Integrated Insurance Solutions, a specialized insurance consulting and distribution firm, has acquired Appel Insurance Advisors, a move that deepens its bench of advanced planning expertise. The deal, announced this week, brings on board founder David Appel and his team, who have spent more than three decades serving business owners and high-net-worth clients with life insurance, executive benefits, disability income, and long-term care strategies.
The acquisition is designed to bolster the firm's capacity to deliver complex insurance solutions that most advisory practices cannot easily replicate in-house. Integrated Insurance Solutions already provides life, disability, annuity, and long-term care products to financial advisors, registered investment advisors (RIAs), and institutions across the United States. It serves as the dedicated insurance and advanced planning resource for affiliates of Integrated Partners, as well as independent advisors and professional services firms.
David Appel, founder of Appel Insurance Advisors, brings over 30 years of experience working with business owners and ultra-high-net-worth clients. His practice has been recognized for its technical depth and relationship-driven approach, qualities that Integrated Insurance Solutions sees as directly complementary to its existing platform. “This is about bringing together two complementary perspectives to better support advisors and their clients,” said Peter Kaplan, executive vice president and head of planning and insurance solutions at Integrated Partners.
Appel echoed that sentiment, noting that the acquisition preserves the philosophy that has defined his practice. “We’ve always believed insurance planning should be thoughtful, educational, and fully aligned with a client’s broader financial strategy,” he said. “Now, we can bring that approach to more advisors while continuing to support the relationships we’ve built over the years.”
The deal comes amid a broader push by advisory firms to expand their insurance capabilities. According to a recent Cerulli Associates report, 64% of advisors who offer financial planning identify staff shortages in planning-capable personnel as a moderate or major challenge. The same research projects that 54% of clients will receive comprehensive, ongoing planning advice by 2027, up from 48% currently. Among high-net-worth practices surveyed, 29% include risk management and insurance as a primary service, while 19% offer it as a secondary offering. A larger 29% of HNW practices outsource that aspect entirely.
The combined firm will serve Integrated Partners’ affiliated financial advisors as well as Appel’s existing client base. It will also extend its capabilities to independent advisors, RIAs, family offices, CPA firms, and attorneys who lack dedicated insurance planning resources in-house. This expansion aligns with industry trends highlighted by a Corebridge Financial survey, which found that half of Americans do not have life insurance. The survey also revealed a confidence gap: 47% of those with life insurance felt confident their dependents could manage financially without them, compared to just 28% of those without coverage.
The acquisition is part of a wave of consolidation in the wealth management space, as firms seek to add scale and specialized expertise. For example, CW Advisors recently acquired Catalina Capital, expanding its Southern California presence with a $655 million RIA. Similarly, Dynamic Advisor Solutions entered South Carolina with Capasso Planning Partners, pushing its AUM past $7 billion. Integrated Insurance Solutions’ move underscores the growing importance of insurance as a component of comprehensive wealth management.
By integrating Appel Insurance Advisors, Integrated Insurance Solutions aims to provide a more seamless experience for advisors and their clients, particularly those with complex estate and business planning needs. The firm expects the acquisition to enhance its ability to deliver tailored solutions that address the full spectrum of client financial goals.
