Relationships Matter to Minnesota's Alliance Insurance Advisors

Since its founding in 2011 by Adam Seeley and Chris Olafson, Alliance Insurance Advisors has capitalized on agency acquisitions and organic growth through partnerships with financial planners and wealth advisors to drive its expansion in the Minnesota marketplace.

Customers choose Alliance for its proactive approach to risk management and stay with the agency for the personal service it provides.

“Clients value working with someone that takes the time to actually know them,” Adam says, adding that every one of the agency’s clients is contacted at least once a year for a coverage review.

“Many people aren’t used to getting that level of service from their prior agent, and they truly appreciate it. By staying in constant touch with our clients, we can make sure their coverage stays up to date and avoid gaps that can occur when a policy is written and just left to auto renew,” he says.

Service Focus

Adam credits the entire team at Alliance with having a customer-focused mindset. “We’ve been fortunate to attract wonderful people, including people who have many years of experience in the industry,” he said.

The agency also focuses on being a great place for people to work. It offers flexible scheduling, remote work options, and a four-day workweek. “Even before COVID, we had started to get rid of desktop computers in favor of mobile technology so we could quickly adapt to changes and the unpredictable Minnesota winters. Instead of sitting in traffic trying to get to the office, staff can be addressing client needs from home on a snowy day,” Adam says.

Alliance also empowers CSRs to write their own accounts in addition to servicing existing clients. “That has been a big part of our growth model,” Adam says. “It gives everyone skin in the game where not only is client retention important but client base growth as well.”

Alliance focuses on being a positive force in the community and makes a difference through volunteering and financial contributions, including the Alliance Annual Charity Golf Event, with 100% of funds raised going to benefit charitable causes since the event’s inception in 2011. The current beneficiary, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, has received over $100,000 from recent events.

Powerful Partnerships

Alliance also values the relationships it has built with its carrier partners, such as Acuity.

“Acuity is focused so strongly on partnerships. The long-term relationships we’ve built with our Acuity territory director and underwriters are tremendously important, unlike at other companies that use pool underwriting or where people are always changing,” Adam says.

“We also receive tons of positive feedback from customers on Acuity’s claims service, especially with the most recent storm claims. With some companies, you have to babysit a claim from start to finish, but that isn’t the case with Acuity.”

In the coming years, Alliance is seeking additional acquisition opportunity. And, despite the relatively young age of the partners, the agency is already putting perpetuation plans in place to ensure Alliance is a resource for individuals, families, and businesses in Minnesota for years to come.

“You can never start that process too early,” Adam says. “Our hope is with the people we have and will add in the future, we can keep Alliance going through an intentional process of increasing ownership over time.”