michelle price

What michelle price does

Sunstar Insurance Group is a financial holding company founded in 2012 by Casey Bowlin and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. The company acquires majority equity ownership positions in independent insurance agencies, allowing acquired firms to retain their local branding, client relationships, and community identity while gaining access to Sunstar's corporate platform, technology, and carrier relationships. As of recent disclosures, the platform operates 75+ offices across 9 states, employs 900+ professionals, and manages over $2 billion in written premiums, ranking it the 32nd largest independent insurance agency in the United States (per the source ranking) and earning recognition as the 7th fastest growing agency by Business Insurance magazine in 2021.

Sunstar's product portfolio spans Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Employee Benefits, and Surety Bonds, delivered through 28+ subsidiary brands including Lakenan Insurance, Bulldog Insurance Services, Petra RMS, Clay & Land Insurance, Sunstar Insurance Services, and Millennium Risk Managers. The operational backbone is the Applied Epic Management System, with the broader technology stack described as encompassing cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity capabilities under the leadership of VP of Technology Michelle Price. The company monetizes through insurance commissions on placed premiums (the dominant revenue stream), service fees from acquired third-party administrators such as Millennium Risk Managers, and premium finance fees.

The business model is a roll-up play in the highly fragmented U.S. independent insurance agency landscape: Sunstar acquires majority stakes in founder- or family-led agencies that retain day-to-day operational autonomy and brand identity, while the holding company consolidates back-office functions, carrier negotiations, technology, and capital allocation. This decentralized operating model combined with corporate-level scale enables rapid geographic expansion while preserving the local relationships that drive client retention, and supports both inorganic growth through M&A and organic growth through cross-selling across the acquired agency network.

Name

michelle price

Legal name

Sunstar Insurance Group LLC

Website

https://sunstarins.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Sunstar Insurance Group is a Memphis-based financial holding company that acquires majority equity positions in independent insurance agencies across nine states. Operating through 28+ subsidiary brands managing $2+ billion in written premiums, it delivers commercial, personal, employee benefits, and surety products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Clayton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Commissions: Sunstar Insurance Group and its affiliated agencies receive commissions from insurance companies, calculated as a percentage of premium paid to the carrier. Additional compensation may be received based on incentive or contingent criteria such as total premium written, underwriting profitability, or other factors.
2. Service Fees: The company may have specific agreements to receive compensation or fees from clients for services rendered. Premium finance company fees may also be received when assisting with premium financing arrangements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sunstar Insurance Group is a financial holding company that acquires majority equity ownership positions in independent insurance agencies and supports them with the resources, carrier relationships, and back-office infrastructure of a large brokerage. Through its network of more than 28 subsidiary agencies operating across 9 states, the company distributes commercial property and casualty insurance, personal lines coverage, employee benefits programs, and surety bonds to businesses and individuals.

Product overview

Sunstar Insurance Group is a boutique risk management and human capital solutions firm that operates as a platform of independent insurance agencies. The company offers four core product lines: Commercial Lines (covering general liability, property, business auto, workers compensation, cyber insurance, and more), Personal Lines (auto, homeowners, renters, umbrella, flood, and specialty coverages), Employee Benefits (group medical, life, disability, dental, vision, retirement plans, and wellness programs), and Surety Bonds (contract, judicial, commercial, and government bonds). These core products are delivered through a network of 28+ acquired subsidiary agencies operating under various brands including Lakenan, Bulldog Insurance, Chapman & Hogan Insurance Group, Sunstar Insurance Tennessee, Sunstar Insurance of Arkansas, Sunstar Insurance Services, Sunstar Insurance of Kansas, Petra RMS, Sonus Benefits, TIG Advisors, and others. The company was founded in 2012 and is ranked as the 32nd largest independent insurance agency in the United States, with over $2 billion in premiums and operations across 75+ offices in nine states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lakenan: Independent insurance agency founded in 1938, serving families and businesses in the Metropolitan St. Louis area.
• Bulldog Insurance
• Clay & Land Insurance
• Sunstar Insurance Services
• Sunstar Insurance Tennessee
• Sunstar Insurance of Arkansas
• Sunstar Insurance of Kansas
• Petra RMS
• Sonus Benefits
• Campbell & Company
• First Arkansas Insurance
• Collins Insurance Agency
• Whitehaven Insurance
• Thomas, Harrison and Associates
• Blumberg and Associates
• TIG Advisors
• W.E. Walker-Lakenan
• The Insurancenter
• PJC Insurance Agency
• RJR Faribo Insurance Agency
• Southwest Georgia Insurance

