Why Partner with Nadler Insurance: A Guide to Selling Your Agency
This isn't your typical M&A pitch
If you're reading this, you've probably been thinking about what comes next for your agency. Maybe you're five years from retirement. Maybe you're already there and just haven't pulled the trigger. Or maybe you love what you do but you're tired of doing it alone.
I get it. My dad Paul has been in this business for 50 years. He started at 20 when my grandfather threw out his back tripping over a desk drawer and called him from a hospital bed: "You've got to drop out of college and run the office." That was 1976. He's still here.
I joined in 2011 — April Fool's Day, actually — as the fourth generation. And one thing we've learned across nearly 100 years is that the hardest part of running an agency isn't writing policies. It's figuring out what happens to everything you've built when you're ready to step back.
This guide is for agency owners who want that conversation — no pressure, no corporate jargon, just a real look at how we approach partnerships and what it actually looks like to join forces with a family agency that's been doing this since 1927.
— Zach Nadler, 4th Generation, Nadler Insurance
Who is Nadler Insurance?
Nadler Insurance is a fourth-generation, family-owned independent insurance agency in San Carlos, California, founded in 1927. We acquire and partner with California-based agencies and books of business, offering boutique acquisition partnerships focused on client continuity and long-term legacy.
Nearly 100 years. Four generations. One philosophy.
It started in 1927 when my great-grandfather Phillip walked a debit route in San Francisco, collecting nickels and dimes door-to-door for life insurance premiums. He met his wife Jane on that route — she was one of his customers.
His son Alvin joined in the 1940s. Then Paul in 1976. Then me in 2011. Along the way, the agency moved from a 400-square-foot office on Irving Street with WWII Army Surplus desks to our current home in San Carlos, serving the entire Bay Area.
What hasn't changed is the approach:
We're a 100-year-old startup. Old-school service values, modern tools to back them up.
"Just like Zach and I are the third and fourth generation, we also have multiple generations of customers where we've had grandparents, then their children, and their children's children." — Paul Nadler
Growing Up Covered Insight
What types of insurance agencies does Nadler acquire?
Nadler Insurance acquires California-based independent agencies and books of business with annual commission revenue from $50K to $1M+, with a preference for commercial-lines-heavy books in preferred markets.
Is your agency a fit?
We're not trying to be the biggest agency in California. We're trying to be the best long-term home for the right partners. Here's what a good fit looks like:
Geography:
Book profile:
Revenue range:
What matters most:
Why choose a boutique agency partner over private equity?
Unlike private equity firms that centralize operations and flip agencies in 3–5 years, Nadler Insurance is a boutique, family-owned buyer focused on preserving client relationships, local decision-making, and long-term stability.
Your clients didn't sign up for a call center
Let's be direct: when private equity buys an agency, the playbook is predictable. Centralize operations. Cut costs. Cross-sell aggressively. Flip in 3–5 years for maximum return. Your clients become account numbers in a portfolio managed from a distant headquarters.
That's not us. Here's the difference:
Growing Up Covered Insight
How does Nadler Insurance handle agency transitions?
Every agency and every owner is different. Some want a clean handoff. Some want to stay involved for a year or two. Some just want to know their people are in good hands and then head for the golf course. We've done all three.
Your pace. Your terms. Our support.
Step 1 — Confidential conversation
We start by listening. What are your goals? What's your timeline? What matters most to you about your clients and staff? No NDAs required to just talk.
Step 2 — Mutual fit assessment
We look at your book, your carriers, your operations. You look at ours. We both decide if this makes sense — no pressure either way.
Step 3 — Deal structuring
Full acquisition, book purchase, or phased partnership. We're flexible on structure because every situation is unique.
Step 4 — Transition and introduction
This is where it matters most. We work together to introduce your clients to the Nadler team. You stay as involved as you want for as long as you want. The goal is zero disruption for your clients.
Step 5 — Ongoing care
Your clients become our clients. They get the same personal service they've always had — plus access to our expanded carrier relationships, technology, and resources.
Are you ready to explore your options?
If any of these resonate, it's worth a conversation.
If you checked even a few of these, let's talk.
Growing Up Covered Insight
What do you gain by partnering with Nadler Insurance?
When you partner with us, you're not just offloading a book. You're plugging into a system that's been refined across four generations.
What joining Nadler actually looks like
What is insurance agency perpetuation?
Perpetuation is the process of ensuring your agency continues to serve clients after you step back. It can involve selling to an internal successor, merging with another agency, or partnering with an acquiring agency like Nadler Insurance.
A good perpetuation plan protects three things:
The biggest mistake we see agency owners make is waiting too long to start the conversation. Not because the deal gets worse — but because the options narrow. The best transitions happen when there's time to plan, time to introduce, and time to make it feel seamless for everyone involved.