Fortegic

What Fortegic does

Fortegic is an independent financial advisory firm headquartered at 8460 Duke Blvd. Ste 101, Mason, Ohio, serving individuals, families, business owners, and education professionals primarily throughout Ohio. The firm traces its agency origins to 1927 in partnership with Ohio National Financial Services, and was reorganized in 2009 under President and CEO Joe T. Clark into a holistic independent model with unlimited carrier partnerships. Its product portfolio spans insurance (term, whole, universal, variable universal, indexed universal life, long-term care, disability income, key person), annuities (indexed and variable), retirement plans (Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), 403(b), profit-sharing, SEP IRA, 529 plans), brokerage accounts, and estate planning services, delivered through a Connect-Discover-Establish-Monitor advisory methodology by a team of approximately nine professionals.

The firm's go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-first, executed through in-person consultations at the Mason office supplemented by virtual scheduling. Revenue is diversified across recurring financial advisory fees, insurance and annuity commissions from a multi-carrier distribution stack (John Hancock, E-Money, Ameritas, Charles Schwab, North American, Sentinel Annuities, Athene, Equitrust, Augustar Financial), and professional services fees for estate planning. A specialized sub-brand, Teachers Advocate, focuses on STRS retirement education for Ohio teachers, and a Federal Retirement Consultant (ChFC, FRC) extends the firm into federal employee planning.

The technology posture is that of a traditional advisory practice rather than a technology platform: client-facing workflows depend on third-party financial and insurance platforms accessed via a unified client portal, with no disclosed proprietary software, APIs, AI/ML capabilities, or integrations beyond vendor-supported account access. Pricing is quote-based and determined per client, and the firm does not publicly disclose fees or assets under management. Fortegic remains privately held with no funding history and no parent company, with ownership and leadership concentrated in the executive team led by Joe T. Clark.

Name

Fortegic

Legal name

Fortegic

Website

https://fortegic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fortegic is an independent financial advisory firm headquartered in Mason, Ohio, providing wealth management, retirement planning, insurance, and estate planning services to individuals, families, business owners, and Ohio teachers via its Teachers Advocate sub-brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Life Insurance (6311)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAAACAI

Insurance-Integrated Wealth Managers (RIA + Insurance Solutions)

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) & Independent Wealth Managers

SECONDARYFSAAACAL

Specialized/Niche-Vertical RIAs (e.g., Medical, Tech, Executives, Athletes)

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) & Independent Wealth Managers

SECONDARYFSAAACAF

Corporate Retirement Plan Advisory RIAs (ERISA 401(k)/403(b))

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) & Independent Wealth Managers

SECONDARYFSAAACAH

Family Wealth & Multi-Generational Planning RIAs (HNW/UHNW-lite)

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) & Independent Wealth Managers

Keywords

• Financial advisory services
• Wealth management
• Retirement planning
• Insurance products
• Estate planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Mason

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Financial Advisory & Planning Fees: Revenue generated from comprehensive financial planning services including personal planning, business protection, and wealth management advisory engagements.
2. Insurance Products Commission: Commissions earned from sale of insurance products including term life, whole life, universal life, variable universal life, indexed universal life, long-term care, disability income, and key person insurance.
3. Investment Products: Revenue from investment products including indexed annuities, variable annuities, brokerage accounts, IRAs, Roth IRAs, 529 plans, and group retirement plans (401k, 403b, profit-sharing, SEP IRA).
4. Estate Planning Services: Estate planning services to help clients organize and minimize tax burden for beneficiaries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Fortegic is an independent financial advisory firm offering comprehensive personal and business financial planning, wealth management, and insurance distribution services. The firm sells life insurance, disability income insurance, annuities, retirement accounts (401(k), 403(b), IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA), brokerage accounts, and 529 plans, alongside estate planning, buy-sell agreements, and key person insurance solutions. A specialized sub-brand, Teachers Advocate, focuses on Ohio educators and STRS program planning, all delivered through a team-based advisor model in Mason, Ohio.

