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
Alex Koglin
Senior Benefits Consultant | Employee BenefitsAlex Koglin is Senior Benefits Consultant for the firm. He has nearly a decade of experience in healthcare benefits and has worked with companies ranging from a handful of employees to over 5,000 employees across a diverse range of industries. His responsibilities include new business development, strategic playbook review, client relations, and functioning as liaison between sales and service teams.
Alex routinely works with clients to transition to alternative-funded programs, while considering the holistic employee experience. In addition, he has overseen the merger of benefit programs following multiple large-scale acquisitions. Alex leverages those opportunities to identify program improvements and substantial cost reductions.
Alex is WELCOA certified and uses his knowledge to oversee client wellbeing initiatives, keep a pulse on employee engagement, and identify employee values. Moreover, he uses his process-driven approach to identify best-practice benefits administration solutions and better leverage technology.
Above all, Alex values his client relationships, excellent client feedback, and long-term client retention.
When he's not working, Alex values time spent with his partner and his dog, and can be found hiking, playing tennis, teaching yoga, or cooking.
Jeff Kolker, RHU
Senior Vice President, Benefits Consulting | Employee BenefitsJeff joined the firm in 1992 and became Vice President of Employee Benefits in 1999. His responsibilities include supervision of the employee benefits resource team, product review, and the sale of new and renewal employee benefits programs including medical, dental, disability, and various other employee benefits to our clientele.
After working for a public accounting firm in Denver, Jeff relocated to the Chicagoland area and entered the insurance business. He retained his RHU professional designation and has been in the insurance business since 1989, with a specialty in employee benefits since 1991. Jeff has used his accounting background and communication skills to become a leading producer in group benefits. He has been involved in speaking and advisory roles for many of the national health carriers, helping design benefit plans and providing valuable feedback on various plans’ strengths and weaknesses. His understanding and grasp of the continued pressures on businesses to remain competitive and profitable have helped make him successful in the employee benefits field. Jeff has also served on various advisory boards for insurance carriers doing business in the Chicagoland area. Jeff, along with the firm’s employee benefits division, has been recognized by several of the national carriers as a top producer and preferred broker.
Jeff is active in several charities and civic organizations, including the firm's monthly community giving program, and he often helps fundraise for other organizations.
Jeff's focus is his family life. Most of his time is spent with his wife and three kids doing various activities ranging from education to travel to sporting activities. When he is not spending time with his family, he enjoys golfing and other sports.
Education: B.S., Accounting, University of Denver, 1987.
Credentials: RHU
Organizations: National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and Association of Health Insurance Advisors.
John C. Kwasigroch, CLTC
Field Manager/Investment AdvisorAs a financial services professional, John’s goals are simple: to help individuals, families, and small businesses understand and prioritize their financial objectives. This is accomplished by helping them insure, protect, and invest all while navigating life’s ups, downs and, most importantly, its unknowns.
Having more than 30 years of experience has taught John a couple of very valuable lessons. The first one is that people don’t plan to fail; they just fail to plan. The second lesson is whether it’s saving enough for college, investing enough for retirement, or having enough life insurance to secure the family or business, it is possible if you execute the right plan.
John lives in Lemont with his wife Lynn and their 2 chihuahuas (Norman and Chia). He enjoys exercising, golfing, and watching TV. In his spare time, John is an avid reader of non-fiction and a crossword puzzle connoisseur.
Life Experience: United States Army – Ft. Benning, Georgia (1985-1988)
Education: Eastern Illinois University – B.A. Political Science (1988- 1992)
Credentials: National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), Certified in Long Term Care (CLTC)
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.
Dawn Lauret
Vice President, Benefits Consulting | Employee BenefitsDawn Lauret joined the firm in 1998 and became Vice President of Benefits Consulting in 2005. She brings a consultative approach to the sale and retention of small group employee benefit packages with her background in both the sales and service aspects of the business. Her role is to partner with firm brokers to identify employee benefit opportunities on existing clients as well as new prospects. Many of the national health carriers have tapped Dawn for advisory boards, and she has been instrumental in designing benefit plans and providing feedback on plan strengths and weaknesses for small groups.
Before joining the firm, Dawn was an account manager for a small benefits agency in the employee benefit division.
Dawn enjoys spending her free time with her family and friends. She also enjoys playing volleyball, golfing, walking, biking, crafting, and traveling.
Education: B.S., Workforce Education and Development, Southern Illinois University.
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 UpWealth 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 UpEmployee 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 UpTHOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Property 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 moreWealth Services
It’s Time For A Mid-Year Check-In
The year is still young! Even if your review reveals a diversion from your goals, there is still time to modify and put things back on track. Identify the areas that require a bit of extra attention and make needed changes to improve them by the end of the year.
June 20, 2024
Find out moreProperty and Casualty
Property Insurance Rate Increases Easing for Real Estate Sector
After six consecutive years of steep Property Insurance rate increases, many organizations in real estate development and property management may finally experience a more palatable renewal.
June 18, 2024
Find out more