Member Case Study: Smith Davis Insurance Remains True to Its Identity While on a Path to Greater Growth

Jeff Brehmer, president of Smith Davis Insurance, leads a successful independent agency with three offices in the Omaha Metro area. The agency was performing well when Brehmer began evaluating network options, but he felt they were leaving money on the table. Profit-sharing opportunities were often tied to volume thresholds the agency couldn’t reach alone, especially compared to larger agencies or consolidators.

“We wanted to keep doing what we do but improve the economics and long-term value of the book,” explains Brehmer.

Remaining Independent: A Need for Growth Without Compromise

Independence, however, was non-negotiable when considering the various networks out there. Brehmer wanted to preserve the agency’s identity, culture, client experience, and decision-making while finding a way to compete more effectively in a scale-driven market.

As Brehmer puts it, “I wanted a way to compete like a larger agency without selling out. Staying independent while gaining scale was the goal.”

ISU Steadfast was unlike other networks. After attending an annual meeting, Brehmer saw a peer group of experienced, growth-oriented agency owners who were part of a community, actively investing in their businesses and willing to share what they were learning. The culture felt intentional, collaborative, and aligned with where Brehmer wanted Smith Davis Insurance to go next.

Real Results With the Right Partner

Since joining ISU Steadfast, Smith Davis has realized benefits in both market access and profitability. The network has enabled the agency to place business more flexibly, including in states where licensing or market access might otherwise have slowed or stopped a placement.

On the profitability side, consolidating premium through ISU Steadfast has been a real lift, unlocking profit-sharing opportunities that were previously out of reach. By participating at the network level, Smith Davis can qualify for carrier programs tied to aggregate volume rather than stand-alone agency thresholds. Brehmer says, “I call it ‘pennies from heaven.’”

Smith Davis has seen measurable improvements with ISU Steadfast in profit sharing/bonuses and has won and retained accounts by expanding market options more quickly. “This has resulted in new placements we would not have had, improved turnaround, and incremental income that strengthens our agency without changing who we are,” says Brehmer.

For example, the agency was able to find cover for a risk through ISU Steadfast that was difficult to place through its usual channels. “We got the account written and delivered a solution the client couldn’t get elsewhere. That kind of win reinforces the value of the network.”

Direct Access and Operational Wins

One of the most immediate advantages ISU Steadfast provides is direct access to underwriters. For Smith Davis producers, fewer layers mean faster decisions, clearer communication, and stronger underwriting relationships, particularly important for complex or time-sensitive risks.

“Our producers can work with people they know, who know us, and that trust matters. It speeds things up, improves communication, and helps us deliver a better client experience,” explains Brehmer.

Operationally, Brehmer approaches technology with a practical mindset. Smith Davis is selective about adoption, focusing on tools that reduce friction rather than chasing trends. In that context, ISU Steadfast’s infrastructure supports efficiency by improving workflow and reducing manual effort, allowing producers and service staff to stay focused on clients.

“Using the CL Submission Engine cuts down back-and-forth and helps our team spend more time selling and servicing and not chasing updates. IVANS downloads help keep data moving into our system,” explains Brehmer.

The Value of Community and Support

Brehmer consistently points to ISU Steadfast’s community as a defining differentiator. His involvement in the AI Working Group, Agency Principals Forum, Agency Advisory Committee, and other member groups creates opportunities for candid peer dialogue that goes far beyond formal meetings.

Some of the most valuable learning, Brehmer believes, happens “outside the lines” — through honest conversations, shared experiences, and real-world problem-solving. Those relationships create operating leverage, helping agency leaders pressure-test decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and accelerate growth.

“You’re connecting with smart, genuine owners solving the same problems,” says Brehmer.

Leading (and Learning) Together

Brehmer is deeply involved in ISU Steadfast’s AI Working Group, which he co-leads with Todd Hufford. Rather than treating AI as a buzzword, the group focuses on practical evaluation and shared learning. Members collaborate to demo emerging tools, explore automation opportunities, and assess how data can be used responsibly and effectively within agencies.

The group is intentionally structured, with sub-teams dedicated to demonstrations, automation, and data governance. The goal is not rapid adoption for its own sake, but to separate what is genuinely helpful from what is overpromised.

Through the working group, agencies can learn from one another’s experiments — what works, what doesn’t, and where real value is emerging.

Growth That Still Feels Like Ours

ISU Steadfast has enabled Smith Davis to remain independent while continuing to grow. “We’ve expanded market access on a much larger — even global — scale, while at the same time, it’s reassuring to know there’s financial backing behind the network. It gives us more options as we plan the future.”

When asked why Brehmer would recommend ISU Steadfast to other agencies looking to scale without losing who they are, his reply is simple:

“If you don’t want to lose your identity, ISU Steadfast is a strong fit. You gain access, relationships, and leverage, and you gain options. If we ever wanted to bring a producer partner or sell a portion of the agency, it’s good to know there are paths and alternatives beyond private equity and the  implications that can come with that decision.”

For Brehmer and his team, growth still feels like their own, and that’s exactly what makes the partnership with ISU Steadfast work.