About Us
Who we are
Simkiss & Block is a full-service insurance brokerage, risk management consultant, and loyal partner. Since our founding in 1964, our philosophy of providing custom risk and benefits solutions has held firm. We develop effective strategies by immersing ourselves in understanding the fundamentals of our clients’ businesses, turning over stone after stone to identify the true risks at hand – even those outside our clients’ walls. Our global reach is made possible by the relationships we’ve built over 50+ years and the power of our team’s collective expertise. We’re forever at your attention, and we’re committed to protecting your future, together.
Our mission
Today’s risk and employee benefits challenges are more than that–they are business challenges. Our mission is to confront them head on for our clients and help them grow confidently into tomorrow. As a team, we pledge to serve our clients morning, night, weekday, and weekend, because we believe risk management and business success takes care and attention. Your risks aren’t beholden to a time clock, so neither are we.
Globally activated, client focused.
Our partnership with the Worldwide Broker Network allows us to offer our clients unrivaled service all around the globe. Benefits include:
- Extensive cross-border collaboration
- Combined purchasing power
- Accessing to leading insurance executives
- Information management technology
Meet Our Team
Brian Block, CPCU, AFSB
Managing Partner
Brian is Managing Partner of Simkiss & Block. Brian’s responsibilities include overseeing all day to day management of the firm, maintaining relationships with and quality of service for many of the organization’s top clients, developing new client relationships and fostering constructive partnerships with insurers.
Brian holds a BSBA in Finance from Villanova University as well as the Chartered Property Casualty (CPCU) designation from the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and the Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB) designation from the Insurance Institute of America. Brian plays a leadership role in numerous charitable and community organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey and as a founding partner of Social Venture Partners Philadelphia. Brian and his wife, Maureen, and their two children make their home in Villanova, PA.
ConnectDavid Cagliola
President, Employee Benefits
David began his career at Prudential Insurance Company in the marketing and operations area of the group benefits division. Upon leaving Prudential he transitioned to the consulting side of the industry where he joined a regional firm as a benefits advisor. In 1997, David co-founded Radnor Benefits Group, which was acquired by Simkiss & Block in 2018. He continues to lead this practice as President of Employee Benefits for Simkiss & Block today.
David is very active in the benefits industry and has taught healthcare economics at Penn State University. He has served as the President of the Philadelphia Association of Health Underwriters, board member of the Pennsylvania Association of Health Underwriters, and Regional Membership and Chapter Leadership Chairs for the National Association of Health Underwriters. David frequently speaks at local, regional, and national conferences as an expert on healthcare reform and employer sponsored health plans. David also meets regularly with elected officials and government regulators in both Harrisburg and Washington to serve as a voice for employers facing the ever-changing environment of healthcare.
David is active in the local community and currently serves on the board of Good Samaritan Services, a not-for-profit human services organization serving the homeless community in Chester and Lancaster counties. He has BBA from the Fox School of Business at Temple University and has achieved the PPACA Certification from the National Association of Health Underwriters.
ConnectVicky Cagliola
Director of ACA Administration and Compliance
Vicky works with sponsors of employee benefit plans to help them recognize and fulfill their compliance responsibilities under the Affordable Care Act, Internal Revenue Code, ERISA and other federal, state and local legislation.
Vicky joined Simkiss & Block in 2015 and leads the compliance services function for the company. In her role, Vicky empowers employers with the knowledge and tools to achieve a wide array of compliance objectives.
Vicky has over 25 years of work experience including positions in corporate finance, operations and compliance. Over the course of her career, Vicky has developed a knack for bringing fresh ideas and inventive processes to the table to address business problems.
Vicky is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She earned her BBA in Accounting from the Fox School of Business at Temple University and her MBA in Management from Penn State University. Vicky is a member of the board of the Greater Philadelphia Association of Health Underwriters where she serves as Legislative Chair.
ConnectDan Dunigan, CPCU, AFSB
Vice President, Surety
As Vice President of Surety, Dan’s responsibilities include overseeing the day to day management of Simkiss & Block’s surety department, assuring the firm that client and surety company needs are met, while maintaining client and surety company relationships and developing new ones. Dan holds a BSBA in Finance and Marketing from LaSalle University as well as the Chartered Property Casualty (CPCU) designation from the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and the Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB) designation from the Insurance Institute of America.
Dan is an active parent volunteer in several organizations, including North Penn Aquatic Club, Knights & Maidens Water Polo, and is currently President of the Bux-Mont Summer Swimming & Diving League. Additionally, Dan is active in his local community and is currently Chairman of the Lansdale Parking Authority, and previously he was a councilman for Lansdale Borough. Dan and his wife, Christine (Chris), and their two children make their home in Lansdale, PA.
ConnectResources
Our Solutions
We service the full spectrum of risk management and employee benefits with our client partners. We believe customized solutions are the best and only way to protect your success – learn more about how we can help here.
