Higginbotham Expands with Insurance Associates of the Southwest Merger

Fort Worth-based independent insurance broker, Higginbotham, and Insurance Associates of the Southwest (IAS) have merged their operations in Houston.

IAS is an independent broker with 38 commercial, personal, life, health and employee benefit professionals in its Energy Corridor office neighboring Higginbotham’s office. After the merger, Higginbotham has a workforce of 160 in Houston and 904 statewide.

Higginbotham entered Houston in 2008. This is the sixth merger Higginbotham has completed in 2016 as part of a growth initiative across Texas whereby the firm partners with brokers with strong local reputations that expand its geographic reach while maintaining its focus on personal service.

IAS will continue operating under the leadership of Managing Director Jim Kottwitz in collaboration with Higginbotham’s Houston Managing Directors Koby Hackradt and Dudley Ray.

IAS opened in 1996 with the merging of three Houston insurance agencies, and a fourth joined in 2002. The firm brokers commercial and personal property/casualty insurance, employee benefits and life/health insurance with services for managing risk and settling claims. It has concentrated experience in the manufacturing, real estate, construction, distribution, high-tech, real estate, medical and professional industries, serving national and international companies.

Source: Higginbotham