Celebrating 50 Years of The Ohlson Group!

In 1975, Ray Ohlson laid the foundation for what would become one of the most trusted names in the insurance and financial services industry. When Ray started Ohlson and Associates as a general agent for American General Life, he didn’t just build a business — he built a family. Retreats, trips, and events created a culture of camaraderie that still lives on today. In fact, some of those early agents continue to work with us, a true testament to the enduring spirit Ray established.

By 1980, Ohlson and Associates had gone fully independent, offering not just American General, but a wide range of life insurance carriers to their growing base of loyal agents. The 1980s were a time of expansion, as Ray also launched Bessert Ohlson, a firm specializing in employee benefits and voluntary group insurance for businesses with 70 or more employees. Additionally, he founded Advisory and Financial Management Group, a fee-based financial planning firm, maintaining his Series 7 license and becoming an RIA to better serve clients' evolving needs.

In the early 1990s, Ray helped raise the capital to launch Standard Management Corporation. One of their key moves was the purchase of Standard Life of Indiana, a dormant life insurance company that Ray helped breathe new life into. For about a decade, Standard Life operated as an independent and growing player in the annuity market. Eventually, Standard Life of Indiana was purchased by Guggenheim Partners and rebranded as Guggenheim Life and Annuity. Then, years later, Guggenheim Life would evolve again into what is now known as Clear Spring Life.

A proud milestone came in 2015 when the Ohlson Group played a critical role in helping Guggenheim Life and Annuity design and create the TriVista annuity — a product that remains a strong and competitive offering today.

In February 2003, the Ohlson Group had officially reopened as an independent marketing organization (IMO). In the years that followed, the firm continued to innovate — creating new products for carriers, building point-of-sale support materials, acquiring safemoneyplaces.com, and launching the Safe Money Places Agent Network to help brand and support agents nationwide. By 2018, the Ohlson Group further expanded by developing a successful annuity lead program, which many agents reading this continue to benefit from.

In 2023, Ray Ohlson retired, turning leadership over to Nick and Joe Ohlson, who had been vital parts, and eventually partners, of the company since 2003 and 2006, respectively. Then, in 2025 — on the 50th anniversary — the Ohlson Group proudly joined forces with AmeriLife.

Today, while the Ohlson Group has even more resources behind it, it remains the same family-focused, agent-centered company that Ray founded. When you call us, you’re still talking to family — the same team that has been helping agents and clients succeed for half a century.
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Here’s to the next 50 years of the Ohlson Group! Until Next Time – Good Selling!

​​Joseph R. Ohlson LUTCF
President
1-877-844-0900
[email protected]

Nicholas R. Ohlson, CLU, ChFC
Executive Vice President
1-877-844-0900
[email protected]