Expert Perspectives

Buyer Insights: How Balance Partners Built a Winning M&A Strategy

Thumbnail for Insurance M&A Strategies: AJ Cericola on Overcoming High Valuations & Market Cycles video

Successful acquisitions start with understanding what matters most to sellers. By creating authentic, lasting partnerships, buyers can deliver value that extends beyond the numbers.

Extending the conversation from MarshBerry’s Peak Performance Summit, Pete Kampf, MarshBerry Vice President, sits down with AJ Cericola, Chief Acquisitions Officer of Balance Partners, to discuss how Balance Partners’ intentionally selective acquisition strategy led them to become one of the top acquirers in 2025.

Hear from Pete and AJ on:

  • The role of organic growth in supporting a successful acquisition strategy
  • What buyers are evaluating beyond revenue and valuation multiples
  • The impact of market conditions on M&A activity and future valuations
  • Why diversification remains a critical advantage through market cycles

Watch the full conversation to gain valuable insight into the evolving specialty insurance intermediary M&A landscape.

Contact Pete Kampf
If you have questions about Expert Perspectives, or would like to learn more about how MarshBerry can help your firm determine its path forward, please email or call Pete Kampf, Vice President, at 440.392.6568.

MarshBerry is a global leader in investment banking and consulting services, specializing in the insurance brokerage and wealth management sectors. If your firm seeks expert advisory guidance to refine your business strategies, drive sustainable growth, or facilitate a sale, MarshBerry is the ideal partner to support you in making these critical business decisions. Collaborating with a trusted advisor who deeply understands your business and the industry can help you maximize value at every stage of ownership.