ABOUT US
Vaaler Insurance is a professional organization dedicated to providing the best insurance products and services available to its clients at the most reasonable cost. From our beginning in Grand Forks, we have seen steady growth and have become recognized as one of the leading agencies in the region. We have earned our reputation for professionalism through the special attention given to the needs and requirements of our clients. Our talented staff provides each of our customers with prompt solutions to their insurance and risk management needs and continues to be our strongest asset. We currently have offices in Grand Forks, Fargo, and Bismarck, North Dakota, and Fosston, Minnesota. We serve several thousand clients throughout the Midwest and have served clients in all 50 states.
The Vaaler team utilizes a Risk Management Total Cost of Risk (TCOR) approach to our client’s needs, which reviews their exposure to loss, the methods available to handle those loss exposures, and the potential financial impact of these options. Risk retention programs, risk purchasing groups (RPG), high deductibles, and self-insurance are all methods utilized by Vaaler specialists to serve the increasingly complex needs of our customers.
OUR HISTORY
Vaaler Insurance, Inc. was founded by Paul T. Vaaler in 1947. Paul was interested in starting his own agency after traveling North and South Dakota as a field representative for Sunshine Mutual Insurance Company and Implement Dealers Insurance Company. David A. Vaaler began his insurance career following his graduation from the University of North Dakota School of Law. As Paul’s son, Dave was responsible for new business production and was an immediate success. He took advantage of the newly developed “package” policy and found most of his success writing commercial insurance. Dave continued to develop his commercial insurance expertise and focused his efforts on insurance programs for groups and associations, many of which programs still exist today. Upon Paul’s death in 1972, Dave took over total ownership of Vaaler Insurance. Dave’s son, Bruce D. Vaaler, CPCU, joined Vaaler Insurance after his graduation from the University of Iowa in 1982 with a degree in Finance and Insurance. Dave Vaaler retired in November 2011 after Bruce purchased the agency from his mother and father.
In September 2021, Vaaler was acquired by Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), becoming Vaaler Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company. MMA is the middle market agency subsidiary of Marsh, the world’s leading insurance broker and risk advisor. This partnership positions Vaaler to provide sophisticated solutions and expertise to our clients as risk continues to evolve and provides added strength and resources that will allow us to support our clients and provide growth opportunities well into the future.
“As our agency approaches the future, our success will depend on the talent and technical expertise of our staff, coupled with superior relationships with our insurance and risk management service providers and the satisfaction of the customers we serve.”