Associate Owners Group (AOG) has detailed what defines membership in its expanding family of companies, emphasizing that it is selective about who it welcomes — not because the threshold is unattainable, but because the right fit is essential. Behind every company in the AOG ecosystem is a leader who believes that the people who build the business deserve to own it. That shared conviction is where every conversation begins.

"We look for great leaders with great businesses, people who share our values of ownership, collaboration, and excellence," said Monte Holm, Founder & Co-CEO of AOG. "If that is you, there is a place for you in the AOG family."

Inspired by the Berkshire Hathaway model but built on a grander scale and designed specifically for the financial services landscape, AOG brings together independent companies under a shared ownership platform where founders and leaders retain full control of their businesses. Unlike traditional acquirers, AOG does not absorb companies. It acquires them to strengthen them, support them, and give their people a stake in something bigger than any one firm could build alone.

This approach comes at a time when independent insurance agencies, RIAs, and broker-dealers face growing pressure from industry consolidation, with private equity-backed buyers and large aggregators actively acquiring firms across the sector. Many independent owners also confront succession planning challenges as founding principals retire, creating demand for models that preserve operational autonomy while providing liquidity and growth resources.

Four Pillars, One Ecosystem

AOG is organized around four distinct pillars of ownership:

• The Insurance Agency Pillar anchors the network through independent agencies.
• The Wealth Management Pillar extends the platform into RIAs and broker-dealers.
• The Technology Pillar equips the network with purpose-built financial services tools.
• The Products and Services Pillar rounds out the ecosystem with E&O coverage, reinsurance, debt relief, and more.

Together, the Four Pillars create a fully integrated ownership model that serves as a force multiplier for every leader, agent, and builder within the AOG family of companies.

Excellence as the Entry Point

The companies that thrive within AOG are mission-driven leaders in financial services, insurance, technology, or related fields who are committed to growth, collaboration, and professional excellence. They are not necessarily the largest companies in their markets, but they are among the best — led by people of integrity who have built something real and are ready to build something greater.

Under the AOG model, founders stay, teams stay, and independence stays. What changes is access: to shared resources, aligned technology, ownership participation, and a network of companies all moving in the same direction. For leaders whose companies are built on integrity, driven by mission, and ready to grow within a world-class ecosystem, AOG invites outreach. The standard is high, and for the right leader, that is exactly the point.