Product overview

Fortegic is an independent financial services firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of financial planning and protection products. The company provides a unified platform combining personal planning (insurance, estate planning, retirement accounts), business protection (succession planning, key person insurance, buy-sell agreements), and wealth management services. The core insurance offerings include Term Life, Whole Life, Universal Life, Variable Universal Life, Indexed Universal Life, and Long Term Care Insurance. Investment products span Indexed and Variable Annuities, Brokerage Accounts, Traditional and ROTH IRAs, and 529 Plans. Group retirement services include 401(k), 403(b), Profit-Sharing, and SEP IRA plans. Specialized sub-brands include the Teachers Advocate program serving Ohio educators. All services are delivered through a team approach with dedicated financial advisors, offering personalized strategies rather than a self-service software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Teachers Advocate: A specialized team at Fortegic that works with teachers and education professionals throughout Ohio to help them learn and understand the STRS (State Teachers Retirement System) program.

Products and services

• Personal Planning Strategic personal financial planning service that evaluates clients' financial picture, sets short- and long-term goals, identifies risks, implements a tailored plan, and provides ongoing monitoring. Designed for individuals and families at any life stage.
• Business Protection Tactical business protection service providing business insurance, employee protection strategies, key person insurance, buy-sell agreements, and business continuity planning for small and mid-sized business owners.
• Wealth Management Comprehensive wealth management service integrating investment, retirement, and estate strategies within Fortegic's holistic financial planning approach for individuals and families.
• Term Life Insurance Time-limited life insurance coverage paying a stated death benefit if the insured dies during the policy term, with renewal or conversion options to permanent policies upon expiration. Offered to individuals and business owners.
• Whole Life Insurance Permanent life insurance providing lifetime coverage as long as premiums are paid, with cash value that grows at a guaranteed rate and tax-favorable retirement benefits.
• Universal Life Insurance Flexible permanent life insurance policy with cash value accumulation tied to market fluctuations and adjustable premium options to maintain coverage.
• Variable Universal Life Insurance Permanent life insurance combining a death benefit with cash value accounts invested in equity markets, with adjustable premiums and benefits based on risk tolerance.
• Indexed Universal Life Insurance Permanent life insurance with cash value tied to market indexes such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100, with customizable policy mixes to meet client needs.
• Long Term Care Insurance Insurance coverage for future care planning, protecting family members from substantial long-term care costs through various policy options.
• Disability Income Insurance Financial protection product that replaces a client's income when illness or injury prevents earning capacity, with custom-tailored plans designed to protect the client's largest asset—their income.
• Estate Planning Legacy planning service that develops estate plans and minimizes tax burdens for beneficiaries, monitored regularly alongside clients' legal counsel.
• Buy-Sell Agreement Business ownership contract providing for sale of an owner's interest upon specified events like death or retirement, funded through life insurance to ensure business continuity.
• Key Person Insurance Business insurance providing a death benefit to the company when an owner or significant employee passes away, supplying resources to support business recovery.
• Business Succession Planning Corporate planning service helping businesses adapt when employees pass or leave, providing systematic succession frameworks to avoid dispute, uncertainty, and disruption.
• Indexed Annuities Annuity contracts paying interest linked to specific market indices, allowing buyers to participate in market performance through insurance company contracts.
• Variable Annuities Tax-deferred annuity contracts allowing investment growth without immediate income or capital gains taxation, with multiple feature options for retirement planning.
• Brokerage Accounts Investment accounts enabling purchase and sale of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds where assets belong to investors who must claim capital gains as taxable income.
• Traditional IRA Individual retirement account offering tax-deferred growth until withdrawal in retirement, subject to IRS contribution limits and required minimum distributions at age 72.
• Roth IRA Retirement account accepting after-tax contributions and providing tax-free qualified distributions, with penalty-free withdrawal of contributions at any time.
• 529 Education Savings Plans Tax-advantaged education savings plans with tax-deferred growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses, subject to state-specific rules.
• 401(k) Plan Employer-sponsored retirement plan offering tax-favorable treatment for employees and business owners, with ongoing monitoring and strategic maintenance services.
• 403(b) Plan Retirement savings plan for public school employees, tax-exempt organizations, and religious groups with employer and employee contributions similar to 401(k) plans.
• Profit-Sharing Plan 401(k) profit-sharing plan allowing businesses to contribute a portion of company profits to employee retirement accounts, often paired with company 401(k) plans.
• SEP IRA Employer-sponsored retirement plan for small businesses or self-employed individuals with higher contribution limits than 401(k) plans and individual account ownership.
• Teachers Advocate Specialized sub-brand service for teachers and education professionals in Ohio, helping them understand and maximize STRS (State Teachers Retirement System) program benefits. Includes business owner consultation for employee benefit optimization.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered foundational, supporting and minor.