Corporate Risk
As a leading privately held brokerage firm, Simkiss & Block represents clients of various sizes, from privately held businesses through Fortune 500 firms. Our national and global geographic reach and broad carrier representation offer us top-level relationships and a level of service in the marketplace which most of our peers cannot match.
The insurance program you purchase may be your most tangible representation of risk management, but we believe sound, organization-wide practices and processes are key to lowering your overall risk. This year-round focus is something our clients have come to appreciate from us, and we stand behind it.
Employee Benefits
Employee benefits are an important part of any business. It is key to provide benefits to your employees that strike the balance between being cost effective and being competitive with employers in your area and industry. We understand benefits can represent a significant cost – and we work with our clients to provide choices and the most competitive programs available. Often times we can save our clients substantial amounts on their benefits costs simply by performing a comprehensive review.
Our experienced and dedicated benefits professionals can assist in the evaluation, design, implementation, and ongoing monitoring of your employee benefits programs.
Surety Bonds
We maintain strong and deep relationships with the largest surety companies in the world. Combined, our global reach and dedication to client success has allowed us to develop valuable partnerships with many national companies, strengthening the level of service we can provide our clients. Ongoing communication is at the core of our approach towards structuring surety programs.
Our clients are our partners. We believe it’s not only a sustainable way to do business, but a strategy to ensure the best possible surety programs.
Private Client Insurance
Personal risk management is often considered an afterthought by brokers. We treat it as a core part of your business because it deserves to be. Business owners and other executives need to respond to the demands of stockholders, clients, and employees, and so typically lack the time to properly review their own personal needs.
Our team acts as personal risk managers, delivering the best products in the marketplace from first-class insurers. We focus on analyzing your risk and structuring coverage to meet your specific needs.
Private Equity Risk
When it comes to private equity consulting, we have a comprehensive program to assist our clients. We take the necessary steps to fully understand the aspects of risks, even those hidden outside of plain sight.
Thanks in part to our reputation for client service, we are recognized among the leading privately held brokerage firms nationwide. Helping our clients through both the renewal process and ongoing risk management practices are equally important.
Community Works Program
We're committed to giving back to the communities in which we work and live. Our philanthropic arm volunteers and contributes to several charitable organizations every year. Making an impact is our passion.
A culture of confidence
To deliver world-class risk and benefits solutions for our clients, we operate as a large, fully cohesive team, operating in a Culture of Confidence. Our trust in this approach is built on confidence in our people, confidence in our knowledge, and confidence that these two combined produce optimal outcomes for our clients.
Business Insurance Best Places to Work 2020 Award
The trust our clients have in our team is the same trust our team has in each other. We have been consistently recognized for our workplace culture, and we’re proud of it.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Balancing Cost and Care: Could a Captive solution be the right fit for you?
In this session, our experts will discuss how Captive solutions work and what you need to consider for your own group’s needs.
April 17, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Q2 2025 Quarterly Compliance Webinar
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
May 6, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
2025 Healthcare and Employee Benefits Benchmarking Report: How Does Your Benefits Program Stack Up?
In this session, our experts will dive into the results of our annual, market-leading benchmarking survey.
June 26, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Deadline for San Francisco Health Care Security Ordinance is approaching
The annual San Francisco Health Care Security Ordinance (SF HCSO) reporting by employers that have employees who work in the City of or County of San Francisco is due by May 2, 2025. Employers should be aware of the upcoming deadline even if they are not located in San Francisco.
The SF HCSO requires large and medium-sized employers to provide covered employees with benefits equal to or greater than the expenditure rate. Covered employees are those who have been employed for more than 90 days and who regularly work at least eight hours per week within the City of and County of San Francisco.
April 14, 2025
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Property and Casualty
International Roadcheck Is May 13-15. Is Your Commercial Transportation Fleet Ready?
For 72 hours next month, commercial motor vehicles and drivers throughout North America will be subject to what the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) calls a “high-visibility, high-volume” inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement initiative.
The annual event, known as the International Roadcheck, will take place at weigh and inspection stations, temporary sites and locations selected by mobile patrols from May 13-15 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
April 14, 2025
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Property and Casualty
Improving Transportation Fleet Safety Through Gamification
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed companies to find creative ways to engage employees as isolation hit an all-time high. Many turned to gamification — the application game mechanics such as points, badges and leaderboards to everyday tasks — to reconnect with staff and improve retention, especially around key initiatives like safety. It’s a concept so suitable for the transportation industry, it could have been conceived with truckers and other commercial auto drivers in mind.
April 7, 2025
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Webinar: Is Captive Insurance the Right Solution for Your Business?
Join Alera Group on Thursday, April 17, for "Balancing Cost and Care: Could a Captive solution be the right fit for you?", a webinar on self-insuring to reduce group Medical Insurance costs and other business expense. Our experts will discuss how Captive solutions work and what you need to consider for your own group’s needs.
April 3, 2025
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