JD Smith Insurance Brokers Inc.

What JD Smith Insurance Brokers Inc. does

JD Smith Insurance Brokers Inc. (legally JD Smith & Associates Insurance Brokers Inc.) is an independent, privately-held insurance brokerage founded in 1979 by Dr. J.D. Smith and headquartered at 105 West Beaver Creek Rd., Richmond Hill, Ontario. Operating under Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) licensure with CISRO-compliant conduct, the firm acts as an intermediary between clients and 17+ insurance carriers and MGAs, including Aviva, Intact, Economical, Wawanesa, Travelers, Chubb, Ecclesiastical, Lloyds of London, AIG and Premier Marine, earning commissions of 5-20% depending on line of business and carrier type.

The brokerage distributes personal lines (auto, home, condo, boat, life and health) and a broad commercial book that spans contractors, retailers, wholesalers, landscapers, tool-and-die, welding, windows-and-doors, fleet, marine/cargo, cyber liability, professional liability, builder's risk, schools and golf holes-in-one. Its most differentiated verticals are evangelical family, churches and non-profits (with Ecclesiastical and other specialty carriers for counseling and sexual abuse liability), and Canadian-Chinese community clients served through multi-language capability. Approximately 30 brokers serve a customer base of 12,000+ across Canada (concentrated in Ontario) with a stated 98% annual retention rate.

Commercial operations are direct and sales-led: licensed RIBO brokers quote and service clients by phone, online request, and in-person at the Richmond Hill office, supported by a small corporate team and a wholly-owned financial services subsidiary. There is no proprietary technology platform; distribution is driven by personal relationships, community sponsorships (Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce, Gary Elliott Racing Team, local sports teams) and referral-based client acquisition. The company is not owned by a bank or insurer, has no external institutional funding, and operates only Canadian risk exposures.

Name

JD Smith Insurance Brokers Inc.

Legal name

JD Smith & Associates Insurance Brokers Inc.

Website

https://jdsmithinsurance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

JD Smith Insurance Brokers Inc. is an independent Ontario insurance brokerage founded in 1979 that represents 17+ carriers to deliver personal, commercial, and specialty insurance (including church, non-profit, fleet and evangelical family coverage) to 12,000+ Canadian clients through licensed RIBO brokers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Insurance Carriers and Related Activities (524)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Lines Insurance Brokerage (FSAEADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail (Personal Lines) Insurance Brokerage (FSAEADAA), Specialty Insurance Brokerage (Marine, Aviation, Cyber, Professional Lines) (FSAEADAJ), Individual Health Insurance Brokerage & Distribution (FSAIAEAL)

Keywords

• Independent insurance brokerage
• Commercial insurance programs
• Personal lines insurance
• Church nonprofit insurance
• Commercial fleet coverage

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: JD Smith Insurance Brokers earns commissions from insurance companies they represent. Commissions range from 8-15% on Property and Liability policies from MGA/Wholesale companies, 8-20% on Property and Liability from direct insurers, and 5-12.5% on Auto policies. Additional incentive commissions of approximately 1% may be paid based on three-year profitability, sales performance, losses and potential losses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

JD Smith Insurance Brokers Inc. operates as an independent insurance brokerage distributing personal and commercial insurance products on behalf of multiple Canadian carriers. Revenue is earned through carrier commissions (8-20% on Property/Liability, 5-12.5% on Auto) while providing clients with market-shopping, claims assistance, and specialized coverage programs across roughly 40 product categories. Sales are conducted through RIBO-licensed brokers across Canada primarily via direct phone, online, and in-person channels from the Richmond Hill office.

Product overview

JD Smith Insurance Brokers Inc. is an independent insurance brokerage offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products and services. The company provides personal insurance (auto, home, condo, boat, life) and commercial insurance solutions through multiple specialized product lines. Their offerings include church and non-profit insurance, camp insurance, fleet insurance, cyber liability, life and health insurance, and numerous niche commercial coverages. The company operates as an independent broker, providing access to multiple insurance carriers including Aviva, Chubb, Intact, Travelers, and Wawanesa. The product portfolio is organized around personal lines and commercial lines with specialized divisions for specific industries and coverage types.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JD Smith Evangelical Family Insurance: Specialized insurance offering for evangelical families
• JD Smith Shield Insurance

