From Agents to Agency

In 1981, Cheryl A. Kisser founded Assured Investment Planners, Inc., which started as an independent retail insurance agency that sold insurance products directly to consumers. At the same time, David H. Kisser, CLU, owned Baseline Trailer Shop that rented U-Hauls and custom trailers – some trailers built by hand by David Kisser himself! Seeing the potential in the insurance industry, David Kisser decided to sell this business to focus on Assured Investment Planners (AIP) with his wife, Cheryl.

Cheryl and David then started recruiting independent agents to help build and grow production in the retail market. They perceived a void in the life insurance and annuity business based on their “less than stellar” experiences with other national brokerage firms. Both also were disappointed in the lack of personal attention and service levels given to them and their agents.

In 1991, David and Cheryl Kisser decided to expand operations outside of the retail market by recruiting independent agents and smaller wholesalers outside of Michigan. They formed The AIP Group to support these new AIP regional directors to provide the necessary back office servicing to grow in their respective territories.

Even with the transition and growth in this market, The AIP Group stayed committed to their agents by maintaining a personal touch, building relationships, and adding more top-rated carriers and products to their brokerage.

In December 1996, The AIP Group completed construction of a state-of-the-art, 20,000 sq. ft. building in Troy, Michigan to run its operations. Note: Our team still uses this building today as national headquarters!

Becoming AIP Marketing Alliance

As The AIP Group’s production continued to grow, the Kissers decided to take the company one step further by creating a wholesale-to-wholesale, business-to-business relationship vs. the previous focus of direct consumer sales in the retail market.

In 2000, the AIP Marketing Alliance was created to achieve that goal of helping independent life insurance and annuity wholesalers by aligning their offices with AIPMA’s access to carriers, product lines, servicing and technology.

Understand that AIPMA’s goal has never focused on “changing” how agencies or organizations operated. Instead, AIPMA became a resource center designed to align with independent wholesalers’ sales strategy with a goal to help them grow and stay competitive in the market.

As the Kissers expanded into the insurance industry, they started planning for the future of AIP Marketing Alliance.

• In 2000, Rick Kisser (CFP, CLU) became the Chief Marketing Officer as he learned the product features of annuities, life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care insurance (LTCi), and final expense insurance.
• In 2007, Kym Kisser decided to switch industries and utilize her skills to focus on managing the operations side of the business.

Your Growth is Our Commitment

Today’s AIPMA has evolved into a nationwide insurance wholesaler that supports more than 70,000 independent agents throughout the United States. Our employees understand the system Cheryl and David Kisser have put into place over four decades – and those values are passed on to member agencies, wholesalers and agents. It’s the reason why agencies and agents stay with AIPMA.

During the last 40 years, the Kisser family has watched how carriers and products have changed with technology, economic trends, and market conditions. They have built long-term relationships (regional directors, BGAs, FMOs, IMOs, wholesalers, agencies and agents – there’s a lot of different names and acronyms out there meaning the same thing) that still exist today as AIP Marketing Alliance members.

• Chairman David Kisser continues to work with his retail clients through Assured Investment Partners and meets with them, their children and even their referrals throughout the year to ensure their annuity, life insurance or Medicare supplement plan is current to their needs. He also provides strategy and guidance to our AIPMA team.
• President Rick Kisser keeps evolving AIPMA through making technological advancements, adding product lines, and maintaining communication with our valued wholesalers and agents. He is the driving force behind AIPMA’s proprietary insurance CRM platform, myAIP.
• Chief Financial Officer Kym Kisser continues to develop ideas on the operations side of the business ensuring commissions are paid correctly and on-time. She also has taken the reins to continually improve AIPMA’s culture by implementing Casual for a Cause, employee rewards programs, and incentive plans designed to retain current employees.

The Integrity Effect

Integrity, an omnichannel insurtech leader in life, health and wealth solutions, announced on January 18, 2022, that it has acquired AIP Marketing Alliance (“AIP”), a leading independent marketing organization (“IMO”) based in Troy, Michigan. As part of the acquisition, Rick Kisser, CEO of AIP, and Kym Kisser, CFO of AIP, will become Managing Partners in Integrity.

“AIP has an amazing track record of building lasting relationships with agents and clients, which has resulted in substantial success,” shared Bryan W. Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity. “The company will now have the chance to deepen those relationships and reach new clients with Integrity’s expansive technology offerings and world-class resources. Through innovation and partnership, the Integrity platform is providing Americans with the solutions they need to protect their life, health and wealth. The Kisser family will be an important part of carrying out this mission and I’m grateful to welcome them into our Integrity family.”

AIP gains access to Integrity’s full suite of omnichannel insurtech resources, including its proprietary end-to-end technology platform. These systems encompass quoting and enrollment platforms, data and analytics, and product development. All Integrity partners are eligible to access Integrity’s shared business services, which include IT, human resources, legal and compliance, and access to a world-class advertising and marketing firm.

About Integrity

Integrity, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is an omnichannel insurtech leader of life and health insurance, and provider of innovative solutions for wealth management and retirement planning. Through its partner network, Integrity helps millions of Americans protect their life, health and wealth with a commitment to meet them wherever they are — in person, over the phone and online. Integrity’s cutting-edge technology helps streamline the insurance and financial planning experience for all stakeholders. In addition, Integrity develops products with carrier partners and markets them through its distribution network of agencies, brokerages and RIAs throughout the nation. Integrity’s nearly 5,500 employees work with more than 420,000 agents and advisors who serve over 10 million clients annually. In 2021, Integrity helped carriers place more than $7 billion in new sales and oversaw more than $20 billion of assets under management and advisement through its RIA and broker-dealer platforms. For more information, visit www.integrity.com.

Did You Know?

During the last five years, AIPMA also has added more than just carriers. Why? Agencies need more than just carriers and products to take care of their valued clients. Every agent’s business is important to AIPMA’s team and we want to support your efforts. Did you know we’ve added the following services for our agencies and agents?

• Proprietary insurance customer relationship management (CRM) platform
• Dedicated portals customized to your agency
• Medicare Supplements – including our consumer-focused Senior Health Shop
• Champions Advantage – training and sales portals white-labeled for your agency’s use
• Lead Sources
• In-house marketing support for agent recruitment and support