Valuation & Perpetuation

We value your agency.

Every valuation and business plan we prepare is exclusively for independent insurance agency owners. In fact, for 124 years we have been serving independent insurance agents in their business development and growth plans.

Our valuation team has a collective 60 years of experience in the industry and will serve as your trusted advisor on your journey to optimize your agency’s value.

IA Valuation’s mission is valuation-based planning to help owners realize and maximize their value. Our goal is to maximize and protect the value of the IA system.

We will provide you with a professional, comprehensive, and unbiased understanding of your agency’s value, risk factors, and growth.

Why get a Valuation?

You wouldn’t leave money on the table anywhere else… so why would you do it with your agency? Basing your agency’s value on industry folklore can be costly. Simply believing that your agency is worth some multiple of revenue (2x) could be an expensive mistake. So many factors go into a true calculation of agency value. Don’t guess on your agency’s value. Get a professional analysis and complete a valuation.

Here are just a few reasons why you should get started with a valuation:

Meet The Experts

Craig Niess, CVA, MBA
Director of Business Planning and Valuation

Craig is OIA and IA Valuation’s seasoned Director of Business planning and Valuations. With more than a decade of financial and operational consulting experience with independent agents and brokers, he has spent most of his career specializing in valuations and perpetuation planning.

Craig joined OIA in 2017 and has performed more than 110 valuations since joining and more than 250 in his career. Craig holds a BA in Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University, an MBA in Finance from the University of Iowa, and earned the prestigious Certified Valuation Analyst designation (CVA).

Craig’s experience, expertise, and specialization in independent insurance agencies and brokers makes him an invaluable asset for agency owners across the country.

Luke Hippler, MBA
Business Planning and Valuation Analyst

Luke Hippler is the newest member of OIA’s IA Valuations team joining us as the Business Planning and Valuations Analyst. He has joined us fresh off his graduation from John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH with a BA in Finance and Master’s in Business Administration. Luke will be working directly with Craig, assisting, learning, and gaining experience in the valuations world until he is able to receive his Certified Valuations Analyst designation. He is eager to learn this industry and get out on the road to meet all the amazing independent agents we serve every day!

Jeff Smith, JD, CIC, CAE
Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Smith serves as Chief Executive Officer for OIA and IA Valuations. He is responsible for leading the organization’s strategic initiatives and day to day operations. As CEO of IA Valuations, Smith has consulted and reviewed over 200 agency valuations for independent agents across the US. Smith provides insights into the agency’s operations, risk factors, and legal guidance on how to perpetuate and maximize value in a sale.

Smith graduated with honors from Kent State University and Capital University Law School with a concentration in government relations. He is a licensed P&C insurance agent, Certified Insurance Counselor Designee, Attorney, and Certified Association Executive. Smith is an active member of the Ohio State Bar Association Insurance Committee, Ohio Society of Association Executives, and Ohio Lobbying Association.

Let’s Hear it From your Peers

Don’t just take it from us, hear from your peers on the importance of having a valuation and the value it has created for their agency and operations.

“The OIA has been an instrumental partner that’s helped facilitate our growth and forced us to think strategically about our operations. Specifically, Craig Niess facilitated agency acquisitions for us by leveraging his expert valuation & consulting services. Literally cannot recommend this organization and the people, more highly!” – Matt Simon, Agency Owner, CoverLink

“Craig Niess provided the expertise we needed for an updated agency valuation and buy-sell agreement. They helped address our agency’s specific needs. We would recommend using Craig for these services. He knows and understands our business. The OIA provides very good services at a great value for agents!” John Flickinger, Agency Owner, K&J Flickinger Insurance

“The IA system is constantly evolving and we are lucky to have the OIA to provide guidance to our members. I’d like to specifically recognize their valuation services for their time and efforts to assist IA’s in growing their agency operations in Ohio and beyond.” Mike Humphry, Iroquois Group

“The OIA is incredibly engaged and passionate about the health of independent agencies in Ohio and beyond. It’s exciting to see the many great ways they are investing to support their mission!” Chris Cline, Westfield

Ready to get Started?

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