Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group - Comprehensive Analysis Report
Summary
Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group is a dedicated team of trusted advisors providing a diverse range of insurance solutions to businesses and individuals. With roots tracing back over 130 years, their mission focuses on helping clients achieve their unique financial goals by offering customized protection plans against potential risks. Affiliated with Doeren Mayhew, a nationally recognized CPA and advisory firm, the Insurance Group emphasizes strategic risk management solutions, extending beyond conventional insurance to safeguard assets and minimize liability. The combined entity was formed in January 2014, merging Wolf-Hulbert, a leading insurance agency, with the Doeren Mayhew accounting firm to create a comprehensive "one-stop shop" for business owners and executives.
1. Strategic Focus & Objectives
Core Objectives
Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group is committed to protecting clients' assets and minimizing liability risks. They achieve this by developing and delivering customized protection plans tailored to the specific and evolving needs of their clients. Their approach involves a strategic lens, anticipating unexpected challenges and navigating complex financial and risk landscapes.
Specialization Areas
The company specializes in comprehensive risk management and insurance solutions across several key areas:
Business Insurance: Solutions covering general liability, workers' compensation, commercial property, cyber liability, employment practices liability insurance (EPLI), and executive benefits & business succession planning. They also address the distinct demands of private equity portfolios.
Personal Insurance: Coverage for life, livelihood, and valuable personal assets such as homes, automobiles, yachts/watercraft, and recreational vehicles. This includes umbrella liability, flood insurance, and identity theft protection.
Group Benefits: Design and implementation of employee benefit programs, including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, alongside pension, profit-sharing, and deferred compensation planning, leveraging technology-based administration tools.
Their expertise also extends to specific industries such as agribusiness, construction, manufacturing, self-storage, breweries, distilleries, and wineries.
Target Markets
Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group primarily serves:
Businesses: Ranging from small to mid-sized companies to publicly traded corporations, as well as private equity firms.
Individuals: Including families and clients with high-value assets.
Their strategy involves assessing unique risk factors, liabilities, and exposures to prevent coverage gaps and includes due diligence, loss control protocols, and claims handling and management support.
2. Financial Overview
Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group is affiliated with the broader Doeren Mayhew CPA and advisory firm. This firm achieved $170.37 million in 2024 revenues and demonstrated a 24.09% growth rate.
Funding History
The broader Doeren Mayhew firm recently partnered with Audax Private Equity for strategic growth, with terms of the transaction expected to close in September 2024.
Key Investors: Audax Private Equity.
Fund Utilization: Audax's investment provides additional capital to accelerate growth, enhance service offerings, improve technology infrastructure, and broaden the firm's geographic footprint through continued acquisitions.
Impact on Company Growth: This partnership is intended to support future innovation and growth across the entire Doeren Mayhew brand, including its affiliated insurance group, by providing resources for expansion into new markets and investment in technology and services.
3. Product Pipeline
Key Products/Services
Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group offers a comprehensive suite of insurance and risk management services:
Business Insurance Solutions:
General Liability Coverage: Protection against common business risks.
Workers' Compensation Insurance: Covers costs associated with work-related claims and injuries.
Commercial Property Insurance: Safeguards business properties and assets.
Cyber Liability Insurance: Designed to protect businesses against the complexities arising from cyber-attacks and data breaches.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI): Protects against allegations of workplace discrimination, harassment, and other employment-related infractions.
Executive Benefits & Business Succession Planning: Solutions and strategies to facilitate smooth executive succession.
Private Equity Portfolio Insurance: Specialized coverage tailored to protect diverse private equity portfolios.
Specialized Industry Coverage: Tailored insurance for specific sectors such as agribusiness, construction, breweries, distilleries, wineries, self-storage, and more.
Personal Insurance Solutions:
Homeowners Insurance: Critical protection for property investments and personal belongings.
Auto Insurance: Financial protection against accidents, injuries, property damage, and theft.
Life Insurance: Customized solutions for future planning and peace of mind.
Long-Term Care Insurance: Coverage for out-of-pocket expenses not typically covered by health insurance or Medicare.
Disability Insurance: Replaces a percentage of income in case of inability to work due to illness or injury.
Umbrella Liability Insurance: Provides additional coverage beyond homeowners and auto policies for large, unexpected losses.
Specialized Personal Coverage: Includes yacht/watercraft, recreational vehicles, flood, valuable articles, and fine art insurance, often accompanied by appraisals and annual risk surveys.
Identity Theft Protection.
Group Benefits:
Core Benefits: Health, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability insurance.
Pension & Profit Sharing Plans.
