Insurance agents and brokers in the U.S. are benefitting from the beginning of a long-awaited hard market, a slowly improving U.S. economy, and increasing complexity in the health and benefits markets. Consolidation – long a path for revenue growth in the industry – continues at a heated pace, as strategic buyers and private equity-backed players rush to grab share ahead of rising P&C pricing. Additional private capital is eagerly seeking entry, providing a floor on valuations. Insurance agents and brokers with revenues in excess of $30 million are in high demand, allowing acquirers to efficiently add scale, augment leadership, extend the geographic reach and increase product breadth.