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.
Jill Lohr
Vice President
Jill has been with the firm since 2005 and is our Vice President. She brings with her over 18 years of Employee Benefits experience. Her primary focus is on strategic account development as well as support for large group clients and prospects by assisting with benefit plan design, advising, educating, and coordinating internal and external resources to meet client’s needs and expectations. Jill facilitates and conducts open enrollment meetings through the development of employee communication materials and carrier coordination. In her role, she helps employees understand the benefits that are available to them by being an extension of HR. Jill ensures retention of clients by establishing strong, active relationships, and to provide proactive and consultative expertise based on each client’s unique needs and challenges.
Jill works closely with our carrier/vendor partners to assure we are kept up-to-date with the marketplace and product lines. She is responsible for leading continuous improvement of the firm’s operational elements impacting client service and delivery and ensuring consistency in the Alera Group client experience.
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.
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
Navigating Medicare: Educational Webinar
The knowledgeable team at Alera Group is here to help you navigate your Medicare options to ensure you feel confident in your post-65 healthcare coverage.
November 12, 2025 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: Agencies Clarify How Certain Fertility Benefits May be Treated as Excepted Benefits
This alert is of interest to all employers that offer fertility benefits or may be interested in offering fertility benefits in the future.
November 4, 2025
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Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: IRS Adjusts Health Flexible Spending Account and Other Benefit Limits for 2026
This alert is of interest to all employers that sponsor health FSAs and qualified transit plans, among others.
October 10, 2025
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2025 Leave Report: Insights to Guide 2026 Leave Planning
Explore Alera Group’s 2025 Leave Report. Benchmark PTO, parental leave, and holiday policies to strengthen employee retention and recruitment as you plan for 2026 and beyond.
October 1, 2025
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Legal Alert: IRS Issues Affordability Percentage Adjustment for 2026
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Rev. Proc. 2025-25, which contains the inflation adjusted amounts for 2026 used to determine whether employer-sponsored coverage is “affordable” for purposes of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer shared responsibility provisions and premium tax credit program.
July 23, 2025
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