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 4,400 employees, 160+ 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 160 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
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
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
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
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 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.
CA license # 0C06632
Resources
Alera Group Spends The Week Giving Back
In the spirit of our Generous Community Giving program, Alera Group employees participated in a week of events, both in-person and virtually, for our 2023 Community Giving week.
Chicago Housing Authority Hiring Fair
Alera Group colleagues spent the day at the Chicago Housing Authority Job Fair reviewing resumes, helping with interview prep, working on communication skills, and offering general insights and advice to people just starting their professional careers. It was time well spent helping others in the community both professionally and personally.
Feed My Starving Children
The Alera Group team volunteering with Feed My Starving Children had a positive experience measuring, bagging, weighing, sealing, and packing meals for children over the course of an afternoon. Not only did they feel like they made a difference in the lives of others, but they also enjoyed using the time as a teambuilding exercise to work with colleagues outside of their department.
Lyman Woods Nature Center
Alera Group volunteers rolled up their sleeves to beautify the nature preserve by building a new fence and cleaning up the trails for the community to enjoy now that the weather has warmed up. Despite being a physically demanding morning, everyone agreed it was a rewarding experience.
Send virtual cards to patients at St. Jude
Our remote teammates were able to participate in Community Giving Week as well! They wrote dozens of encouraging notes to patients undergoing treatment for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
The Alera Group volunteers not only gave their time and energy to make a positive impact on our communities, but unanimously agreed that they had a great time while doing it!
Alera Group’s 2023 Office 5k Raises Money for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
On October 12 we laced up our sneakers as part of our Generous Community Giving initiative. This year’s annual 5k included a record number of participants who enjoyed running and walking the outdoor course at our Deerfield, Illinois headquarters as well as a step challenge for remote employees. To keep things interesting, we added a new 5k relay event consisting of teams of four colleagues for some additional friendly competition.
The proceeds of the money raised this year benefits Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Their mission is to improve lives by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D).
The day was billed a success as the rain clouds held off long enough for us to support an important cause while enjoying the company of our fellow team members.
An Alera Group Care Package
Alera Group colleagues came together last month to enjoy a lunch and celebrate our shared successes in 2023. The day had a bigger purpose though, as we rolled up our sleeves to kickoff our first Generous Community Giving event in the new year with nonprofit group, Blessings in a Backpack.
Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for school-aged children across America who might otherwise go hungry. By the end of the afternoon, over 100 Alera Group colleagues had packed 500 bags! Not only was it rewarding to collaborate on a physical task together, but we were thrilled to know that our work would ensure children in our community would not go hungry that weekend.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
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.
October 23, 2024 at 11:00 am CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
When Captive Insurance Makes Sense
In this session, our experts will talk about how captives work, the advantages and disadvantages and what you need to know to determine whether they make sense for your organization.
November 21, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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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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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Wealth Services
Weekly Market Update
Stocks advanced last week despite mixed inflation data, lurching oil prices, and lingering anxiety about the Middle East.
October 15, 2024
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Retirement Plan Services
IRS Issues Guidance on Student Loan Matching
Thirty percent of adults in the U.S. report having received a student loan to further their education. According to the Federal Reserve, the median student loan debt for those with outstanding balances in 2023 ranged between $20,000 and $25,000. To help ease this financial burden, employers are increasingly offering a match toward student loan repayments as an employee benefit to help alleviate the financial strain. This trend also highlights the increasing focus on addressing student debt within the framework of overall financial wellness initiatives.
October 14, 2024
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Retirement Plan Services
Helping Employees Avoid Retirement Healthcare Sticker Shock
Housing? Check. Life insurance? Check. Dining out? Check. For most retirees, these types of line items are fairly predictable and factored into their monthly budget. But when it comes to healthcare, the situation can change dramatically. These expenses are often unpredictable and underestimated — and this wild card can disrupt an otherwise carefully planned retirement, leaving many seniors vulnerable.
October 8, 2024
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5 P&C Insurance Tips for Public Sector Entities
Public sector entities — including counties, cities, town villages, local law enforcement and special service districts — offer vital services to our communities. They also face growing challenges, some from the constituencies they serve, as they navigate heightened public scrutiny, shrinking budgets and inflation. In this challenging environment, having a comprehensive property and casualty (P&C) insurance program, supported by a strong risk management strategy, is more crucial than ever.
October 8, 2024
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