IMA Financial Spreads Into Florida Market with Wallace Welch & Willingham

IMA Financial Group, a large brokerage specializing in wealth management and risk advice, is moving into the Florida commercial property insurance market with the merger of Wallace Welch & Willingham Inc.

WW&W, based in the St. Petersburg area, is considered one of the largest retail insurance brokers in Florida, with 155 employees, the firms said in a news release. The brokerage traces its roots to 1925. John Hammond is president.

The company will now be known as Wallace Welch & Willingham, an IMA Company.

IMA, with corporate offices in Denver, New York and Texas, said it has 19 regional offices around the country and clients in all 50 states. Florida is the country’s fourth-largest economy with a number of commercial insurance challenges now, the firm said.