About Us
Our History
Since 1975, GCG Financial, LLC, has been a trusted partner for our clients. Our mission has been to enhance the financial security of the businesses and families we serve through exceptional employee benefits, risk management, and wealth management solutions.
In 2017, GCG Financial 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 2022, 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.
Our Team
Trusted. Smart. Passionate.
Our team has a sincere commitment to the long- term success of our clients. With an emphasis on collaboration and teamwork, we create unique solutions that fit the distinct needs of each client. We are passionate about doing what is right for every client, driven by the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, integrity, character, fairness, trust, and confidence.
Our Presence
Our clients benefit from the expertise and resources of a large national firm, while still maintaining the advantages of local service and relationships. We leverage powerful relationships, industry experience, and resources with the goal of supporting our clients’ business strategies and elevating the experience of working with us.
Above all, our firm believes in empowering people – our clients, our team, and the individuals in the communities where we live and work.
We are headquartered in Deerfield, IL, with offices throughout Illinois and Colorado, along with more than 150 Alera Group locations across the country. Wherever you are, we can meet your needs.
Investment advisory services offered through Alera Investment Advisors, LLC. Securities offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.
Meet Our Team
Brian Crane
Senior Vice President, Benefits Consulting | Employee Benefits
Brian is a highly regarded Employee Benefits Consultant known for his commitment to optimizing employee benefits programs for his clients. With a sharp focus on mid-market employers, Brian and his team excel in creating tailored solutions that enhance benefits, reduce costs, and drive improved healthcare outcomes.
Since joining the firm in 2009, Brian has consistently been lauded for his exceptional achievements. His track record includes prestigious recognition among his peers, a testament to his outstanding performance and expertise. With over two decades of industry experience, Brian's tenure encompasses notable roles at Willis Towers Watson and ADP.
Brian is married with three children and enjoys spending time with his family, golfing and playing paddle tennis.
Education: BA, Communications, University of Iowa
Gregg Elstien, ARM, CIC
Senior Vice President, Property & Casualty
Gregg Elstien is considered one of the strongest advocates in the commercial insurance and risk management fields. His approach involves a proprietary analysis to uncover areas of need in order to develop a sustainable program that will reduce costs tied with evolving risk. Over 26 years in this industry, Gregg believes that to truly understand opportunities for improvement, you must take time to understand what makes a business distinctive. Furthermore, if the outcome of his analysis does not provide significant value, then he feels we would not be the right partner. Gregg works predominantly with businesses who are focused on constant improvement with a partner who understands how critical due diligence, cost reduction, claim management and safety are to their operations.
Gregg is a contributing member of Alera’s captive vertical. He also has a deep focus in manufacturing, distribution, transportation/logistics and nonprofits.
Because Alera Group has such an excellent bench in health insurance, financial services, life insurance as well as personal home and auto insurance, he coordinates those efforts to help businesses in the same areas of cost reduction and improved service, many that companies don’t know about.
Beyond what he provides in insurance risk management experience, Gregg also understands how important it is to help his clients in areas outside of their insurance needs. He is a very active professional networker and brings his extensive group of professionals in a variety of industries to his relationships to grow their operations.
Gregg has been a professional speaker on a multitude of topics for over 26 years. His speaking engagements include the Illinois CPA Society, Rockford University, Axelson Center and the Nonprofit CFO Roundtable. He is also the Chicago co-host for the CFO Mastermind.
Gregg is the Chair of the Advisory Board for Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, a nonprofit that is the first responder to children who have been sexually abused and/or physically abused. They work to heal both children and families as well as help prosecute the perpetrators.
Gregg is an Advisory Committee Member for Reclaim 13, which prevents child trafficking and prevents child exploitation.
Michael Engelhardt
Vice President, Benefits Consulting | Employee Benefits
Having specialized in Health & Welfare for over 20 years, Michael has designed an approach that is truly unique. He’s designed an approach to benefits that leverages the principles of LEAN, to improve efficiencies and drive greater outcomes for his clients.
At a time when employers often change carriers to improve pricing or benefits, Michael helps his customers maintain their current programs and enjoy both improvements in costs and benefits. He does this by leveraging the numerous Advanced Healthcare Strategies, that he’s continuously vetting out and validating as part of the AHS Vertical at The Alera Group. The less obvious outcome of his services is Michael ultimately helps to reduce the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), for the employees and dependents of his clients, and supports their journey towards Health Equity.
In addition to his market knowledge from over 20 years in the insurance industry, Michael is a regular speaker on a wide range of industry related topics, including cost containment strategies, healthcare captives, benchmarking and underwriting strategies. His client-centric service model is supported by best-in-class analytics, communications, legal, actuarial and technology deliverables.
Michael is the President of the Chicagoland chapter of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, is a past Board Member of the Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Board, where we served as Chairperson. He lives in Sugar Grove with his wife and four children, enjoys an active lifestyle and is an avid Illini Sports fan.
Education: B.S. Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Teddy Felker
Senior Partner, Private Equity Practice, Property & Casualty
Teddy Felker is a fourth-generation insurance broker based out of Alera’s headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois. He brokers the following lines of coverage for medium to large sized businesses:
- Directors & Officers (D&O)
- Property & Casualty: Workers’ Compensation, General Liability, Auto, Property, Umbrella
- Professional Liability / Errors & Omissions (E&O)
- Cyber
- Pollution / Environmental
Teddy represents many Private Equity firms throughout the US. His team performs pre-close due diligence; places Reps & Warranties insurance; and places go-forward / post-close insurance programs for the new ownership group.
Teddy began his career at Marsh in New York and San Francisco before joining Alera in 2012. He lives in Glencoe, Illinois with his wife and four children.
Education: B.A., Political Science, University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Resources
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Q4 Compliance Update
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
December 3, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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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 Report 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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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
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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Wealth Services
Weekly Market Update
Stocks fell last week as the postelection rally lost momentum amid an inflation uptick and cautious comments from Fed officials.
November 18, 2024
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Employee Benefits
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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