed Insurance Counselor Services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Quote-based pricing - no publicly listed rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Ingenuity Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ingenuity Group is an independent insurance agency that places commercial and personal insurance policies, employee benefits, and Medicare coverage as an authorized broker for 80+ insurance carriers. The firm operates from a Clarkston, Michigan headquarters and is licensed in Michigan, Florida, and New Jersey. It supplements brokerage with fee-based Licensed Insurance Counselor services covering PPACA compliance, self-insurance feasibility, third-party administration, and cafeteria plan design, and bundles HR 360 HRIS subscription services as a value-add.
Product overview
Ingenuity Group is an independent insurance agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of commercial and personal insurance products, employee benefits administration, Medicare insurance solutions, and fee-based insurance consulting services. The core offerings are organized into four main categories: Business Insurance (including Business Owners Policy, Commercial Package, Cyber Liability, Workers Compensation, General Liability, D&O, EPLI, Commercial Auto, Property, Flood, and Umbrella coverage through 80+ carrier relationships), Employee Benefits (Group Health, Life, Disability, Dental, Vision, and Voluntary plans for Michigan and Florida markets), Personal Insurance (Home, Auto, Collector Car, Health, Medicare, Life, Disability, Vision, Boat, and RV coverage), and Specialty Markets (Condominium Associations, Non-Profits, Healthcare, and Associations). HR 360 HRIS subscription services are offered as an add-on module. The company operates as an authorized agent representing multiple insurance carriers rather than as a single unified software platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Business Owners Policy (BOP) Combined General Liability and Property coverage for small and middle market business owners including offices, wholesalers, retailers, professional services, and light manufacturing industries.
- Commercial Package Policy Comprehensive commercial insurance package combining multiple coverage types for business risk management.
- Cyber / Data Breach Liability Insurance coverage for businesses facing cyber liability and data breach risks, including free online cyber courses resources.
- Workers Compensation Workers compensation insurance for employers in Michigan and Florida, covering workplace injury and related claims.
- General Liability Standard commercial general liability insurance protecting businesses against third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury claims.
- Directors & Officers D&O insurance protecting directors and officers from personal losses arising from wrongful conduct allegations.
- Employment Practices Liability EPLI coverage protecting employers against claims from employees regarding discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination.
- Commercial Auto Commercial vehicle insurance covering business autos, trucks, and specialty vehicles through carriers like Foremost and Progressive.
- Property Insurance Commercial property insurance protecting business buildings, equipment, and contents against covered perils.
- Flood Insurance (Commercial) Flood insurance through NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) and private Lloyds markets for commercial buildings, residences, and condominium associations.
- Umbrella Insurance Excess liability umbrella coverage providing additional protection beyond primary policy limits.
- Group Health Insurance - Michigan Group health coverage through Michigan carriers including Health Alliance Plan, Priority Health, BCBSM, Blue Care Network, and McLaren for small and large employer groups.
- Group Health Insurance - Florida Individual and group health insurance for Florida employers, available on and off marketplace, with fully insured and self-insured options.
- Group Life / AD & D Group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance through Principal Group and Guardian.
- Group Disability Short and long-term group disability insurance protecting employee income.
- Group Dental Group dental insurance plans through Principal Group, BCBSM, Guardian, and Delta Dental.
- Group Vision Group vision insurance through VSP covering eye exams, lenses, and frames.
- Group Voluntary Voluntary employee benefit plans including supplemental insurance products.
- Home Insurance Personal home insurance covering primary residences, vacation homes, mobile homes, renters, and landlord dwelling policies through Foremost.
- Auto Insurance Personal auto insurance for everyday vehicles and collector cars through Progressive and other carriers.
- Collector Car Insurance Specialty insurance for classic and collector vehicles through Hagerty and Grundy, including agreed value coverage.
- Medicare Insurance Solutions Medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage, and prescription drug plans through BCBSM, BCN, and HAP, with AHIP Medicare certification.
- Life Insurance Personal life insurance including term life and universal life policies.
- Disability Insurance Personal disability insurance through UNUM and The Standard, including own occupation coverage for select professions.
- Vision Insurance Personal vision insurance through VSP for individuals and families in Michigan.
- Yacht / Boat Insurance Personal watercraft insurance covering yachts, powerboats, sailboats, and fishing boats.
- RV Insurance Recreational vehicle insurance through Foremost covering motor homes, travel trailers, fifth-wheels, and campers.
- Condominium Associations Specialized insurance programs for condominium and homeowner associations including general liability, property, D&O, and umbrella coverage.
- Insurance Consulting Services Fee-based insurance consulting including PPACA compliance, self-insurance feasibility studies, third-party administration, and cafeteria plans.
Companies that use Ingenuity Group
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ingenuity Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ingenuity Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Berkshire Hathaway - Guard InsurancecoreAuthorized agency for Business Owners Policy, Workers Compensation, and various commercial insurance products.
- Foremost Insurance GroupcoreAuthorized agent for Foremost Home Insurance, Commercial Auto, and specialty dwelling/mobile home coverage.
- Progressive InsurancecoreAuthorized agent for Commercial Auto and Personal Auto Insurance through Progressive.
- Health Alliance Plan (HAP)coreAuthorized agency for Group Health Insurance in Michigan - offering PPO, EPO, HMO, HDHP plans with HSAs or HRAs.