Products and services

• Personal Insurance Individual insurance coverage including auto, home, condo, boat, life, and rideshare insurance for personal customers, sourced across multiple carrier markets through JD Smith's RIBO-licensed brokers.
• Commercial Insurance Business insurance solutions covering contractors, retail, wholesale, tool and die, welding and steel, windows and doors, and other commercial operations, sourced from multiple carriers via the firm's commercial team.
• Church & Non-Profit Insurance Specialized coverage for churches and non-profit organizations including unique coverages for counseling and sexual abuse liability, placed via Ecclesiastical Insurance and other partners.
• Camp Insurance Insurance coverage specifically designed for summer camps and recreational camp facilities.
• Car & Truck Fleet Insurance Commercial auto fleet insurance for businesses with multiple vehicles, including car dealerships across Ontario.
• Cyber Liability Insurance Coverage protecting businesses from cyber threats and data breaches.
• Life & Health Insurance Life insurance, group life insurance, mortgage insurance, and critical illness insurance products.
• Builder's Risk Insurance Coverage for construction projects and builders, designed to insure buildings during construction.
• Health & Fitness Insurance Insurance solutions for health and fitness businesses such as gyms and fitness studios.
• Professional Liability Insurance Errors and omissions coverage for professionals.
• Special Events Insurance Coverage for one-time or recurring special events.
• Barber & Hairstylist Insurance Insurance coverage for barbers and hairstylists.
• Photography Services Insurance Insurance for photography businesses.
• Bonds (Customs Bonding & Surety) Customs bonding and other surety bonds for businesses.
• Landscaper Insurance Insurance for landscaping and snow removal businesses.
• Marine & Overland Cargo Insurance Coverage for marine transportation and overland cargo, placed via Premier Marine and other carrier partners.
• NDT/NDE Insurance Insurance for non-destructive testing and evaluation companies.
• School Insurance Coverage for educational institutions and schools.
• Golf Courses & Hole-In-One Insurance Specialty coverage for golf courses and hole-in-one contest coverage.
• JD Smith Evangelical Family Insurance Sub-brand of JD Smith Insurance offering specialized insurance products tailored to evangelical families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% annual client retention rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aviva InsurancecoreOthersPrimary insurance company partner offering Property and Liability policies (8-20% commission) and Auto policies (5-12.5% commission). One of the major insurers represented by the brokerage.
• Intact InsurancecoreOthersMajor insurance company partner offering Property and Liability coverage with commission rates of 8-20%.
• Economical InsurancecoreOthersInsurance company partner offering Property and Liability policies (8-20% commission) and Auto coverage (5-12.5% commission).
• Wawanesa InsurancecoreOthersInsurance company partner offering Auto policies with commission rates of 5-12.5%.
• Travelers InsurancecoreOthersInsurance company partner offering Property, Liability and Auto coverage through the brokerage.
• Unica InsurancecoreOthersInsurance company partner offering Property, Liability and Auto coverage with standard commission rates.
• Chubb InsurancecoreOthersInsurance company partner offering Property and Liability coverage (8-20% commission). Also operates as a Managing General Agent.
• Ecclesiastical InsuranceminorOthersInsurance company partner specializing in church and non-profit coverage with Property and Liability policies (8-20% commission).
• JEVCO InsuranceminorOthersInsurance company partner offering Auto policies (5-12.5% commission).
• Chieftain InsuranceminorOthersInsurance company partner offering Property, Liability and Auto coverage.
• Markel InsuranceminorOthersInsurance company partner offering Property and Liability coverage.
• Traders InsuranceminorOthersInsurance company partner offering Auto policies with commission rates of 5-12.5%.
• Definity InsuranceminorOthersInsurance company partner offering Property and Liability coverage (8-20% commission).
• Lloyds of LondonminorOthersManaging General Agent partner offering Property and Liability coverage through wholesale arrangements (8-15% commission).
• AIGminorOthersManaging General Agent partner offering Property and Liability policies through wholesale distribution.
• PAL InsuranceminorOthersManaging General Agent partner offering specialized insurance programs (8-15% commission).
• Premier MarineminorOthersManaging General Agent partner specializing in marine and watercraft insurance (8-15% commission).
• Gary Elliott Racing TeamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity sponsorship and marketing partnership. JD Smith Insurance is a proud sponsor of the Gary Elliott Racing Team, supporting local motorsports for community engagement and brand visibility.
• Richmond Hill Chamber of CommerceminorOthersActive member of the local Chamber of Commerce for business networking and community involvement.
• Dynes Insurance (Acquired)minorOthersInsurance brokerage that was purchased by JDS, with key producer Rocco Scarano joining the JDS team.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Marsh Canada: Global brokerage operating a major Canadian practice serving commercial and specialty insurance buyers. Overlaps with JDS on commercial brokerage but serves larger enterprise accounts with broader advisory services.
• Hub International (Canada): Large North American insurance brokerage with significant Canadian operations across personal and commercial lines. Comparable broker model but operates at much larger scale with deeper resources and broader geographic reach.
• CAA Insurance (Ontario): Ontario-based insurance provider offering auto and home coverage under the CAA brand. Competes with JDS for Ontario personal lines customers leveraging the strong CAA membership brand and broad distribution.

Emerging players

• Square One Insurance Services: Canadian online-first insurance provider offering custom home and auto policies. Comparable as an Ontario-focused personal lines provider taking share from traditional independent brokers through digital experience.
• Sonnet Insurance: Digital direct-to-consumer home and auto insurance provider from Aviva. Competes for Ontario personal lines customers with a streamlined online experience that pressures traditional brokers like JDS on cost and convenience.
• Mitch Insurance: Digital-first Canadian insurance brokerage offering online quotes and policy management for personal lines. Comparable as a personal-lines broker competing for the same Ontario customers, but differentiates via a tech-enabled experience that JDS lacks.

Direct peers

• BFL Canada Insurance Services: Canadian specialty insurance brokerage serving commercial and institutional clients with multi-carrier access. Comparable independent commercial broker model with specialization in niche commercial risks like construction, fleets, and professional lines.
• KRG Insurance Brokers: Independent Canadian insurance brokerage providing personal and commercial insurance solutions across Ontario. Direct comparable in model, customer segments, and multi-carrier brokerage approach.
• Westland Insurance Group: Canadian independent insurance brokerage offering personal and commercial coverage through a network of branches. Comparable independent-broker model with multi-carrier access serving Ontario and Western Canada markets.
• BrokerLink: One of Canada's largest independent insurance brokerages operating across personal and commercial lines with multiple carrier relationships. Directly comparable as a Canadian independent broker chain competing for the same SMB and personal lines customers in Ontario.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jd-smith-insurance-brokers-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 JD Smith Insurance Brokers Inc.