Deferred Compensation Planning: Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans, executive bonus, and non-qualified plans.
Executive Disability and Business Interruption/Key Executive Salary Continuation.
Variety of Funding Options: Fully-insured, partially self-funded, level-funded, and self-funded plans.
Access to Major Carriers: Including PPO, HMO, POS, and HSA plans.
4. Technology & Innovation
Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group emphasizes leveraging technology and insights to deliver strategic risk management solutions. While a specific proprietary "technology stack" for the insurance group is not detailed, their innovation focuses on:
Digital Engagement: Maintaining an active social media presence and providing "VIEWpoints" content to share industry insights on topics like cyber risk preparation and auto insurance policies, demonstrating a commitment to digital thought leadership.
Cybersecurity Focus: Co-hosting webinars on preparing for cyber-attacks and understanding cybersecurity trends highlights their proactive approach to addressing modern technological risks faced by clients.
Benefit Administration Tools: For group benefits, they utilize numerous technology-based benefit administration tools to design and implement customized employee benefit programs, extending beyond normal service offerings.
Infrastructure Investment: The broader Doeren Mayhew firm's partnership with Audax Private Equity includes investment in enhancing the firm's technology infrastructure, which supports the overall capabilities and service delivery across the Doeren Mayhew brand, including the insurance group.
5. Leadership & Management
Executive Team
The Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group is led by experienced professionals:
John T. Frye, Jr. - Managing Partner: With nearly 25 years of experience in the finance industry, John oversees the financial operations of the agency. His responsibilities include financial forecasting, long-term strategic planning, mergers/acquisitions, and partnership development.
Matthew P. Kunz - Managing Partner: With over 30 years of management experience, Matthew oversees the day-to-day operations, long-term strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and partnership development for the agency.
The broader Doeren Mayhew firm's leadership includes:
Chad Anschuetz - Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Managing Shareholder: With over 25 years in public accounting, Chad specializes in audit and assurance services, and transaction advisory. He has been instrumental in the firm’s significant organic and non-organic growth, positioning it among the nation's Top 55 accounting and advisory firms.
Recent Leadership Changes
Individual Appointments: In September 2024, Spencer Ray joined Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group as a Client Executive, focusing on developing client relationships and assisting with insurance protection needs.
Broader Firm Promotions (Effective October 1, 2025): The larger Doeren Mayhew CPA and advisory firm announced promotions impacting nearly 75 employees nationwide, with nine taking on leadership positions. These include Principals and Directors across various service lines, such as Assurance and Transaction Advisory. This indicates a robust internal talent development program and continuous strengthening of leadership capabilities across the affiliated firm.
6. Talent and Growth Indicators
As of September 2025, the broader Doeren Mayhew firm employs approximately 686 individuals across North America, Europe, and Asia. The firm experienced an 18% increase in its employee count over the past year. This growth trajectory and commitment to talent are positive indicators for the affiliated Insurance Group.
Hiring Trends and Workforce: The addition of Spencer Ray as a Client Executive within the Insurance Group highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen client-facing teams and expand service capabilities.
Employee Sentiment and Culture Insights: Doeren Mayhew has consistently been recognized as one of the "Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" in West Michigan for 22 consecutive years (as of April 2024). This recognition acknowledges the firm's innovative approach to employee engagement and high levels of employee satisfaction across key areas such as compensation, benefits, development, recognition, work-life balance, community initiatives, and leadership. The firm was also recognized in Metro Detroit and nominated for Best Places to Work Awards in Houston, based in part on confidential employee feedback. This robust internal culture and employee satisfaction likely contribute to a stable and experienced workforce that benefits the entire Doeren Mayhew brand.
7. Social Media Presence and Engagement
Digital Footprint
Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group actively maintains a social media presence to connect with its audience and reinforce its brand identity. Their messaging positions them as "strategic wayfinders" who provide comprehensive insurance and risk management solutions.
Content Strategy: They share industry insights and news through their "VIEWpoints" section, covering critical topics such as preparing for cyber risk, understanding auto insurance policies, and employment practices liability insurance.
Community Engagement: The company promotes educational webinars, including one co-hosted with McDonald Hopkins' Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group, focusing on cybersecurity trends and preparedness for cyber-attacks. These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to thought leadership and client education in an evolving risk landscape.
8. Recognition and Awards
Industry Recognition
Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group has received specific industry accolades:
2023 Diamond Achiever (Michigan Region): Awarded by Frankenmuth Insurance in March 2024, this recognition highlights their attainment of the highest overall performance rating in Michigan. The award considers criteria such as length of appointment, profitability, growth, and policy retention. Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group has been a licensed Preferred Plus independent insurance agency partner with Frankenmuth Insurance since 2004.
