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 become the 11th largest independent insurance and financial services firm in the nation with over 4,000 employees, 180 firms, 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.
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
Michael Engelhardt
Vice President, Benefits Consulting | Employee Benefits
Having specialized in Health & Welfare for over 20 years, Michael has designed an approach that is truly unique. He’s designed an approach to benefits that leverages the principles of LEAN, to improve efficiencies and drive greater outcomes for his clients.
At a time when employers often change carriers to improve pricing or benefits, Michael helps his customers maintain their current programs and enjoy both improvements in costs and benefits. He does this by leveraging the numerous Advanced Healthcare Strategies, that he’s continuously vetting out and validating as part of the AHS Vertical at The Alera Group. The less obvious outcome of his services is Michael ultimately helps to reduce the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), for the employees and dependents of his clients, and supports their journey towards Health Equity.
In addition to his market knowledge from over 20 years in the insurance industry, Michael is a regular speaker on a wide range of industry related topics, including cost containment strategies, healthcare captives, benchmarking and underwriting strategies. His client-centric service model is supported by best-in-class analytics, communications, legal, actuarial and technology deliverables.
Michael is the President of the Chicagoland chapter of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, is a past Board Member of the Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Board, where we served as Chairperson. He lives in Sugar Grove with his wife and four children, enjoys an active lifestyle and is an avid Illini Sports fan.
Education: B.S. Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Teddy Felker
Senior Partner, Private Equity Practice, Property & Casualty
Teddy Felker is a fourth-generation insurance broker based out of Alera’s headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois. He brokers the following lines of coverage for medium to large sized businesses:
- Directors & Officers (D&O)
- Property & Casualty: Workers’ Compensation, General Liability, Auto, Property, Umbrella
- Professional Liability / Errors & Omissions (E&O)
- Cyber
- Pollution / Environmental
Teddy represents many Private Equity firms throughout the US. His team performs pre-close due diligence; places Reps & Warranties insurance; and places go-forward / post-close insurance programs for the new ownership group.
Teddy began his career at Marsh in New York and San Francisco before joining Alera in 2012. He lives in Glencoe, Illinois with his wife and four children.
Education: B.A., Political Science, University of Wisconsin – Madison.
John Fisher, CFP®, CPFA®
Vice President, Wealth Services
John is a Financial Planner with Alera Group, assisting both individual and business clients in all areas of financial planning (investments, insurance, college funding, estate planning, retirement and tax strategies).
John is an independent advisor, with the ability to provide solutions that are tailored to his clients. Each of his client’s needs are different; so is every financial plan. There are no cookie-cutter solutions.
John graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Finance, Investments & Banking, a minor in Accounting and is a Certified Financial Planner™. John also has his Life and Health Licenses, along with having his Series 7 and Series 66 for investments and investment advisory.
John lives in Lombard, IL with his wife, Katie, and has 3 children, Patrick, Grace and Sean. He enjoys golf, softball, football, basketball, music, and spending time with family and friends.
Education: B.S. Finance/Accounting, Northern Illinois University
Credentials: Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
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 # 0I37979
Cory Friedman, CBC
Senior Partner, Benefits Consulting | Employee Benefits
Cory Friedman is a Senior Partner of the firm’s Benefits Consulting practice. Cory specializes in the small group and mid-market segments, and has developed considerable expertise working in the veterinary industry.
Cory works to provide guidance and objective analysis of group insurance benefits, and is currently responsible for the health insurance and employee benefit programs of hundreds of privately held organizations across the country.
In 2016, Cory was selected as a Young Gun Award recipient by Insurance Business America, which recognizes young professionals making a significant impact in the insurance industry. Cory was also named a “Rising Star” in 2017 and 2018 by Employee Benefit Adviser, earning recognition as one of 20 advisers nationally age 35 and younger who exhibit quick thinking, openness to change, and the ability to navigate the ever-changing employee benefit landscape. In 2021, Cory was selected as an “Excellence in Benefits” Award Recipient by Employee Benefit News (EBN), one of only 4 standout advisors recognized nationally.
Cory lives in Chicago, Illinois and enjoys spending time with his family. He also likes playing hockey, interior design and architecture/real estate, classic cars, reading, and writing.
Education: B.S. Finance, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University
Resources
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
2025 Healthcare and Employee Benefits Benchmarking Report: How Does Your Benefits Program Stack Up?
In this session, our experts will dive into the results of our annual, market-leading benchmarking survey.
June 26, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Dynamic Data: Strategies for Success
Join us for this session, as our experts will share how to utilize your organization’s data to create advanced and innovative strategies for success.
July 17, 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.
July 23, 2025 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Wealth Services
Protecting Your Business from the Loss of a Key Person
The unexpected loss of a key team member can disrupt operations and impact your bottom line. Explore how key person insurance can help your business stay resilient and maintain continuity during a critical transition.
May 20, 2025
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Wealth Services
Weekly Market Update
Stocks roared higher last week, powered by upbeat trade news and tame inflation reports.
May 19, 2025
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Agencies Push Pause Button on Enforcement of MHPAEA 2024 Final Rule
On May 15, 2025, the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Treasury Department (collectively, the “Agencies”) released a statement regarding the Agencies’ recent request for abeyance of a lawsuit filed by the ERISA Industry Committee (“ERIC”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that challenged certain aspects of Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Final Rule (“2024 Final Rule”) relating to nonquantitative treatment limitation comparative analyses (“NQTL analyses”).
May 16, 2025
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Wealth Services
The Practical Value of Insuring Against Life’s Risks
Unexpected events can derail even the best-laid financial plans, yet many people remain underinsured. This article explores how the right coverage can help protect your income and support your long-term goals.
May 16, 2025
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