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.
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
Tiffany Brown, GBDS, VBS
Specialty Benefits Senior Consultant | Employee Benefits
P: (847) 457-3140
Tiffany joined the firm after spending over 14 years with Unum, a leading carrier for group disability benefits in the U.S. Her expertise extends from disability and life insurance to voluntary worksite benefits. Her focus is ensuring that our clients have a comprehensive non-medical benefits package designed to protect the financial security of their employees. Tiffany also develops and manages our non-medical carrier relationships.
Throughout her career, Tiffany has executed integrated enrollment, service, and growth strategies for her clients. As the benefits landscape continues to shift, employees and employers are rethinking how they approach non-medical benefits. Tiffany’s role allows her to thoroughly analyze contractual language, identify benefit gaps, and share best practices while helping evolve our clients' benefits packages.
Tiffany has always been an advocate for her clients and their employees. She believes that the most important asset to any employee should be their ability to earn a paycheck. If an employee is unable to work, she wants to ensure they have access to benefits that would replace their paycheck (or a portion thereof) through their employer.
Tiffany and her husband live in Maywood, Illinois with their daughter. Tiffany enjoys spending time with her family as well as swimming and traveling.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, 2000
Credentials: Group Benefits Disability Specialist, Voluntary Benefits Specialist
Brian Carlson, CFP®, CLU®
Senior Vice President, Wealth Services
Specialization: Individual Insurance (Disability, Life, Long-Term Care), Wealth Management & Comprehensive Financial Planning
Brian has been helping medical professionals with their individual planning needs since 2001. He is a speaker in the medical community. Each year he conducts many financial educational workshops for residents, fellows and practicing physicians nationwide. He has been published multiple times in AAOS Now (The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Journal). Brian understands that physicians have very little time to research and keep up to date on many tax advantages and investment options available to them. One of his primary goals is to help physicians navigate through their many financial options.
CA license # 0F50688
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.
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
Pam S. Davis, CLU®, ChFC®
Vice President, Wealth Services
Pam started with the firm in 1978 in an administrative capacity. She became an advisor in 1979 and has since been one of the firm’s leading advisors. During her distinguished tenure with the firm, Pam has provided services to individuals and businesses throughout the country. She is a repeat member of the Top of the Table, a group comprised of leading life insurance and financial services professionals worldwide. Throughout her career, Pam has been the top female advisor at the firm. She is the first and only female to become Advisor of the Year for her production at the firm. Pam is also among the first women in the country to break the Top 10 Advisors level within her broker-dealer.
Active in many charities and organizations, one of Pam’s greatest passions is that all children, no matter their circumstances, have access to an outstanding education. To help realize that goal, Pam was a member of the Leadership Council of The Chicago Public Education Fund for a number of years. Pam has also worked with AUSL (Academy for Urban School Leadership) and was on the Board of Trustees for the Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago. Pam currently serves on the Family Advisory Council for Cradles to Crayons in Chicago and is a member of the Campaign Cabinet of the Lake County Community Foundation.
Pam and her husband Dan live in Highland Park, Illinois. Their two passions are spending time with their adult children and three grandchildren and traveling. Pam and Dan travel extensively and delight in exploring countries across the globe and learning about different cultures. They also spend time each year in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they enjoy hiking, frequenting art galleries and spending time with friends.
Credentials: Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)
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 # 0C59058
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
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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