PIA of Minnesota

What PIA of Minnesota does

PIA of Minnesota (Professional Insurance Agents of Minnesota, also operating as PIA MN) is a private, non-profit state trade association founded in 1994 and headquartered in Savage, Minnesota. It serves licensed property-and-casualty independent insurance agents and supporting companies across the state, delivering value through three pillars: education, advocacy, and agency solutions. The organization is a state affiliate of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA National), which provides nationwide programming and legislative representation.

Its core product portfolio is organized around membership tiers (Agency Membership starting at $420 per year and Associate Membership at $195 per year), professional education (the CPIA Certified Professional Insurance Agent designation program delivered as three in-person Insurance Success Seminars plus newer Advanced and Special Topic offerings, an annual Education Day and Trade Show branded S.P.A.R.K., online continuing education through partner vendors ExamFX and WebCE, and the CAPS communication-skills program), insurance solutions (Errors & Omissions professional liability coverage represented through Utica National with E&S market access, and PIA Trust group benefits including life, disability, AD&D, and hospital income plans), and member services (PIA NOW! On Demand content library, a career board, scholarship program, and the Aspiring Insurance Professionals initiative for members aged 45 and under).

Revenue is generated through recurring annual membership dues, E&O coverage referral commissions from Utica National and other markets, education program fees, event sponsorships, and partner contributions from a roster of carriers and vendors including Western National, EMC Insurance, AAA, SFM, Liberty Mutual, Security Financial Bank, IMT, MWCIA, North Star Mutual, Progressive, Northern States Agency, RAM Mutual Insurance, and IFC National Marketing. Marketing and distribution operate through the association's website (piamn.com), a members-only portal (members.piamn.com), the weekly Agent Focus email newsletter, in-person events and seminars, and partner-driven promotion.

Name

PIA of Minnesota

Legal name

Professional Insurance Agents of Minnesota

Website

https://piamn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PIA of Minnesota is a non-profit state trade association founded in 1994 that provides education, advocacy, and agency solutions to 300+ independent property-and-casualty insurance agencies and 50+ supporting companies across Minnesota as an affiliate of PIA National.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Savage

HQ country

United States

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Agency Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from independent insurance agencies. Agency must have at least one licensed P&C agent and represent at least one property/casualty company that operates on the independent agency system. Starting at $420 per year includes one additional producer.
2. Associate Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from companies or firms with an interest in or that provide products & services to independent property & casualty agencies. $195 per year base membership.
3. Errors & Omissions Coverage Representation: PIA of Minnesota represents Utica National and other markets for E&O coverage, providing professional liability solutions to member agencies.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PIA of Minnesota is a state-level trade association that provides education, advocacy, and agency solutions to independent insurance agents in Minnesota. Its core offerings include Agency and Associate Membership programs, the CPIA professional designation and other educational programs, Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance coverage representation, PIA Trust employee benefit plans, an annual Education Day and tradeshow, scholarship programs, and a career board.

Product overview

PIA of Minnesota is a membership-based professional association for independent insurance agents, not a unified software product. The organization offers a portfolio of services including the CPIA Designation Program (three one-day Insurance Success Seminars leading to professional certification), online continuing education through ExamFX and WebCE partnerships, Errors & Omissions insurance representation through Utica National, PIA Trust employee benefit plans, and member services such as an annual Education Day (S.P.A.R.K.), career board, scholarship program, and the Aspiring Insurance Professionals young professionals initiative. The portfolio is organized around member benefits (Agency and Associate memberships), professional education (CPIA, CAPS, online CE), insurance solutions (E&O, PIA Trust), and career development resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CPIA (Certified Professional Insurance Agent) Designation Program

