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
Brent Novoselsky, BFA™, ChFC®
Vice President, Wealth Services
Brent has been with the firm since 1995. He has been serving clients, their families and their businesses since 1989 with a particular focus on the accumulation and preservation of assets along with risk management. Brent meets his clients’ financial needs using the extensive resources and specialists at Alera Group, as well as through outside, trusted advisor offices.
Brent played seven seasons in the NFL. He was with the Chicago Bears in 1988 and the Minnesota Vikings from 1989-1994, when Brent retired after a serious neck injury. He is a member of the Chicago and Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Active in many charities and organizations, Brent serves on the board for the NFL Players Association Former Players Chicago Chapter. He is also the Chair of B’nai B’rith Sports Lodge’s scholarship program.
Brent and his wife live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and have three children. Brent is a brown belt in Taekwondo and is an avid, bad golfer.
Education: B.S., Economics, Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania
Credentials: Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFATM), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®)
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.
Rosemary O'Brien, CPCU, ARM
Senior Risk Management Consultant | Property & Casualty
Rosemary O’Brien is a Senior Risk Management Consultant at the firm. She focuses on the asset protection needs of high net worth individuals and families, representing the elite carriers in the property and casualty insurance industry.
Rose has more than 35 years of industry experience, specializing for the past 30 years in developing customized personal insurance programs for affluent and high net worth individuals. Her experience includes working for large global insurance brokers in the areas of management, business development and service. She started her own boutique personal lines agency which was subsequently acquired by the firm.
Known for her remarkable ability to cultivate strong, meaningful professional relationships, Rose is differentiated by her extraordinary communication skills, collaborative, needs-based approach and industry knowledge. She currently holds insurance producer licenses in 45 states.
Education: B.S., Education/Math, University of Wisconsin.
Certifications: CPCU, ARM
Jill Olshefke
Director of Select Accounts | Employee Benefits
Jill leads the administrative processes of the Select Accounts team, which manages employee benefits for small group employers (1-100 lives). Focusing on quality assurance and scalability, she ensures an excellent client experience by creating efficient processes and procedures for this high-volume team.
Jill Olshefke has been with the firm since 2011. She previously worked at Northern Suburban Special Education District where she managed and scheduled substitute teachers.
An avid dog lover (Roxie, Pitbull/Staffie mix and Zeus, German Shepherd), Jill enjoys live music (and following her son’s band, Ax and the Hatchetmen), reading and painting.
Education: B.A., Albion College; Master of Education in Educational Psychology, National Louis University
- VUCA Leadership, Cornell University, May 2022
- Leadership Agility, Cornell University, May 2022
Kyle Orr
Senior Benefits Consultant | Employee Benefits
Since Kyle joined the firm in 2013, he has worked with a variety of clients, ranging from manufacturing corporations to law firms. He believes that all industries can offer thorough yet affordable employee benefits packages when working with a broker whose goal is to meet the needs of their clients.
Kyle has specialized in serving the mid-market segment and works with clients across the country. He has developed considerable expertise in working with multi-locations companies and those growing through acquisition, specifically organizations working with PEOs (Professional Employer Organization). Kyle has 18 years of experience working in the PEO world and has strategic partnerships to help ensure his clients are receiving the best service and price available.
A graduate of the University of Illinois and originally from Buffalo Hart, IL, Kyle has lived in Denver, CO since 2010.
He enjoys basketball, hiking, staying fit, and spending time with his dog Norman. Kyle is also an active member of the development committee for Denver Kids. Denver Kids is a local non-profit assisting at risk youth in the Denver Public School system and providing them with a path to graduation and advanced degrees.
Education: B.A., Ornamental Horticulture, University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
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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