Our History


Diversified Brokerage Specialists/FMB History

Founded in 1946 by Bill Dignan and today known as Diversified Brokerage Specialists/FMB, we continue to break new records and build on our history of innovation, expertise and creativity. What started as a disability insurance specialty brokerage has now expanded into an industry leader in life, disability and long term care insurance. Please take a moment to reflect on our long history of achievements. Our proud history defines who we are today…

1946

W.R. Dignan Associates, Inc. founded by Bill Dignan.

   
1947

Introduced the “DA47” Income Protection Policy. Named after Dignan Associates and underwritten by American Casualty Company, the policy was the first to offer lifetime sickness benefits following the great depression.

   
1948

First to program disability coverage by combining Non-Cancelable (short term benefits) with Yearly Renewable (long term benefits).

   
1950

Largest writer of Polio insurance in the Midwest.

   
1954

Introduced the concept of “Key Man Disability” coverage “DAK” (Dignan Associates Keyman) a forerunner of group LTD.

   
1955

Founded the “Business Overhead Expense” policy first recognized under the Internal Revenue Code.

   
1956

Wrote the first association group plan offering business overhead expense protection to professionals, to The Cincinnati Dental Society.

   
1960

Wrote the first Group LTD policy in Cincinnati to Emery Industries.

   
1968

Wrote the first plan supplementing group LTD with individual Non-Cancelable disability policies for a large Washington DC law firm.

   
1970

First to offer lifetime specialty “Own Occupation” definition to professionals.

   
1975

Top ten disability producer with Union Mutual, now UnumProvident

   
1980

One of the first agencies in the nation to introduce computer generated computer proposals.

   
1981

Founded Diversified Brokerage Specialists to market universal life insurance.

   
1989

Contracted with our first term life insurance company, Federal Kemper Life Insurance.

   
1994

Qualified President's Cabinet with Federal Kemper for life insurance sales and top 5 with Royal Maccabees for disability income sales nationally.

   
2001

Regional Leader First Colony, now Genworth.

   
2002

Purchase “Felton McCrary Brokerage” (FMB) a 35 year old Orlando , FL based insurance brokerage.

 

 

2003 10th consecutive year Federal Kemper's President's cabinet member. Illinois Mutual DI Leader's Council. Reached over $6,000,000 in disability premium refunds to policyholders from both Illinois Mutual and Royal Maccabees disability insurance premium refund riders.
   
2004 Finished 7 th nationally with Principal Life for disability insurance sales and again qualified Illinois Mutual DI Leader's Council. Marked 50 years representing Illinois Mutual.
   
2006 Diversified Brokerage Specialists receives endorsement from The Florida Dental Association allowing discounts on disability insurance to members.
   
2007 Diversified Brokerage Specialists receives endorsement from The Ohio State Bar allowing discounts on disability insurance to members. DBS also holds endorsements from the Cincinnati Medical and Dental Associations.