OneDigital, an insurance brokerage, financial services, and HR consulting firm, has acquired Watko Benefit Group, an employee benefits firm based in Overland Park, Kansas.
This move expands OneDigital’s presence in the Kansas City metro area.
This acquisition follows a series of similar strategic moves. Recently, OneDigital acquired Leslie S. Ray Insurance Agency, a property and casualty (P&C) firm located in the Greater Boston Area. That marked OneDigital’s 11th acquisition in the P&C space over the past year. Additionally, OneDigital acquired Fortune Insurance, a P&C firm headquartered in Tacoma, WA.
Watko Benefit Group, founded in 2003 by Principal Greg Watkins, provides a range of employee benefits services to businesses with employee counts from 10 to over 3,000. The firm’s offerings include group insurance, voluntary benefits, and executive benefits. The six-person Watko team brings more than 50 years of combined experience in areas such as healthcare plan design and funding, benefits administration, technology, and executive compensation strategies.
Todd Belden, regional president for OneDigital’s Central region, emphasized that Greg Watkins and his team are a strong addition to OneDigital, noting that Watko’s reputation and experience in serving clients complement OneDigital’s existing business in Kansas and the Central region. He stated that the combined capabilities of the firms would enhance services and provide greater value to clients.
Greg Watkins, principal of Watko Benefit Group, expressed his satisfaction with the partnership, explaining that OneDigital shares Watko’s commitment to customer service, employee engagement, and client-focused solutions. He added that the partnership would allow Watko to continue delivering the personalized service clients expect while providing access to more resources and expanded services.
The acquisition is expected to bring additional services to Watko’s clients, including pharmacy consulting, HR consulting, wealth management, retirement plan services, and Medicare guidance.