President's Club Award: In 2018, the group was among 65 agencies nationwide to receive this award from Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, honoring high-performing agent partners meeting specific criteria for written premium, loss ratio, and premium retention.
The broader Doeren Mayhew CPA and advisory firm has also garnered numerous prestigious awards, which enhances the overall brand reputation of the Insurance Group due to their affiliation:
Recognized as a Top 100 U.S. accounting firm and a "Best of the Best" firm by INSIDE Public Accounting for its 26th year.
Ranked 47th on Accounting Today's Top 100 CPA Firms list in March 2025, also acknowledged as one of the fastest-growing firms with a 24.09% growth rate in 2024 revenues.
Identified as a leading firm in the Great Lakes area and a top tax firm by Accounting Today.
Named a "Best Tax and Accounting Firm" by Forbes Magazine.
Recognized as one of the "Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" in West Michigan for 22 consecutive years, and also in Metro Detroit, and as a 2025 Best Places to Work Awards Finalist in Houston.
Ranked among the Top 50 Construction Accounting Firms by Construction Executive.
9. Competitive Analysis
Major Competitors
Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group operates in a competitive insurance brokerage sector alongside:
Independent insurance agencies: A vast network of local and regional agencies.
Larger brokerage firms: More extensive national and international insurance brokers.
For the broader Doeren Mayhew firm, competitors in the accounting and advisory space include the USDA Farm Service Agency and Financial One Accounting. This broader competitive landscape provides context for the comprehensive services offered by the affiliated entities.
10. Market Analysis
Market Overview
The insurance market is characterized by its dynamic nature, with both businesses and individuals seeking robust and comprehensive solutions to safeguard their assets and mitigate liabilities. Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group operates within a market that highly values:
Strategic Risk Management: Clients prioritize proactive strategies to identify, assess, and address potential risks.
Customized Protection Plans: A demand for tailored insurance solutions that accurately meet unique and specific needs, rather than one-size-fits-all policies.
Responsiveness to Evolving Challenges: The increasing complexity of threat landscapes, particularly in areas like cyber threats, drives demand for specialized and up-to-date coverage.
The firm's affiliation with a Top 100 U.S. accounting firm provides a distinct competitive advantage, enabling them to offer holistic financial and risk management advice that integrates insurance solutions with broader accounting, tax, and advisory services.
11. Strategic Partnerships
Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group benefits from several key affiliations and collaborations:
Doeren Mayhew CPA and Advisory Firm: The Insurance Group is an affiliate of this nationally recognized firm, which enables them to offer complementary services and create a "one-stop shop" for business owners and executives. This affiliation provides a holistic approach to client needs by combining insurance solutions with accounting, tax, and advisory expertise.
Moore North America, Inc. (MNA) Association / Moore Global Network Limited (MGNL): The broader Doeren Mayhew firm is an independent member firm of the MNA Association, which is a regional member of MGNL. This global network affiliation extends the reach and resources available to Doeren Mayhew clients.
DM Payroll Solutions: Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group refers clients to DM Payroll Solutions for outsourced payroll functions, enhancing efficiency and offering integrated business services.
Doeren Mayhew Capital Advisors: They collaborate with Doeren Mayhew Capital Advisors for investment banking services, demonstrating an integrated approach to clients' financial needs.
McDonald Hopkins' Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group: The Insurance Group co-hosted a webinar with this group on cyber risk, showcasing collaborative efforts to provide specialized insights and address critical client concerns regarding cybersecurity.
Frankenmuth Insurance: Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group has been recognized as a Preferred Plus independent insurance agency partner by Frankenmuth Insurance, with a licensing relationship dating back to 2004.
12. Operational Insights
Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group distinguishes itself through several operational strengths:
Extensive Industry Experience: The group leverages over 130 years of industry experience through its historical roots and predecessor entities.
Holistic Client Approach: Its strong affiliation with the broader Doeren Mayhew CPA and advisory firm allows for a comprehensive methodology, integrating insurance solutions with accounting, tax, and various advisory services. This enables a unified client experience and more robust risk management strategies.
Customized Risk Management: The company is committed to developing customized protection plans for clients. This is supported by strategic risk management services, including thorough due diligence, proactive loss control protocols, and efficient claims handling and management support, providing comprehensive and proactive client advocacy.
* Consistent Performance and Excellence: Recognition through significant industry awards, such as Michigan's Diamond Achiever by Frankenmuth Insurance
