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
Stewart Levin, CPCU
Senior Risk Management Consultant | | Property & Casualty
Stewart C. Levin is a Senior Risk Management Consultant with a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter certification. Stewart’s primary role is to partner with clients to analyze risk, maximize risk transfer, mitigate claims, and facilitate and implement all facets of the insurance mechanism. One of Stewart’s specialty areas of consulting expertise is in franchise auto dealerships.
Stewart holds over 30 years of experience at Hallberg Commercial Insurers, Inc. His years of experience includes previous positions as an insurance agency principal, property and casualty producer, and underwriting manager.
Currently, Stewart enjoys spending time with family, listening to and performing music and playing a round of golf. Stewart plays keyboards with the Grey Matter Quartet and also serves as the Choir Director at Kneseth Israel Synagogue located in Elgin and is a Hadassah Associate.
Certifications and Designations: Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Associate of Insurance and Finance Professionals – (AFIP)
Education: Roosevelt University – Chicago Musical College
Jordan Levitz
Risk Management Consultant
Jordan Levitz is the Director of Personal Risk Management at the firm and a third-generation insurance professional.
Jordan is a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, a Florham Business Scholar and played Division III College Lacrosse.
He came to the firm after working in the insurance industry for three years as an underwriter with CHUBB, where he managed a $32M+ book of business and underwrote risks for agencies in Minnesota, Indiana and Ohio.
Jordan is a member of the Alera Personal Lines Committee and has overseen the Chicago office double in size during his first three years as director.
In his free time, Jordan is typically with his family, Kelly, Mia, and Max, or on the golf course when his family allows.
Education: Bachelor of Science, University of Southern California
Cameron Lewis
Risk Management Consultant | Property & Casualty
Cameron is a second-generation insurance professional with a background in wealth management, specializing in the education and advisement of the benefits and value found in today’s high-net worth insurance market.
Prior to joining Alera Group, Cameron worked at HUB International, running the day-to-day operations of the new client interaction team and creating specialized packages for insureds with each premier insurance carrier.
Cameron listens and learns about clients’ personal protection goals, uncovering any risks that may have been overlooked in the past. Working in conjunction with their asset management team, Cameron can personalize a client’s insurance package to appropriately protect all assets in their portfolio and provide peace of mind for the long-haul.
Catherine Loney
Vice President, Benefits Consulting | Employee Benefits
Catherine joined the firm in April 2002, and is a Vice President, Benefits Consulting. Prior to this, she was a Principal of Kraemer & Loney, Inc. Catherine entered the insurance industry in 1985 as an administrative associate for Kraemer Associates. This served as the training environment in learning the integral parts of each product in the industry, which serves as her foundation. Catherine returned to Kraemer Chantler Associates in 1995 after a brief absence, during which she focused on individual financial planning and mutual fund investments. She found her interest rested in working with employers and employees in an ever-changing environment of healthcare products – such as group medical, dental, disability, life, long term disability, wellness programs, employee assistance programs and savings vehicles for future medical expenses.
Catherine specializes in municipality and school employee benefit programs, which encompasses partially self-funded programs administered by a third-party claim administrator, administrative services only contracts administered by a carrier and fully insured programs either on an individual or pooled basis. Her emphasis is to not only analyze the benefit programs, but also to educate the administrative personnel and employees through forums designed to plan for future initiatives, ease the negotiation process and keep all participants well ahead of the benefits industry curve.
Catherine is continually recognized for her outstanding achievements. In retaining over 95% of her block year over year, she holds the distinction of being a top advisor in the firm. She has received the firm's most prestigious awards, including Pinnacle Club and Circle of Excellence, and is celebrated for her notable successes, relationships, and extensive industry expertise.
Catherine attended Waldorf College and the University of Iowa, focusing on psychology and recreation therapy. Her interest in this field allowed her to integrate her music and athletic participation with special populations. This area continues to be of interest to Catherine on a volunteer basis.
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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