The insurance brokerage landscape continues to undergo rapid change. With an unprecedented wave of major consolidations, many employers we hear from are reporting concerns over diminished understanding of local dynamics, loss of tailored service, and an overall shift toward a transactional, rather than consultative, broker experience.
What’s Happening in the Market?
Over the last year, the following headline-making mergers have dramatically changed the industry’s landscape:
- Brown & Brown acquiring Risk Strategies for $9.83 billion
- Gallagher merging with Assured Partners in a $13.45 billion agreement
- Aon’s $13 billion purchase of NFP
- Marsh McLennan’s completion of a $7.75 billion acquisition of McGriff Insurance Services
Broker Consolidation: Local Office Examples in PA, NJ, and NY
The wave of broker consolidation isn’t just a national headline—it’s actively reshaping smaller, community-rooted agencies throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, including today’s news of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.’s acquisition of Equinox Agency, LLC, an employee health and benefits consulting firm serving businesses throughout the Lehigh Valley.
This ongoing trend is making a real and sometimes unsettling impact on businesses seeking the trusted, personalized partnership traditionally offered by local firms. Here are some additional recent, region-specific examples that illustrate this consolidation:
Pennsylvania
- Myers, Benner Corporation (Allentown, PA) was acquired by Keystone Agency Partners in October 2024.
- Sheeley Insurance (Stroudsburg & Honesdale, PA) was acquired in May 2025 by The Yurconic Agency.
- Arthur Hall Insurance (West Chester, PA) joined Marsh McLennan Agency in April 2025.
- Murray Insurance Associates (Lancaster, PA) became part of AssuredPartners.
New Jersey
- Gerrity, Baker, Williams, Inc. (Flanders, NJ) was acquired by AssuredPartners.
- VIA Insurance Agency (Holmdel, NJ), formerly Valvano Insurance Agency, was acquired by King Risk Partners in July 2025.
- Coverage Specialists, Inc. (Pompton Plains, NJ) joined World Insurance Associates.
New York
- Cameron Group, Inc. (Nanuet, NY), serving NY, NJ, and CT was recently acquired by King Risk Partners in June 2025.
The Takeaway for Employers
Across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, once-independent offices—often with decades of legacy—are being brought into the fold of larger, often private equity-backed consolidators. As these mergers unfold, the familiar faces and hyper-local expertise that made these firms trusted partners can be diluted by nationwide policies and shifting service models.
How Does This Affect Employers Like You?
Recent consolidation isn’t just about balance sheets — it’s reshaping employer experiences:
- Personalized service gets lost as regional brokers with deep local roots get absorbed into national conglomerates. Familiar contacts often change, and the specialized attention you once relied on may disappear.
- Fewer options remain as the industry shrinks to a handful of behemoths controlling most market share, putting pressure on flexibility and pricing, and in many cases resulting in more standardized, less negotiable solutions.
- Uncertainty rises as employers grapple with “who am I really working with now?”, integration hiccups, and shifting account management teams. Even organizations recently taken over may see abrupt shifts in service approach and resource allocation.
Why Independence Matters Now More Than Ever
Amid this environment, employers are increasingly feeling like mere numbers in a spreadsheet rather than valued partners. The need for a broker who is able to stay agile, maintain deep client relationships, and offer truly unbiased advice has never been more urgent.
As a fiercely independent partner for over 20 years, we stand apart by:
- Delivering real cost savings and expansive benefits expertise through creative, client-first recommendations—not cookie-cutter, system-driven programs.
- Maintaining a human team built for service and accountability, not just scale.
- Providing guidance grounded in deep knowledge of both the local and national market, without allegiance to any corporate parent.
While many in the region saw yet another major local acquisition close just today, our commitment to independence ensures your needs—not those of a distant corporate office—remain our true north.
Let’s discuss how we can help you navigate today’s landscape with confidence and clarity. Reach out to our team for a conversation about what independence can mean for your organization.