About Us
Since 1999, SIG, an employee benefits firm, has been dedicated to partnering with our clients and providing exceptional customer service. The inspirational basis for our operating business principles is: “If you take care of Baltimore, Baltimore will take care of you.” This philosophy has instilled itself in our culture and practice of all employees. SIG has years of industry experience, which has given us an edge over the competition in the vast wealth of knowledge and resources we have gathered. Our employees are passionate about helping and forming long-lasting relationships with others, and when you partner with us, we become a true extension of your company.
In 2017, SIG and 23 other like- minded, entrepreneurial firms came together to form Alera Group. Since then, Alera Group has grown to become the 11th largest independent insurance and financial services firm in the nation with over 4,000 employees, 180 firms, and thousands of clients across the country.
In 2023, we officially began embracing the Alera Group brand. What remains consistent is holding our clients at the core of our business; we focus on bringing personalized solutions, expanding our capabilities, and deepening our resources nationally.
Mission
We go the extra mile to help navigate the healthcare system and marketplace for our clients in order to advise them on the creation of comprehensive benefits plans that align with their core values to maximize their investment while controlling their costs. Our team-oriented approach allows us to become an extension of our clients’ HR departments. Through our vast knowledge and resource base, we keep our clients educated and well informed with the ever-changing healthcare regulations and marketplace.
Core Values
In order to create the organizational culture we desire, we embrace and embody the following core values:
- Partnership
- Integrity
- Creativity
- Flexibility
- Passion
- Collaboration
- Excellence
Meet Our Team
People you can count on. People you can trust.
Frank Lotman
Senior Partner
Frank is a Senior Partner at the firm. Frank is a veteran in the employee benefit and personal insurance sector with over 40 years of experience. He has focused his practice working with companies developing group employee benefit programs that meet the strategic needs of the employer as well as the personal needs of the employees. The key to a successful benefit program is our ability to understand your business.
Frank founded FNL Insurance Group in 1980 and has worked with small to medium sized businesses in designing insurance solutions to meet their needs on both a personal and corporate level. He has been a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters, has served on the board of The Baltimore Chapter of the Maryland Health Underwriters and has also served on the Broker Council for CareFirst BlueCross/BlueShield of Maryland.
Frank went to York College of Pennsylvania and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management with a minor in Finance. He has worked with many local charities and continues to focus his community efforts working with the Folds of Honor.
Joe Malagari
Proposal & Financial Analyst
After interning with the firm his last semester of college, Joe returned as a full-time member of the self-funded team, in 2022, as a Proposal and Financial Analyst. His role consists of preparing client dashboards, analyzing and preparing audit reports, along with shopping for stop-loss insurance. Joe holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Towson University.
Kristen Martin
Controller
Kristen joined the firm in March 2020 as the Controller. She analyzes financial information and shares with other teams to assist in making important business decisions. Kristen brings with her over 8 years in the insurance industry, most recently with Kelly & Associates Insurance Group. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Financial Economics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Patrick McEnerney
Senior Partner
A Senior Partner, Pat is a native Washingtonian and graduated Gonzaga College High School in 1979. He attended The University of The South graduating with a BA degree in 1983.
He began his insurance career with Mass Mutual / Capitol Financial Partners in1983 working with small-to-medium sized business owners designing solutions to insurance needs at the personal and corporate level. He was instrumental in establishing an in-house benefit consulting company, Advanced Benefit Strategies Inc. (ABSI), in 1993 with partner Jeff Hamblen. The purpose of the firm was to support the group insurance needs for the clients of Capitol Financial Partners.
Patrick has designed and implemented corporate benefit plans for over 400 corporations in the Washington Metropolitan area. He and the benefits team manage over 70 million dollars of premium annually.Patrick has been on the board of directors of the Greater Washington Area Health Underwriters Association and has been active in several local charities over the years. He is a member of the National Health Underwriters Leading Producers Round Table and the Blue Cross Blue Shield broker counsel. Patrick and his wife Tammy have four children and live in Montgomery County Maryland.
Community Service
Paying it Forward is a core component at our firm. Our culture thrives on community involvement where we proudly support our clients, employees and the communities in which we live and work.
We empower our employees to “pay it forward” by fostering a sense of purpose and providing opportunities for impact in our community. One way we do this is by supporting causes and initiatives proposed by our team and providing opportunities to serve the
We empower our employees to “pay it forward” by fostering a sense of purpose and providing opportunities for impact in our community. One way we do this is by supporting causes and initiatives proposed by our team and providing opportunities to serve the wider world. We believe having a culture that encourages serving and giving is a significant contributor to life and career fulfillment, which enhances our overall wellbeing. With the help from our Culture Committee, we have the opportunity to serve our community together with multiple planned events each year.
We strive to creating lasting relationships with our clients. We are proud to support our clients and friends of the firm in their mission and their organizations that help create meaningful, lasting change in our community. Interested in us serving your
We strive to creating lasting relationships with our clients. We are proud to support our clients and friends of the firm in their mission and their organizations that help create meaningful, lasting change in our community.
Interested in us serving your non-profit or organization? Reach out and let us know! Email us here
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Setting Your Strategy for the New Year: Alera Group's 2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook
Our experts will highlight key results from Alera Group’s "2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook" and explain how these trends can impact your benefits program this year.
January 16, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Wealth Services
State of the Markets
Join us as we unveil the factors that drive the nation's financial pulse and how they may impact your personal finances.
January 22, 2025 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Wealth Services
State of the Markets
Join us as we unveil the factors that drive the nation's financial pulse and how they may impact your personal finances.
April 23, 2025 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Insights
Employee Benefits
Don’t Forget About Your Gag Clause Attestations
When the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) was enacted on December 27, 2020, it included a provision that prohibits group health plans and health insurance carriers from entering into certain agreements that, either directly or indirectly, restrict the release of certain information related to provider networks and de-identified encounter data, among other things. Such restrictions are commonly referred to as “gag clauses.” The CAA also requires plans and carriers to attest annually that their agreements do not include such impermissible gag clauses.
November 20, 2024
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Employee Benefits
Avoiding an Employee Lawsuit Over a Tobacco Surcharge Claim
Tobacco surcharges on health insurance premiums for employees who use tobacco products are attractive options for employers looking to keep their workforce healthy while lowering their organization’s healthcare costs. But surcharges can go too far, and many employers may be unaware of the limitations. Alera Group's new whitepaper on tobacco surcharges is designed to assist employers in complying with federal regulations.
November 19, 2024
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Q4 Considerations: New HIPAA Privacy Considerations
Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Final Rule titled HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy.
November 15, 2024
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Spotlight on 2025 Benefit Limits
The IRS has released the 2025 benefit plan limits. The following chart shows some of the key limits for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 tax years.
November 15, 2024
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