Who is TAG?

Our Vision:  To build a dynamic national brand recognized for providing high-value insurance and financial products and services to our agents and their clients.  To continually exceed every expectation by engaging the talent and passion of people who believe there is always a better way.  To offer long-term, financially-rewarding opportunities to our agents, field managers and employees.

The TAG Story

Passionate. Resilient. Innovative. That’s Ed Shackelford, founder and CEO of The Assurance Group – the fastest-growing insurance marketing organization in the United States.  Partner with us as a team builder or as a personal producer and see for yourself how we’re growing at a rate of 40 percent year over year. 

Ed Shackelford, started out in insurance in 1988 and steadfastly grew the company to become one of the top insurance marketing organizations in the nation.

 Through his diligent attention to the needs of the Senior Market, the company has expanded into a well-established and respected organization with agents across the country and more than 30 regional offices.

Product Divisions

Annuities

Simplify the complex information and tell clients more about annuity investments as part of reaching their financial objectives. Provide a guaranteed lifetime income by accumulating funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.

Final Expense

Take care of funeral bills and other costs by helping clients build a plan to help loved ones. Explain the details about burial insurance and be that person who cares.

Medicare

Find the right health care insurance carrier and plan for your client. Be the expert with up-to-date continual training on what’s best for each situation. So many options with so many choices!

Ordinary Life

Share the differences among whole life, universal life, term life insurance and more in a discussion with folks who need your help.

Supplemental Health / Ancillary

Convey options for extra or additional insurance for out-of-pocket miscellaneous expenses and services not covered by regular insurance.

A Timeline of Growth

1988

The Beginning

From his garage with a newly-minted insurance license, Ed Shackelford launches Piedmont Brokerage. Product focus is group benefits and Section 125 plans.

1991

Final Expense

1991 to 2003
Company transitions to primarily final expense sales, becoming one of the largest FE sellers in the United States.

2004

Medicare Advantage

2004 to 2007
Shortly after renaming the company The Assurance Group, TAG is awarded an exclusive agreement to sell United Healthcare Medicare Advantage Plans. Arrangement results in sales of $2 Billion.

2008

Senior Products

2008 to 2011
Company diversifies into a full-line brokerage focusing on senior products for America’s middle market. TAG becomes one of the nation’s largest producers of individual major medical plans.

2012

Career Agency

2012 to Current
TAG creates career agency channel. Opens three initial regional sales offices in Charleston SC, Columbia SC and Raleigh NC.

2020

Record Growth

Today
Growing at an unprecedented rate of 40% year over year since inception, TAG’s career channel operates in 25 states from more than 31 regional sales offices.

Core Principles

At TAG, we incorporate our values and team characteristics into six fundamental principles. They continue to influence all of our behaviors and decisions, as we effectively move our organization forward.

Integrity

We will always be consistent in our actions, values, methods, principles, expectations, and outcomes.

Respect

We will always give due respect to others in order to foster an environment of teamwork, growth, and personal development.

Appreciation

We will always be grateful, humble, and gracious toward those people who allow us the opportunity for personal, professional and financial growth.

Ownership

We will always take ownership in, and responsibility for, the success of our co-workers, our agents and our company.

Excellence

We will consistently strive for perfection knowing that if we only achieve excellence, it will have been a very worthwhile journey.

R

Compliance

We will obey any and all laws and regulations governing our industry for the express purpose of guaranteeing the protection of our clients, our agents and our company.

TAG Leadership Team

Our executive management group guides and directs agents and staff with clarity and transparency. This high-performance team brings a surplus of knowledge, experience and a dedicated commitment to the betterment of all areas of the organization.

Doug A. Bunting

Doug A. Bunting

Regional Vice President

Mark L. Carter

Mark L. Carter

Chief Financial Officer

Robert G. Casey

Robert G. Casey

Sr. VP, Medicare & Compliance

John A. Davis

John A. Davis

Director, Ordinary Life

Jennifer M. Dennis

Jennifer M. Dennis

Director, Commissions

James L. Dodd

James L. Dodd

Regional Vice President

Christopher C. Finan

Christopher C. Finan

Chief Operations Officer

J. Scott Glanton

J. Scott Glanton

Senior Vice President, Sales

Steven H. Jarvis

Steven H. Jarvis

Vice President, Marketing

W. Curt Klein

W. Curt Klein

Chief Marketing Officer

Sean K. McGee

Sean K. McGee

Regional Vice President

Evan C. Monahan

Evan C. Monahan

Director, Training

H. Vann Owens Jr.

H. Vann Owens Jr.

Director, Information Technology

Kevin M. Poznek

Kevin M. Poznek

Vice President, Leadership Development

Edward L. Shackelford

Edward L. Shackelford

Founder & CEO

Amy N. Smith

Amy N. Smith

Vice President, Operations

Isaiah Smith, II

Isaiah Smith, II

Senior Vice President, Annuities

Duane Vestal

Duane Vestal

Senior Vice President

Christopher L. Weaver

Christopher L. Weaver

Senior Vice President, Sales

Office Locations

An All-In Family

When you join TAG, you become a member of our family.  Many of our new family members have gone “All In” and brought their own families along for the ride.