Insurance Agency Marketing Services, Inc., and American Elm Distribution Partners Announce Strategic Partnership to Expand Access to Structured Annuities

IAMS further expands its financial services distribution platform with majority interest acquisition of wholesale broker-dealer to serve professional RILA product needs

OMAHA, Neb. and PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Aug. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurance Agency Marketing Services, Inc. (IAMS), a leading independent marketing organization serving financial professionals nationwide, and American Elm Distribution Partners, LLC (AEDP), a FINRA-registered broker-dealer focused on alternative investments and structured annuities, are pleased to announce a strategic partnership focused on expanding access to Registered Index-Linked Annuities (RILAs)* and other structured annuity solutions for independent insurance professionals. 

IAMS and AEDP will leverage each company's strategic strengths and talents to grow their national annuity footprint.

The alliance is designed to capitalize on the rapid growth of the RILA market by equipping financial professionals with the tools, training, and diverse product access needed to compete in today's evolving retirement planning landscape. IAMS and AEDP will offer a range of leading RILA products from highly rated insurance carriers enabling professionals to access independent, objective, and client-centric solutions.

"The demand for structured annuities continues to accelerate as more clients seek both growth potential and downside protection in their retirement strategies," said Christopher Conroy, Managing Partner at IAMS. "Partnering with AEDP allows us to deliver innovative RILA solutions that complement our core annuity and insurance offerings and meet the changing needs of our producers and their clients."

Through this partnership, AEDP will provide access to a curated platform of RILAs and structured annuities, along with compliant sales support and product education tailored to the insurance distribution channel. IAMS has a 38-year history of delivering robust product, marketing, and sales training, and will partner with AEDP to expand this founding value. The initiative underscores both firms' commitment to helping agents differentiate their practices and deliver modern retirement strategies backed by strong institutional sponsors.

"Partnering with IAMS allows us to support a broader network of professionals with institutional-quality structured annuity solutions," said Michael Ponticello, Managing Partner, Chief Executive Officer at AEDP. "Our role is to deliver compliant access, product expertise, and support that empowers producers to meet client needs with confidence."

With structured annuity sales exceeding $65 billion annually and growing, this partnership positions IAMS and AEDP to meet rising demand from financial professionals seeking modern retirement income solutions.

"IAMS currently serves over 8,000 independent financial professionals through objective annuity and insurance solutions, customized marketing and advertising solutions, and nationally recognized best-in-class service," said Steven Murray, President & CEO of IAMS. "We look forward to serving even more financial professionals with our diverse catalog of fixed, fixed indexed and now structured annuities. With over 11,000 Americans retiring each day, annuities offer the financial security, stability and guarantees so many baby boomers seek."

"Our partnership with IAMS reflects a thoughtful expansion into annuity distribution with a firm that shares our commitment to transparency, client-centric solutions, and high standards of oversight; together, our teams bring deep annuity experience, with IAMS' product specialists complementing our compliance-driven, client-first approach," said Jessica Murray, Managing Partner, Chief Compliance Officer of American Elm Distribution Partners.

About IAMS, Inc.
Founded in 1986, IAMS is a national independent marketing organization supporting insurance agents and financial professionals across the U.S. With a focus on annuity, life insurance, and senior insurance solutions, IAMS provides agents with a full suite of back-office support, training, and marketing resources to grow their business. 800.255.5055 | iamsinc.com

About American Elm Distribution Partners, LLC
AEDP is a FINRA-registered broker-dealer based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, specializing in the compliant distribution of structured annuity and alternative investment solutions. AEDP partners with independent wealth and insurance platforms to bring institutional-quality products to the retail market through advisor-focused channels. 603.766.4924 | americanelmdp.com

*Registered Index-Linked Annuities are insurance products registered as securities. They may only be offered by individuals (1) who hold a state life insurance license and have completed required annuity training, and (2) who hold appropriate FINRA securities registrations through a registered broker-dealer. Offering or soliciting RILAs without these credentials is prohibited.

SOURCE Insurance Agency Marketing Services, Inc.