• Ohio National Financial ServicesfoundationalOthersHistoric partnership dating to 1927 when Fortegic's agency roots began working with Ohio National in the insurance industry. This long-standing relationship formed the foundation of the firm's financial services heritage.
• John HancocksupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvides retirement plan administration platform access for Fortegic clients through client login portal.
• E-MoneysupportingTechnology or IntegrationWealth management platform partner providing financial planning tools accessible through Fortegic client portal.
• AmeritassupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance and financial products provider. Phil Poggi has earned multiple accolades from Ameritas partners. Provides annuity and insurance products through Fortegic distribution.
• Charles SchwabsupportingTechnology or IntegrationAsset management platform partner providing brokerage account access for Fortegic clients through client portal.
• North American CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance carrier providing annuity and life insurance products accessible to Fortegic clients.
• Sentinel AnnuitiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnnuity product provider partnered with Fortegic for retirement planning solutions.
• Athene AnnuitiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnnuity products provider offering retirement income solutions through Fortegic advisors.
• EquitrustminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance carrier providing annuity contracts and life insurance policies through Fortegic distribution.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Buckingham Strategic Wealth: National independent RIA offering fee-only financial planning, investment management, and tax services to clients across the U.S., with comparable focus on retirement income planning and holistic advice for individuals and business owners.
• HBKS Wealth Advisors: Independent wealth management firm providing comprehensive financial planning, investment, tax, and insurance services to individuals and businesses - a comparable mid-sized independent advisory peer with similar product breadth.
• Sequoia Financial Group: Mid-size independent RIA headquartered in Akron, Ohio offering wealth management, retirement planning, and insurance solutions to individuals and business owners - closely comparable in scope, geography, and independent-firm positioning to Fortegic.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Financial Group: Large financial services holding company providing life insurance, annuities, retirement plan services, and wealth management - directly comparable on the group retirement (401(k), 403(b)) and annuity product lines.
• Commonwealth Financial Network: Large privately held independent broker-dealer supporting independent financial advisors with practice management, technology, and a broad product shelf - Fortegic's independent model is essentially a smaller-scale version of this archetype.
• MassMutual: Large mutual insurance company offering life insurance, disability income, annuities, and wealth management products distributed through affiliated advisors - comparable on the insurance/annuity product suite Fortegic distributes.
• Edward Jones: Nationwide retail investment advisory firm serving individual investors with retirement, investment, and insurance services - similar target customer (Main Street Americans preparing for retirement) at much larger scale.
• New York Life: Major mutual insurer with a nationwide career-agent system offering life insurance, long-term care, retirement, and wealth management services - overlapping product mix and distribution model.
• Cetera Financial Group: Large independent advisor network (formerly known as First Allied/ING) supporting thousands of independent financial professionals across wealth management, retirement, and insurance - analogous at scale to Fortegic's independent model.
• Northwestern Mutual: Major U.S. insurance-led wealth management firm combining insurance, investment, and retirement planning through a captive advisor network - overlaps directly with Fortegic's insurance-integrated wealth services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Fortegic