Risk Strategies

Risk Strategies was founded by Mike Christian in 1997 to provide risk management advice to upper middle market commercial clients, with a focus on private equity and healthcare.[1][8] In 2000, it made its first acquisition of Andrew Anthony and Associates. By 2001, the company had 15 employees.

In 2002, Risk Strategies expanded as an insurance brokerage to provide clients with specialized coverages and alternative risk financing programs. By the end of 2006, Risk Strategies was licensed in 48 states.[9]

A minority investment from WR Berkley enabled expansion into the Midwest and California markets as well as new practice areas and market categories.

In 2013, Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C, a private equity firm, acquired a majority interest in Risk Strategies.[10][9] The new investment helped Risk Strategies expand into new markets and products. As of 2013, Risk Strategies had 10 offices, 120 employees, and $40 million in revenue.[9]

With access to investment capital, Risk Strategies pursued acquisitions and hires across specialty industries. In 2014, Risk Strategies made its largest acquisition to date by acquiring, DeWitt Stern, a specialist in the Entertainment, Media, Private Client, and Fine Art insurance sectors.[11][12] With this acquisition, Risk Strategies was considered a Top 35 broker nationally, with nearly $100 million in revenue and almost 400 employees nationwide.[13][14]

In 2015, Kelso & Company acquired Kohlberg & Company's majority stake in Risk Strategies.[15] In 2016, Risk Strategies entered Texas for the first time with the acquisition of A&E specialist Mclaughlin Brunson[16][17] and Florida with Atlass Insurance Brokerage Group.[18][19]

From 2014 to 2016 Risk Strategies made 22 acquisitions, and expanded into Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.[9]

In 2019, then President John Mina was named chief executive officer[20][21] Mina succeeded Michael Christian, Risk Strategies founder, and long-time CEO, who moved to the Executive chairman role.

As of July 2022, Risk Strategies had acquired 135 companies, and had an annual revenue of $958 million.[22]

On December 1, 2022, Risk Strategies announced the formation of Risk Strategies Consulting. This action merged key acquisitions made by Risk Strategies - including Corporate Benefit Audits (2018), United Health Actuarial Services (2019), Centric Actuarial Solutions (2021), Cambridge Advisory Group (2021), and recently announced Aquarius Capital Solutions (2022) – into a single business unit operating independently from the firm’s brokerage business. At launch, Risk Strategies Consulting offered services around actuarial analysis, healthcare claim auditing, health and welfare, mergers and acquisitions, pharmacy, and retirement benefits.

On February 7, 2023, Danielle Chaplick was announced as Managing Director of the Risk Strategies Consulting business unit. Prior to Risk Strategies Consulting, Chaplick was Vice President and Northeast Regional Director – Public Sector for Gallagher Benefit Services.

In September 2023, Risk Strategies acquired orchestrateHR Inc. and its affiliate, eBen Benefits.[23]

As of July 2023, key people of the company are:[1][24]

• Mike Christian, founder and chairman
• John Mina, chief executive officer (CEO)
• Sharon Edwards, chief financial officer (CFO)
• John Vaglica, chief mergers and acquisitions officer
• Natalie Logan, chief legal officer
• Amanda Mullan, chief human resources officer (CHRO)
• John Scroope, national director of retail operations

Services of Risk Strategies include:

• Business Insurance
• Employee Benefits
• Private Client Services
• Risk Management Services
• Consulting

Major acquisitions include:

• Krauter & Company[25][26]
• Gowrie Group[27][28]
• DeWitt Stern[11][12]
• Dubraski & Associates[29][30]
• Academic Health Plans (AHP)[31][32]

• UNIRISC[33][34]
• ProSafety[35][36]
• Brightstone[37][38]
• Gehring Group[39][40]
• Thomas McGee[41][42]
• Pawson Associates, Inc.

• Best Places to Work, each year 2018 to 2022 by Business Insurance Magazine.[43]
• 16th Largest Broker of US Business by Business Insurance Magazine[44]
• 9th Largest Privately Owned Broker by Business Insurance Magazine[44]
• Ranked 2,374 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2021,[45]
• Ranked 2,872 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2022.[46]

Sponsorships of the company include Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) golfer Brittany Altomare.[47][48]

Open access publications of Risk Strategies include:

• 2023 State of the Market
• 2023 Cyber Liability: Building Cyber Resilience in a Complex World
• Employee Benefits Evolve Alongside Shifting Workforce Needs
• The Ultimate Guide to Captive Insurance Companies

Risk Strategies 2022 Annual report