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.
Meet Our Team
Tiffany Brown, GBDS, VBS
Specialty Benefits Senior Consultant | Employee Benefits
P: (847) 457-3140
Tiffany joined the firm after spending over 14 years with Unum, a leading carrier for group disability benefits in the U.S. Her expertise extends from disability and life insurance to voluntary worksite benefits. Her focus is ensuring that our clients have a comprehensive non-medical benefits package designed to protect the financial security of their employees. Tiffany also develops and manages our non-medical carrier relationships.
Throughout her career, Tiffany has executed integrated enrollment, service, and growth strategies for her clients. As the benefits landscape continues to shift, employees and employers are rethinking how they approach non-medical benefits. Tiffany’s role allows her to thoroughly analyze contractual language, identify benefit gaps, and share best practices while helping evolve our clients' benefits packages.
Tiffany has always been an advocate for her clients and their employees. She believes that the most important asset to any employee should be their ability to earn a paycheck. If an employee is unable to work, she wants to ensure they have access to benefits that would replace their paycheck (or a portion thereof) through their employer.
Tiffany and her husband live in Maywood, Illinois with their daughter. Tiffany enjoys spending time with her family as well as swimming and traveling.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, 2000
Credentials: Group Benefits Disability Specialist, Voluntary Benefits Specialist
Brian Carlson, CFP®, CLU®
Senior Vice President, Wealth Services
P: (847) 457-3181
Specialization: Individual Insurance (Disability, Life, Long-Term Care), Wealth Management & Comprehensive Financial Planning
Brian has been helping medical professionals with their individual planning needs since 2001. He is a speaker in the medical community. Each year he conducts many financial educational workshops for residents, fellows and practicing physicians nationwide. He has been published multiple times in AAOS Now (The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Journal). Brian understands that physicians have very little time to research and keep up to date on many tax advantages and investment options available to them. One of his primary goals is to help physicians navigate through their many financial options.
CA license # 0F50688
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.
Brandon Clouse
Senior Wealth Advisor | Wealth Services
P: (847) 457-3183
Brandon leads a practice committed to purposeful planning for people intent on financial success. He is earnest and proficient in his work, creating genuine and lasting relationships with his clients. He chose to work with the firm because of their authentic commitment to doing what is right for their clients.
Brandon works extensively in the medical community and helps in-training, attending, and retiring physicians with their financial and protection planning. He is a regular speaker at the major teaching hospitals in the Midwest and knows how to help individuals and couples navigate the Physician’s Life Cycle©.
Brandon also specializes in Retirement Planning. The ideal fit for his services is individuals and couples that are gearing up for, planning out, or looking to maximize their current retirement strategy. He conducts seminars in the Greater Chicagoland area on Retirement Planning, Long Term Care Planning, and other Investment and Social Security Strategies.
As a husband and father with a young family, Brandon also has a natural affinity for working with other young families who want to build their lives and careers with sound, positive financial fundamentals. He helps them balance retirement savings, investment planning, life insurance and income protection solutions, and college savings strategies.
Brandon lives in Crystal Lake, Illinois and loves spending time with his wife Allison and playing with his daughter Leah and son Alden. He loves reading books, particularly Science Fiction, and has a deep interest in film and modern television. Brandon’s two favorite sports teams are the Chicago Bears and Chicago Bulls.
Education: B.A. Anderson University
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.
CA license # 0M72849
Brian Crane
Senior Vice President, Benefits Consulting | Employee Benefits
Brian is a highly regarded Employee Benefits Consultant known for his commitment to optimizing employee benefits programs for his clients. With a sharp focus on mid-market employers, Brian and his team excel in creating tailored solutions that enhance benefits, reduce costs, and drive improved healthcare outcomes.
Since joining the firm in 2009, Brian has consistently been lauded for his exceptional achievements. His track record includes prestigious recognition among his peers, a testament to his outstanding performance and expertise. With over two decades of industry experience, Brian's tenure encompasses notable roles at Willis Towers Watson and ADP.
Brian is married with three children and enjoys spending time with his family, golfing and playing paddle tennis.
Education: BA, Communications, University of Iowa
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
Supporting Women’s Health Month: Trending Employee Benefits
In this session, we’ll talk about how employers are helping female employees and dependents be their best through every phase of life: From fertility, maternal care and parenting to peri/menopause, caregiving and mental health.
May 16, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Q2 Compliance Update
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
June 4, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Optimize Your Benefits: A Three-Pronged Approach
Want to lower healthcare costs and enrich your benefits program at the same time? If so, this webinar is for you.
June 20, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Property and Casualty
Affordable Housing Providers Hardest-Hit in Insurance Market for Nonprofits
Adding to significant challenges including labor shortages and reduced funding, nonprofit organizations are experiencing increasing difficulty in securing adequate property and casualty insurance. Premiums are increasing, deductibles are escalating, and the number of carriers willing to engage with nonprofits continues to shrink. These challenges underscore the importance of partnering with an experienced insurance broker who specializes in serving nonprofit organizations.
May 7, 2024
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Wealth Services
Weekly Market Update
Stocks notched a solid gain last week, rallying behind upbeat earnings, a dovish Fed, and mixed economic data.
May 6, 2024
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Employee Benefits
The importance of women’s health concerns in employee benefits design
Women’s Health Month 2024 coincides with jarring controversy and growing concern over challenges and inequities regarding women’s health in general and one area in particular: maternal health. Alera Group's May 16 webinar will focus on how employer can offer solutions through their employee benefits program.
May 1, 2024
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Wealth Services
The Fundamentals Of Investing – Do You Know Them?
A key component of financial literacy is understanding the basics of investing. Investing doesn’t have to be complicated! You’re trading access to your money now to use later on while giving it time to potentially grow.
April 29, 2024
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