COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 524210

Insurance Brokerages

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

20companies1884–1998founding years20still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedModern Woodmen of AmericaFoundedModern Woodmen of America
1884
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedOld Republic International CorporationFoundedOld Republic International Corporation
1923
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedIngram Industries, Inc.FoundedIngram Industries, Inc.
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedAon CorporationFoundedAon CorporationFoundedPalmer & Cay, Inc.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedOregon Dental Service Health Plan, Inc.FoundedOregon Dental Service Health Plan, Inc.
1955
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedBrown & Brown, Inc.FoundedBrown & Brown, Inc.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedBenfield Greig Group plcFoundedBenfield Greig Group plc
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedAEGON N.V.FoundedAEGON N.V.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedAutoNation, Inc.
1998
1999
EconomyGlass-Steagall repeal reshapes American banking.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Modern Woodmen of America →
Active · founded 1884
Modern Woodmen of America (MWA) is a leading fraternal life insurance society in the United States, with more than…
Modern Woodmen of America →
Active · founded 1884
Modern Woodmen of America (MWA) is a leading fraternal life insurance society in the United States, with more than…
Old Republic International Corporation →
Active · founded 1923
Old Republic International Corporation, one of the 50 largest publicly held insurance organizations in the United…
Old Republic International Corporation →
Active · founded 1923
Old Republic International Corporation, one of the 50 largest publicly held insurance organizations in the United…
Ingram Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1938
Ingram Industries, Inc.
Ingram Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1938
Ingram Industries, Inc.
Aon Corporation →
Active · founded 1947
Chicago-based Aon Corporation is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting companies in the world.
Aon Corporation →
Active · founded 1947
Chicago-based Aon Corporation is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting companies in the world.
Palmer & Cay, Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
With co-headquarters located in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Palmer & Cay, Inc.
Palmer & Cay, Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
With co-headquarters located in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Palmer & Cay, Inc.
Oregon Dental Service Health Plan, Inc. →
Active · founded 1955
With offices in Portland, Milwaukie, and La Grande, Oregon, Oregon Dental Service Health Plan, Inc.
Oregon Dental Service Health Plan, Inc. →
Active · founded 1955
With offices in Portland, Milwaukie, and La Grande, Oregon, Oregon Dental Service Health Plan, Inc.
Brown & Brown, Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
With offices in 24 states, Brown & Brown, Inc.
Brown & Brown, Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
With offices in 24 states, Brown & Brown, Inc.
Benfield Greig Group plc →
Active · founded 1973 · United Kingdom
Benfield Greig Group plc is the world's third-largest reinsurance company, behind leaders Aon and Marsh & McClellan…
Benfield Greig Group plc →
Active · founded 1973 · United Kingdom
Benfield Greig Group plc is the world's third-largest reinsurance company, behind leaders Aon and Marsh & McClellan…
AEGON N.V. →
Active · founded 1983 · The Netherlands
AEGON N.V., one of the world's ten largest listed life insurance groups, is a prime example of the move toward larger…
AEGON N.V. →
Active · founded 1983 · The Netherlands
AEGON N.V., one of the world's ten largest listed life insurance groups, is a prime example of the move toward larger…
AutoNation, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
AutoNation, Inc.
AutoNation, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
AutoNation, Inc.
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