Business Details
40 Years
experience
Trusted Insurance & Estate Planning in Los Angeles
Founded in 1986, Balaban Group has built a reputation as a leading independent life insurance, benefits, and estate planning firm serving affluent clients in Los Angeles, CA, and nationwide. Our approach combines 40 years of expertise with a proprietary methodology that involves rigorously testing scenarios to identify and mitigate risks, ensuring tailored solutions for ultra-sophisticated planning. We collaborate closely with top-tier law firms, accounting agencies, and wealth managers, maintaining HIPAA-compliant access to client records to deliver precise underwriting and transparent pricing.Our team of specialists works directly with clients to navigate complex health risks, dangerous occupations, and high-limit policies, prioritizing long-term relationships and partnerships with the highest-rated insurance companies globally. By focusing on transparency, value, and impact, we empower clients to make informed decisions about life insurance, disability coverage, estate planning, and business protection.
Services
Life Insurance
Group Medical Insurance
Disability Insurance
Estate Planning
Business Planning
Long-Term Care
Accidental Death Coverage
Event Cancellation Insurance
Pension Rescue Plans
Deferred Compensation
Details
- Year established: 1986
Highlights and features
- 40 years of experience handling complex insurance cases
- Proprietary scenario-testing methodology to address risks
- HIPAA-compliant access for precise underwriting
- Team of specialists in life, disability, and estate planning
- Partnerships with top-rated insurance carriers globally
What people say
Excellent service
Great value
Highly recommend
Timely manner
Competitive rates
Services
Life Insurance Solutions
We offer term and permanent life insurance tailored to individual needs, including universal life, whole life, and annuities. Our process ensures precise cost determination through internal underwriting, providing transparent, high-limit policies for complex cases. Clients benefit from partnerships with top-rated carriers and customized plans for estate protection.
Disability Insurance
Our disability coverage safeguards income for high-net-worth individuals, athletes, and entertainers through Lloyd's of London partnerships. We address unique risks like dangerous hobbies and career-specific vulnerabilities, ensuring financial stability during unexpected disabilities with long- and short-term policies.
Estate Planning
We design estate plans using trusts, split-dollar arrangements, and tax-saving techniques to preserve wealth across generations. Our strategies mitigate estate taxes and ensure seamless asset transfer, leveraging life insurance and pension rescue plans for high-net-worth clients.
Business Planning
We secure buy-sell agreements, key-person insurance, and overhead expense coverage to protect businesses from financial disruption. Our solutions ensure continuity during ownership transitions or critical employee absences, funded through life and disability policies.
Event Cancellation Insurance
We provide non-appearance coverage for artists, bands, and performers, protecting against losses from cancellations due to illness, travel delays, or venue damage. Policies include kidnap and ransom protection, tailored to the entertainment industry's unique risks.
People
Mark Balaban
Founder and President
Mark Balaban founded Balaban Group in 1986 after six years at Northwestern Mutual. He specializes in estate planning for high-net-worth clients and has received top industry awards. Mark holds a BA from UC Berkeley and serves clients globally.
Zach Wolkstein
Managing Director
Zach Wolkstein joined Balaban Group in 2021, focusing on athletes and business owners. A University of Arizona graduate, he was recognized as a Top Trusted Advisor in 2024 and brings expertise in technology and client relations.
Kim Boyer
Director of Underwriting
Kim Boyer leads underwriting at Balaban Group, managing medical risk assessments with 30+ years of experience. She previously directed underwriting at Security Life of Denver and specializes in forensic underwriting.
Harrison Kidd
Product Design Specialist
Harrison Kidd specializes in advanced planning and product design, leveraging a decade of experience from Prudential. He holds Series 6 and 63 licenses and focuses on jumbo life insurance policies.
Sean McNiff
Senior Sales Adviser
Sean McNiff designs high-limit disability and life policies, collaborating with Lloyd's of London. He has over a decade of insurance experience and specializes in entertainment and sports industry coverage.
Questions
What types of insurance does The Balaban Group offer?
We specialize in life, disability, estate planning, business planning, long-term care, and event cancellation insurance for high-net-worth individuals and businesses.
How does The Balaban Group handle complex cases?
We use a proprietary scenario-testing methodology and HIPAA-compliant underwriting to address risks like health issues, dangerous hobbies, and high-limit policies.
Do you work with clients outside Los Angeles?
Yes, we serve clients nationwide and globally, with expertise in tailored insurance solutions for diverse industries.
What sets The Balaban Group apart from other brokers?
Our 40-year track record, partnerships with top carriers, and client-focused approach ensure precise, transparent coverage for complex needs.
Can you help with business insurance needs?
We provide buy-sell agreements, key-person insurance, and deferred compensation plans to protect businesses from financial disruptions.
How do you ensure competitive pricing?
We internally underwrite risks and collaborate with carriers to secure exact pricing before applications, avoiding estimates or guesswork.
