HELENA, Mont., Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The Leavitt Group announced that Mountain West Benefits will become part of the Leavitt Group in an affiliation that also includes the Leavitt Group’s two Montana agencies: Taylor-Leavitt Insurance Agency of Billings, and Northern Montana Insurance Services of Choteau. The new entity will be called Leavitt Great West Insurance Services.

All three agencies will combine operations and expertise to create one of the largest insurance agencies in Montana with the ability to provide a full range of insurance, risk management, and employee benefits solutions. The combined entity will have 11 offices across the state, including Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Choteau, Conrad, Cutbank, Great Falls, Helena, Livingston, Missoula, and Shelby, as well as an office in Vernal, Utah.

The merger will not affect current accounts, and clients will continue to work with the same personnel with whom they are familiar. Phone numbers will remain the same. The current agency owners will remain owners of the new combined entity, including Mike Taylor from Taylor-Leavitt Insurance Agency; Pat Greany, Travis Clark, and Shawn Kraft from Northern Montana Insurance Services; and Jim Edwards, Richard Miltenberger, and Shawn Samuelson from Mountain West Benefits.

“This merger will enhance our ability to serve our clients and the business community of Montana,” said Jim Edwards.

Mike Taylor remarked: “Consumers are the winners here. Montana needs more options, and that is what this will bring to buyers: a better choice.”

By joining forces, clients will benefit from the joint expertise, relationships, service team, and resources. The merger will allow for integration across business units, and it will also enhance and unify the agencies’ broad set of capabilities in insurance, employee benefits, and risk management.

“With the changes in the health law, and reduced competition, people are looking for something better, and we offer that,” said Pat Greany.

The Leavitt Group is one of the largest privately-held insurance brokerages in the nation and provides clients with greater insurance market access, risk management services, and a wide-range of employee benefit solutions. Clients also benefit from the consultative approach to risk management found within the culture of each office and the unique flexibility that comes with local, on-the-ground agency owners. For more information about the Leavitt Group, please visit www.leavitt.com.

SOURCE Leavitt Group