Alliant Insurance Services Adds Derek Ackerman to Southwest Benefits Team
Alliant Insurance Services, one of the nation's top insurance brokers and consultants, has expanded its Employee Benefits Group with the appointment of Derek Ackerman as Vice President. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Ackerman will serve employers nationwide, bringing deep expertise in strategic benefits design, self-funded plan structures, and data-driven cost management to Alliant's growing Southwest presence.
The hire reflects Alliant's continued momentum in attracting senior benefits talent as employer demand for sophisticated, cost-conscious benefits strategies intensifies. Ackerman's remit will span plan performance improvement, healthcare cost control, and increasing organizational efficiency — priorities that sit at the top of most HR and finance leaders' agendas heading into the back half of 2026.
"Derek brings a thoughtful and analytical approach to helping employers navigate the benefits environment. His background in alternative funding strategies and data-driven decision-making will help clients identify opportunities to enhance value and improve outcomes."
— Kevin Overbey, President, Alliant Employee BenefitsA Specialist in Alternative Funding and Cost Management
Ackerman arrives at Alliant with a well-defined specialisation in the mechanics of self-funded medical plans and alternative risk financing arrangements — areas that have become increasingly central as employers look for ways to move beyond traditional fully-insured models and gain greater transparency and control over healthcare spending. His work encompasses group captives, pharmacy benefit management (PBM) optimisation, and long-term cost management frameworks designed to deliver sustainable savings over time.
Beyond the financial architecture of benefits plans, Ackerman also brings experience in employee engagement and benefits communication — an often-underestimated dimension of plan performance. Programmes that employees don't understand or fully utilise routinely underdeliver on their intended value; Ackerman's focus on workforce understanding and participation addresses this gap directly, helping employers protect the return on their benefits investment.
"Ackerman works with employers to develop and implement employee benefits strategies focused on self-funded medical plans, alternative risk financing arrangements, and long-term cost management."
— Alliant Insurance Services, Official AnnouncementAlliant's Expanding Employee Benefits Footprint
Ackerman's appointment is part of a broader wave of senior hires across Alliant's Employee Benefits Group in 2026. The firm has also recently added Dan Colarchik as Senior Vice President and Brandon Ward as Senior Vice President, signalling a deliberate and sustained investment in benefits consulting talent at the national level. Prior to joining Alliant, Ackerman served as an Employee Benefits Consultant at a national insurance and employee benefits consulting firm, and holds a bachelor's degree in political science and government from the University of Arizona.
Alliant Insurance Services is headquartered in Irvine, California, and stands among the nation's leading insurance brokers, providing risk management, employee benefits, underwriting, and consumer solutions. As a majority employee-owned organisation, Alliant is recognised by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers and one of America's Most Trusted Companies — a platform that has contributed to an impressive producer retention rate and a reputation as a top destination for brokerage talent.
Strategic Southwest Expansion. Alliant has named Derek Ackerman Vice President within its Employee Benefits Group, strengthening its advisory capabilities across Phoenix, Arizona, and the broader Southwest region.
Self-Funded Plan Expertise. Ackerman specialises in self-funded medical plans and alternative risk financing — increasingly sought-after capabilities as employers seek greater cost transparency and control beyond traditional insurance models.
PBM and Captive Experience. His background includes group captives and pharmacy benefit management optimisation — two high-impact levers for long-term healthcare cost reduction that many employers are actively exploring.
Engagement Drives Plan Value. Ackerman also focuses on employee communication and engagement programmes — recognising that plan utilisation and workforce understanding are as critical to ROI as the financial structure of benefits programmes.
Alliant on a Talent Growth Trajectory. This hire is part of a broader 2026 expansion of Alliant's Employee Benefits Group, reinforcing the firm's position as a leading destination for senior benefits talent in a competitive national market.