TrueNorth expanding in Des Moines market

TrueNorth Companies, a privately owned Cedar Rapids insurance and financial strategies brokerage, is expanding its presence in the Des Moines market.

Frank Berlin & Associates and Rowles, Hayes and Carney have adopted the TrueNorth name and brand to expand the brokerage's presence throughout central Iowa.

Founded in 1968, Frank Berlin & Associates (FB & A) has been planning a partnership with TrueNorth for nearly four years.

'We are very excited for this evolution,” said Bob Sapp, FB & A benefits adviser, in a news release.

With locations in Perry and Minburn, Iowa, Rowles, Hayes and Carney traces its history back nearly 80 years. The company has established a reputation for expertise and creative solutions in its property casualty and employee benefits practices.

'Looking toward the future, we are convinced TrueNorth represents exceptional comprehensive financial and insurance performance with a view toward our clients' needs,” said Bill Clark, partner and co-owner of Rowles, Hayes and Carney.

With 14 offices in seven states, TrueNorth ranks as the 50th largest privately owned brokerage in the United States.

'As we continue to broaden our regional footprint, our intention is to expand the TrueNorth presence throughout central Iowa, using the West Des Moines location as a flagship office from which to grow,” Duane Smith, TrueNorth president and CEO, said in a news release.

'With over 150 years combined, the reputations that both firms have established in the central Iowa area create a strong foundation for continued longevity and success.”

Smith has said that TrueNorth will continue to focus on buyouts as a growth strategy. In January, the company acquired Meeker-Magner, a more than 100-year-old insurance agency in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, Ill.

TrueNorth has grown its annual sales from $260 million in 2001 to $550 million in 2015. The company has a goal of $1 billion in 2020.