Rebuilding the Insurance Industry through Faith & Culture
More Than Just Business – The Ministry of Rebuilding
In a world often driven by profit margins and bottom lines, it is rare to find a leader who views their corporate role as a divine calling. On a recent episode of Anchoring Hope, we sat down with Brian Keefer, the President and Co-founder of Allied Trust Insurance Co.
Brian is a powerhouse in the industry. To give you a glimpse of his professional caliber:
"Senior executive with top-flight management experience directing and positioning organizations for unprecedented growth and profitability. Consistently successful in starting and turning around organizations by identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities to drive revenue and profit growth within highly competitive global markets. High caliber dynamic presentation, organizational and leadership qualifications. Serves as catalyst for change, transformation and performance improvement. Champions team to maximize value creation and achievement of corporate goals."
But behind this impressive resume lies a heart deeply anchored in Christ. Brian doesn’t just see himself as an insurance executive; he sees his work as a ministry of restoration.
The Theology of Insurance For many, insurance is a grudge purchase—something you pay for hoping never to use. But Brian sees it differently. He views the industry through the lens of the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" . When we pool our resources, we are collectively protecting the community, stepping in to lift someone up on their worst day .
As Brian beautifully puts it, insurance isn't just about writing checks; it's about "rebuilding boxes" so that the souls inside can heal . Whether it’s a hurricane or a house fire, his mission is to restore stability so families can find their footing again. It is a powerful reminder that our "secular" jobs are often the very vessels God uses to administer His grace to a broken world.
The Training Ground – Forged in Fire
Before the Call Before he was a founder, Brian was a student of the industry. God often uses our early careers to equip us for future battles, and Brian’s path was no exception. Starting with degrees in business and computer science, he cut his teeth at Koch Industries, working across 25 different industries—from energy to startups. It was a high-intensity environment where he learned economic thinking and how to turn around failing ventures .
The Turnaround Specialist His move into insurance came by divine appointment—a chance meeting on a plane sitting next to a general manager from Progressive. Brian was thrown into the deep end, tasked with turning around a struggling state division that was losing 26 cents on every dollar. Through 16 intense initiatives over 26 months, he turned the ship around.
Later, at Bankers Insurance Group, he faced a literal storm. He took over insurance operations just six weeks before four major hurricanes hit Florida in 2004 . Yet, amidst the chaos of natural disasters, he led the company from multimillion-dollar losses to profitability.
The Lesson Brian’s early career teaches us that God doesn't always call us to easy places. Sometimes, He places us in the center of the storm—financial crises, hurricanes, and failing business units—to build the muscle of faith we will need for the future. Every turnaround Brian led was preparation for the ultimate test of faith that was yet to come.
The Wilderness – When the Bank Account Runs Dry
The Leap of Faith In 2009, Brian felt the call to step out and start his own company. The timing, however, seemed disastrous. It was the height of the financial crisis, and insurance companies were trading for pennies on the dollar .
The Trial of Poverty What followed was a "wilderness season" that would test anyone's resolve. Brian went nearly three years without a salary. He burned through his seed capital and had to rely on a $5,000 personal loan from a friend just to keep the dream alive.
The personal toll was immense. Brian recalls his wife driving a van with bald tires and no air conditioning during the sweltering Florida summer. They even had to cancel their 25th wedding anniversary party because the funds simply weren't there.
Faith in the Dark It is easy to trust God when the harvest is plentiful, but true faith is forged when the fields are bare. Brian admits this was a strain on his marriage and his spirit, but his wife stood by him, seeing the closed doors while he kept looking for the open windows . Today, celebrating 39 years of marriage, they look back on that season not as a time of defeat, but as the crucible where their faith and partnership were solidified.
If you are in a season of scarcity today, take heart. Brian’s story is proof that God’s timing is perfect, even when our bank accounts suggest otherwise.
Betrayal and Redemption – The God of Second Chances
The Ultimate Betrayal After surviving the financial wilderness, Brian finally succeeded. He built a thriving company in Louisiana and Hawaii, becoming the number one seller of property insurance in the state within 18 months. Success had finally arrived.
But then, the unthinkable happened. An investor he had brought on orchestrated a "board coup," a hostile takeover that pushed Brian out of the very company he had built with his blood, sweat, and tears . Five and a half years of work were snatched away, leaving him on the outside looking in.
Starting Over with Wisdom It would have been easy to become bitter. Instead, Brian chose to start again—this time with greater wisdom. When God opened the door for a new venture in Texas, Brian interviewed his new investors harder than they interviewed him. He learned the importance of being "unequally yoked" in business and ensured his new partners shared his values.
The Victory God restored what was lost. Brian’s new company, Alli Trust, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. They are approaching $300 million in premiums and have been recognized as a top workplace in the industry. The betrayal was painful, but it was not the end of the story. It was merely the chapter that set up a greater redemption.
Servant Leadership – The Legacy of the Burnt Bible
The Burnt Box and the Bible What drives Brian today isn't profit—it's people. He tells a moving story of a policyholder whose home burned to the ground. While the house was a total loss, the family found a charred wooden box in the wreckage. Inside, untouched by the flames and pristine white, was their family Bible .
Brian told that woman, "We are here to rebuild your box... but what's important is what's inside" .
Culture Eats Strategy This philosophy defines his leadership style. Brian personally teaches every new employee training class—whether they are an executive or an admin. He wants them to hear directly from him that their job is not just to process claims, but to lift people up.
He has built a culture where he encourages employees to challenge him, valuing truth over hierarchy. He realized that true leadership isn't about being the "boss" who knows it all; it's about empowering others to make decisions and creating a space where they can thrive .
Brian Keefer’s journey challenges us to look at our own work lives. Are we building temporary boxes, or are we investing in the eternal souls inside them? His billboard message to the world remains simple yet profound: "Always look for what you can do for someone else".
Written by Jovilyn Dela Cruz
“Always look for what you can do for someone else. To me, we’re here for a purpose. We’re here to help one another.”
