Without a clear strategy, cultural misalignment and investor pressure can erode long-term brokerage value
In an M&A environment as active as insurance brokerage, the temptation to scale quickly is intense. But without strategic discipline, that drive can come at a steep cost. “If you’re acquiring just to grow revenue and not being strategic about it, that can lead you to overpay,” said Timothy J. Hall (pictured), CEO of Relation Insurance Services. “It can lead you to do a deal that you otherwise wouldn’t do because, you know, culturally it doesn’t line up.”
Hall’s warning is clear: deal volume must never outrun cultural fit or long-term intent. Whether the pressure is from public shareholders, private equity, or family ownership, firms are often pushed toward a “grow at all costs” mindset. That can warp judgment – and not …