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Western National InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor displayed on PIA of Minnesota website. Western National Insurance is a super-regional property-and-casualty insurance group providing personal and commercial coverage. They hold an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from A.M. Best.
• EMC InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor displayed on PIA of Minnesota website
• AAAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor displayed on PIA of Minnesota website
• SFMcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor and host location for CPIA seminars. SFM Mutual Insurance Co. is a customer-owned mutual insurance company providing workers' compensation coverage in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. Holds A- (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best.
• Liberty MutualminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor displayed on PIA of Minnesota website
• Security Financial BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor displayed on PIA of Minnesota website
• IMTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor displayed on PIA of Minnesota website (Insurance Marketing Tools)
• MWCIAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMinnesota Workers' Compensation Insurers Association - Data Service Organization for Minnesota that provides ratemaking data. PIA provides education and updates on MWCIA regulatory changes affecting member agencies.
• North Star MutualminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor displayed on PIA of Minnesota website. Midwest property-casualty insurer with A+ (Superior) rating from A.M. Best.
• ProgressiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor displayed on PIA of Minnesota website
• Northern States AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor displayed on PIA of Minnesota website
• RAM Mutual InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor displayed on PIA of Minnesota website
• IFC National MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner sponsor displayed on PIA of Minnesota website
• Utica NationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPIA of Minnesota represents Utica National for Errors & Omissions coverage, providing professional liability solutions to member agencies. Utica National has provided Agents' E&O coverage continuously for over 50 years with nearly 100% policy retention rate.
• PIA TrustcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance benefits program for PIA members offering high-quality, competitively priced insurance plans including Basic Life, employee benefits, and customizable protection for agents and their employees.
• National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA National)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIA of Minnesota is an affiliate of PIA National, which represents member insurance agents at the national level. PIA National provides education programming, advocacy, and resources through a nationwide network of state and regional affiliate associations.
• AIMS SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Insurance Marketing and Sales Society consolidation with PIA National in 2023. AIMS Society provides the CPIA designation, originally offered by PIA until 1996. The partnership positions both organizations as forward-thinking with focus on future of insurance education.
• ExamFXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline insurance and securities prelicensing courses with self-study, video study, and live online study options. PIA members receive discounts.
• WebCEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline continuing education and licensing classes. PIA members receive discounts on these online courses.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I): Industry-supported communications and education organization for the property/casualty insurance sector. Comparable to PIA of Minnesota's information and educational resource function, though Triple-I focuses on public-facing communications rather than agent member services.
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC): State-based regulatory body coordinating U.S. insurance regulation. Adjacent to PIA of Minnesota's advocacy mission, but as a regulator rather than a member association; informs the legislative environment PIA of Minnesota engages with.

Broad incumbents

• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big "I"): The largest national trade association for independent insurance agents in the U.S. Serves the same customer type (independent P&C agents) as PIA of Minnesota through education, advocacy, and affinity programs.
• Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB): National trade association representing commercial insurance brokers and agents. Comparable as a peer trade association model supporting insurance intermediaries with advocacy, education, and best-practices resources.
• National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC): National association representing mutual insurance companies with P&C operations. Comparable as a peer insurance trade association model focused on advocacy, education, and resources for the mutual/independent channel.
• National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA National): National parent organization of PIA of Minnesota. Directly comparable as a trade association serving independent insurance agents, providing education, advocacy, and E&O-related resources at a national scale.
• American Insurance Association (AIA): National trade association for P&C insurance companies. Relevant as a peer industry association whose membership overlaps with PIA of Minnesota's carrier partners (e.g., Liberty Mutual, EMC).

Direct peers

• CPCU Society: Professional society for insurance practitioners holding the CPCU designation. Directly competes with PIA of Minnesota's CPIA program as the other major national professional insurance designation, both serving independent agents seeking continuing education and credentialing.

Regional players

• PIA of Wisconsin: Sister state affiliate of PIA National serving independent insurance agents in Wisconsin. Closely comparable in structure, mission, and product set (membership, education, E&O) to PIA of Minnesota, but operating in a different U.S. state.
• PIA of Iowa: Sister state PIA affiliate serving independent insurance agents in Iowa. Directly comparable in scope, membership model, and services, but does not directly compete in Minnesota.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pia-of-minnesota

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 PIA of Minnesota