Products and services

• Commercial Lines Full spectrum of commercial insurance products and services ranging from traditional insurance policies to complex self-insurance schemes for businesses of any size in any industry, covering general liability, property, business auto, umbrella, D&O, professional liability, workers compensation, cyber, crime, and environmental insurance.
• Personal Lines Insurance coverage for individuals and families including personal asset protection from loss and liability insurance to protect from third-party claims. Coverage includes auto, homeowners, renters, watercraft, classic car, fine arts, personal umbrella, flood, and identity theft insurance.
• Employee Benefits Employee benefits consulting services including plan design, funding analysis, marketing to underwriters, plan implementation support and administrative services for businesses of all sizes. Covers group medical, life, disability, vision, dental insurance, wellness programs, cafeteria plans, self-insurance, retirement plans, and COBRA/HIPAA administration.
• Surety Bonds Surety bond products for construction, judicial, commercial or industrial needs including contract bid, performance, permit, license, judicial, business, government, financial guaranty, tax, supply, maintenance, fiduciary, and fidelity bonds.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked 32nd largest independent insurance agency in the country
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Brad HearstcoreOthers · 15 June 2026Brad Hearst joined as Executive Vice President, National Growth and Sales Strategy, bringing extensive insurance industry leadership experience with focus on driving organic growth and developing high performing sales organizations.
• Adam MeyerowitzcoreOthers · 4 May 2026Adam Meyerowitz named Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Casey Bowlin. Brings over 20 years of insurance brokerage leadership, including co-founding Prime Risk Partners and serving as COO after its acquisition by EPIC Insurance Brokers.
• Thomas, Harrison and Associates Insurance AgencycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2026Full-service independent agency specializing in commercial and personal insurance, as well as bonding for the construction industry. Founded in 1982 and led by second-generation insurance professional Todd Thomas. Serves Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama and communities across the Gulf Coast.
• RJR Faribo Insurance AgencycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 March 2026Locally operated insurance agency with roots dating back to the 1930s, providing personalized insurance solutions to businesses and individuals throughout Minnesota. Offers bilingual insurance assistance.
• Clay & Land InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 March 2026Full-service insurance agency founded in 1968, specializing in commercial and personal insurance, surety bonds, and employee benefits. Serves Memphis community with over 75 professionals and 200+ carrier relationships.
• Southwest Georgia InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 March 2026Insurance agency based in Moultrie, Georgia, providing business and individual insurance solutions with focus on dependable coverage and personalized service.
• Daniel RomerocoreOthers · 17 November 2025Daniel Romero joined as Chief Acquisition Officer with over 15 years of insurance M&A experience, previously Head of Corporate Development at Evertree Insurance and VP of M&A at Hub International.
• Collins Insurance AgencycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2024Family-run independent agency serving Alabama community for over 70 years with comprehensive personal and commercial insurance solutions.
• Renasant Insurance (now Sunstar Insurance Services)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2024Acquired from Renasant Bank, rebranded as Sunstar Insurance Services. 8 locations with 64 employees in Mississippi offering personal and commercial property/casualty, life, health, and ancillary products. History dating to late 1800s.
• Whitehaven InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2024Specialized agency focusing on coastal and high-risk properties along Gulf Coast of Alabama and Florida since 1994. Based in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hub International: PE-backed insurance brokerage that grows through acquisition of independent agencies across North America, very similar platform model to Sunstar with regional hub agencies and back-office consolidation.
• Acrisure: One of the largest PE-backed insurance broker roll-ups in the U.S., acquiring majority stakes in independent agencies and operating a hub-and-spoke platform with centralized resources.
• USI Insurance Services: Large national insurance brokerage built largely through acquisitions of independent agencies, offering commercial, personal, and employee benefits with a similar agency-aggregation strategy.
• World Insurance Associates: Public insurance brokerage that aggressively acquires independent agencies across the U.S., serving similar commercial and personal lines customers with comparable agency roll-up model.
• EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants: National insurance brokerage built through acquisitions of regional agencies; Adam Meyerowitz, Sunstar's new CEO, previously served as COO at EPIC, making it a directly comparable platform with operational lineage.
• BroadStreet Partners: Insurance brokerage that partners with and acquires independent insurance agencies, very comparable hub-and-spoke model with retained local branding and centralized corporate resources.
• Highstreet Insurance Partners: PE-backed insurance brokerage aggregator partnering with independent agencies across the U.S., directly comparable to Sunstar's acquisition-led growth and regional hub structure.
• AssuredPartners: National insurance brokerage built through acquisitions of independent agencies across the U.S., offering commercial, personal, and benefits products with similar agency-partnership model.

Emerging players

• OneDigital: Employee benefits-focused brokerage with growing P&C capabilities, comparable to Sunstar's employee benefits segment (Sonus Benefits) and overall agency-acquisition playbook.

Broad incumbents

• Lockton Companies: Largest privately held insurance brokerage in the U.S. with broad commercial, benefits, and risk management offerings; competes for mid-market and large commercial accounts similar to Sunstar's commercial lines business.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sunstarinsurancegroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunstar-insurance-group-llc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries27 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 →

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