- Priority HealthcoreAuthorized agency for Group Health Insurance solutions for Michigan Employers.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM)coreAuthorized independent agent for Small & Large Group Health Plans.
- Blue Care Network (BCN)coreAuthorized independent agent for HMO and HMO-POS plans plus High Deductible Health Plans.
- McLaren Health CarecoreAuthorized agency for Group Health Insurance solutions in Michigan.
- United HealthcarecoreListed as carrier partner for Michigan Group Health Insurance.
- Principal GroupcorePartner for Group Life/AD&D and Group Dental insurance.
- GuardiancorePartner for Group Life/AD&D and Group Dental insurance.
- Delta DentalcorePartner for Group Dental insurance plans.
- VSP (Vision Service Plan)corePartner for Group Vision and individual vision insurance.
- UNUMcorePartner for Disability Insurance coverage.
- The StandardcorePartner for Disability Insurance coverage.
- Hagerty Insurance CocorePartner for Collector Car and Boat Insurance - specializing in classic vehicle coverage.
- GrundycorePartner for Collector Car Insurance coverage.
- Wright FloodcorePartner for Flood Insurance coverage through NFIP.
- Selective Insurance CocorePartner for Flood Insurance coverage.
- HR 360corePartnership to provide online HR library with compliance guides, job description builder, salary benchmarking tool, COBRA/FMLA guidance, 700+ downloadable forms, and HR newsletter.
- National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP)minorMember of NABIP with chapters in Detroit and Tampa.
- Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (BIG I)minorMember of BIG I for industry networking and professional development.
- Michigan Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA)minorMember of MAIA for Michigan insurance industry representation.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Ingenuity Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Acrisure: Tech-enabled, rapidly consolidating insurance broker. Acquires and partners with independent agencies, then layers technology, data, and capital across commercial, personal, and benefits lines — directly comparable customer segments.
- Hub International: North American insurance brokerage that acquires and operates regional independent agencies. Highly comparable customer focus (small/mid-market commercial, personal, benefits) and a frequent consolidator of agencies of Ingenuity's profile.
- Brown & Brown: Large national independent insurance broker with a decentralized model of acquired agencies serving the same small/mid-market commercial and personal lines customers. A frequent acquirer of agencies similar in profile to Ingenuity.
- Arthur J. Gallagher: Global insurance brokerage and risk management firm. Comparable as a multi-line distribution platform serving small/mid-market commercial, personal, and employee benefits, and as an active acquirer of independent agencies.
- Marsh McLennan Agency: Middle-market arm of Marsh McLennan providing commercial insurance, employee benefits, and consulting. Directly comparable offerings across property/casualty, group benefits, and HR consulting for the same small/mid-market customer base.
Direct peers
- The Hilb Group: Mid-Atlantic/Midwest-focused independent insurance brokerage that aggregates small/mid-market agencies. Operates the same multi-carrier distribution model targeting commercial, personal, and employee benefits lines with comparable specialty niches.
- RPS (Risk Placement Services): Specialty insurance wholesale broker and binding authority platform. Comparable in representing multiple carrier principals and providing placement access to independent retail agents for niche commercial and personal lines.
- The IMA Financial Group: Independent insurance, risk management, and wealth advisory firm. Directly comparable as a regional, multi-line independent agency focused on commercial, personal, and benefits with a similar employee benefits consulting practice.
Regional players
- Frankenmuth Insurance: Mutual insurance carrier and agency network headquartered in Michigan. Comparable as a regional Michigan-anchored multi-line insurance distributor serving the same Southeast Michigan small/mid-market customer profile.
Emerging players
- Burns & Wilcox: Specialty wholesale insurance broker and managing general agent. Comparable as a multi-carrier distribution platform for niche and specialty risks, often accessed by independent retail agencies to fulfill hard-to-place coverage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ingenuity Group social profiles
Digital presenceIngenuity Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Ingenuity Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ingenuity Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Ingenuity Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ingenuity Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ingenuity Group
What does Ingenuity Group do?
Ingenuity Group is an independent insurance agency that places commercial and personal insurance policies, employee benefits, and Medicare coverage as an authorized broker for 80+ insurance carriers. The firm operates from a Clarkston, Michigan headquarters and is licensed in Michigan, Florida, and New Jersey. It supplements brokerage with fee-based Licensed Insurance Counselor services covering PPACA compliance, self-insurance feasibility, third-party administration, and cafeteria plan design, and bundles HR 360 HRIS subscription services as a value-add.
Is Ingenuity Group a public or private company?
Ingenuity Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ingenuity Group founded?
Ingenuity Group was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ingenuity Group based?
Ingenuity Group is headquartered in Clarkston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ingenuity Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: insurance Commission Revenue.
Who are Ingenuity Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Acrisure, Hub International, Brown & Brown, Arthur J. Gallagher and Marsh McLennan Agency. Direct peers are The Hilb Group, RPS (Risk Placement Services) and The IMA Financial Group. Frankenmuth Insurance is listed as a regional player. Burns & Wilcox is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ingenuity Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ingenuity Group.
What industry is Ingenuity Group in?
Ingenuity Group's product category is Independent Insurance Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAGAL, Embedded Insurance & Affinity Distribution Platforms. Its NAICS code is 52421 and its SIC code is 6411.