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 over 4,200 employees, 190+ locations, 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.
Meet Our Team
Jesse Pleuss, MBA, CBC
Vice President, Employee Benefits![Photo of Jesse Pleuss](/sites/g/files/sujchg151/files/2024-01/Pleuss2C20Jesse2001_LowRes.jpg)
Jesse Pleuss joined Alera Group in 2005 and works extensively with Corporations, School Districts and not- for-profit, in areas of strategic and innovative management of their employee benefits. Consulting and advising organizations in the evaluation, implementation and communication of their employee benefit plans is his expertise. He focuses on employee communication by leveraging resources and proprietary tools to help employees make better healthcare decisions.
Jesse’s goal is to make sure his clients are receiving thoughtful, expert advice and the tools they need to address increasing costs and regulatory and compliance law risks. With more than 25 years of healthcare experience, Jesse helps his clients build both short and long-term objectives in a unique “play-book process”. A member of the Alera Advanced Healthcare Strategy Impact Group, Jesse keeps his skills sharp. He continues to lead both his clients and cohorts in implementing some of the most innovative health plans in the country.
Jesse began his career as a District Sales Manager for American Medical Security that specialized in small group health plans, where he consistently led the nation in new business development and retention. Later he worked with PPO network company Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), where he partnered with large national employers, insurance carriers and third-party administrators. Jesse has a very deep understanding of the many facets in healthcare services, which bodes well for his client’s in representing their interests.
Jesse received his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota where he also participated at collegiate level in both hockey and soccer. He later received his MBA from Elmhurst College and is a Charter Benefits Consultant (CBC). Jesse is active in many charities and service organizations including Park Ridge Rotary, St. Paul of the Cross Men’s Club and Rawhide Boys Ranch of Wisconsin,
Jesse lives in Park Ridge, Illinois with his wife Patty. They have two children, Declan and Maizie. Away from work Jesse enjoys going to his children’s sporting events, playing hockey and family time in Wisconsin.
John Przybylski
AuditRate Consultant | Property & Casualty![Photo of John Przybylski](/sites/g/files/sujchg151/files/2024-01/source_small-2.jpg)
With over 15 years of consulting experience within the Insurance industry, John is a subject matter expert in Workers’ Compensation and General Liability premium overcharges. As an AuditRate Consultant at the firm, he serves as the main point of contact for AuditRate, a proprietary solution designed to help employers discover and recover workers’ compensation and general liability overcharges. John is primarily responsible for leading full life cycle audits on workers’ compensation and general liability audits, as well as promoting AuditRate as an effective tool for producers to use during prospecting. As a part of the AuditRate team, John has an in-depth knowledge of the factors that drive premiums, which allows him to aid clients in challenging overpaid premium. John has achieved and maintained a record of uncovering overcharges on 40% of all contingency engagements.
Prior to working at the firm, John held various audit and consulting positions for companies such as Nationwide/ Harleysville Insurance Co., Zurich NA, and HUB International.
Outside of work, John resides in Huntley, IL and currently sits on the Huntley Youth Football League Board of Directors.
Shelly Rabin
Senior Benefits Consultant | Employee Benefits![Photo of Shelly Rabin](/sites/g/files/sujchg151/files/2024-01/Shelly-Rabin-resized-crop.jpg)
Shelly Rabin is a Senior Benefits Consultant at the firm with over 30 years of experience writing and servicing small group benefits, individual medical plans, and Medicare supplement plans. Among other things, her responsibilities include serving as the first point of contact for small group account specialists with complex issues, working with her team to troubleshoot challenges and identify solutions, and managing a book of small group accounts.
Shelly received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a specialty in interpersonal communication from The University of Wisconsin- Madison.
Mitchell A. Ratnow
Vice President, Wealth Services![Photo of Mitchell A. Ratnow](/sites/g/files/sujchg151/files/2024-03/Ratnow%2C%20Mitch.png)
Mitch combines strong interpersonal skills with a solid Wealth Services background. His primary areas of knowledge include investment strategies, personal insurance planning, and business solutions that incorporate employee benefits. He often acts as a mentor to new Alera Group associates. Mitch’s long-term client relationships include executives, professionals, and business owners. He has an innate ability to communicate straightforward solutions to complex problems in an easily understood fashion. His ability to maintain warm client relationships while recommending client-centered solutions for business and personal finances has repeatedly positioned him as a valuable long-term resource to his clients.
Mitch and his wife live in Vernon Hills, Illinois with their three children. He enjoys playing sports, working out, and spending time with family and friends. Mitch is active in a number of charities and organizations.
Education: B.A., Liberal Arts and Sciences, Northern Illinois University.
Investment Advisory Services offered through Alera Investment Advisors, LLC. Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC., Member FINRA/SIPC. Triad Advisors LLC is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Triad Advisors.
CA license # 0C06632
Resources
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
[Alera Engage] Benchmarking for the Win: How Does Your Benefits Program Rate?
Ask our clients about the No.1 tool that helps them develop an impactful benefits program, and they'll tell you it's benchmarking.
July 18, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up![Stock image displaying the words Alera Engage](/sites/g/files/sujchg151/files/2024-03/WSG-DigitalThumbnails_EngageWebinars-110723-2.png)
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.
July 24, 2024 at 11:00 am CT | Virtual
Sign Up![State of the Markets](/sites/g/files/sujchg151/files/2024-01/State%20of%20the%20Markets%20picture_1.png)
Employee Benefits
Driving Communications and Engagement: Open Enrollment
Our experts will walk you through a strategic planning process to make sure you’re sharing in a way that not only drives employee awareness and engagement but also reaches your workforce across platforms with what they need to know about choosing the right benefits for them and their families.
August 15, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up![Alera Engage - Webinar](/sites/g/files/sujchg151/files/2023-12/WBI-692x434-Webinar-Engage_5.jpg)
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Wealth Services
Weekly Market Update
Stocks finished the last week of June and Q2 mixed as investors digested a fresh round of economic data.
July 1, 2024
Find out moreEmployee Benefits
Benefits Benchmarking Webinar: What To Do With the Data
If you’re designing your company’s employee benefits program, you want to know what your peers and competitors are offering. Employee retention and talent acquisition are largely dependent on whether you offer a benefits package that meets or exceeds the standards of your industry, location and company size while managing costs in an increasingly expensive market for healthcare and pharmaceuticals. That’s why Alera Group places a high priority on using benchmarking data and analysis to inform and otherwise serve our clients.
July 1, 2024
Find out moreProperty and Casualty
Surety: Market Stable for Time-Proven Protection
Surety bonds not only help prequalify contractors — saving valuable project time and money — but also help ensure superior performance compared to construction projects without bonds.
June 26, 2024
Find out moreWealth Services
Weekly Market Update
Stocks edged higher over the four trading days last week, with the three major averages taking turns leading based on various economic and artificial intelligence (AI) news.
June 24, 2024
Find out more