Summit-based Simplicity Group, a national leader in holistic financial planning, on Tuesday announced the acquisition of Wholehan Marketing, a prominent brokerage general agency (BGA) specializing in life insurance, annuities, and disability solutions.
The acquisition marks another major leap in Simplicity’s aggressive growth strategy, adding veteran leadership to its partnership and expanding its operational footprint across the Midwest and Southeast. As part of the transition, Chris Wholehan and Jessica Hernandez have officially joined Simplicity as the group’s newest partners.
Wholehan Marketing, which maintains key offices in Toledo, Ohio, and Tampa, Florida, is known for its diverse suite of financial products. The firm provides high-level support for advisors in critical areas including:
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Accumulation & Protection: Annuities and life insurance strategies.
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Specialized Coverage: Disability Insurance (DI) and Long-Term Care (LTC).
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Advanced Market Support: Technical assistance for complex financial planning and point-of-sale execution.
By joining the Simplicity platform, Wholehan’s advisors will now have access to a massive “marketing engine” and a broader product suite, allowing them to compete at a higher level in the rapidly evolving financial services landscape.
Bruce Donaldson, partner and CEO of Simplicity, emphasized that the acquisition is a strategic alignment of talent and technology.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chris and Jessica to the Simplicity partnership,” Donaldson said. “This is a high-caliber team… they are eager to scale their impact using our platform. By integrating into Simplicity, Wholehan’s point-of-sale capabilities will expand, and its advisors will see immediate, tangible benefits.”
Chris Wholehan echoed this sentiment, viewing the merger as a transformative moment for the agency’s future. “Partnering with Simplicity Group marks a pivotal milestone,” he noted. “By tapping into Simplicity’s immense scale and collective intelligence, we are ready to set a new standard for the service we deliver to our clients.”
This acquisition follows a series of high-profile moves by Simplicity to consolidate the fragmented BGA market. By centralizing resources—such as compliance, lead generation, and back-office support—Simplicity allows its partner agencies to focus purely on advisor relationships and client outcomes.
