During the past 40+ years, AIP Marketing Alliance has shared a lot about our company, our team, and our goals to help independent wholesalers, agencies, and agents nationwide.

From our home office in Troy, Michigan, AIPMA continues to deliver the carriers, products, technology, and resources designed to help grow agents’ business with team members who understand the family values started by the Kisser family.

With AIP Marketing Alliance, an Integrity Company, celebrating 44 years of delivering solutions nationwide on December 4th, we are going to take some time to share some history of how AIPMA has grown into a recognized leader in the annuity and life insurance space.

From independent 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. He currently serves as President.
• In 2007, Kym Kisser decided to switch industries and utilize her skills to focus on managing the operations side of the business. She currently serves as Chief Financial Officer.

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 or life insurance stays current to their needs.
• 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 history speaks for itself. AIP Marketing Alliance still continues to grow through its Integrity partnership and passing along these resources to our current and future relationships. Our team averages more than 11 years tenure at the company as we stress Integrity’s values – especially family – throughout our Michigan office.

Congratulations to the entire Kisser family (Dave, Rick, Kym, and in memoriam, Cheryl) on building a local fixture in the Troy community that supports independent insurance sellers throughout the United States. We appreciate being a part of your company!

If you are looking for a new independent distributor to support your life insurance and annuity sales in 2026, please contact AIP Marketing Alliance’s Business Development team at (800) 783-5206 Press #2 or [email protected].

For more than 40 years, AIP Marketing Alliance (AIPMA), an Integrity Company, serves as a premier life insurance and annuity distribution partner to provide full-service support to independent wholesalers, brokerages and agents from our Troy, Michigan office. NOT AFFILIATED WITH OR ENDORSED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.

AIP Marketing Alliance is committed to STRIVE in ’25 as we support our independent insurance wholesalers and agents. Visit our blog on aipma.com to stay informed on these upcoming launches and learn why wholesalers nationwide choose AIPMA as their distributor for selling life insurance, annuities, long-term care insurance, final expense, and much more. Ask about our lead services, myAIP CRM platform with customizable recruiter portal, and online tools/resources designed to grow your business. The difference is personal.

AIP Marketing Alliance, an Integrity Company, has developed this electronic communication for informational and educational use only. Be advised, AIP Marketing Alliance, Inc., does not provide legal advice, tax advice, or guidance on issues involving securities laws, insurance laws nor securities or insurance regulations. This material should not be relied on as providing any such advice or guidance to either agents or retail consumers. Within this communication, AIPMA shares links for usage as information only. This content should not be interpreted as solicitation to purchase life insurance, annuities, or other products or as advice designed to meet your clients’ specific needs. Content involving fiduciary, tax, or legal advice should be directed to your legal, tax, and financial professionals for specific advice or product recommendations. AIPMA will not accept any legal liability resulting from any use of 3rd party material(s).