Axis Insurance has sharpened its national growth strategy with the acquisitions of Edgewater Financial Group and Kearns Edgewater Financial Services, alongside the purchase of the group benefits portfolio of Kearns Insurance.
The transactions bring together established advisory firms with long-standing client relationships, bolstering Axis’s presence in group benefits and private wealth while keeping the acquired brands’ relationship‑driven approach at the forefront.
Axis, headquartered in Vancouver, now has more than 350 to 400 professionals nationally and has been one of the country’s faster‑growing independent brokerages through a mix of strategic M&A and organic growth.
Building a national life, benefits and wealth platform
As part of the deals, Scott Beckett has joined Axis as national senior vice-president, life, benefits and wealth, while John Stoneman has come on board as vice-president in the same practice.
Axis said the partnerships unite “well-established firms that share a commitment to integrity, client-focused advice, and the delivery of exceptional insurance, benefits, and wealth solutions”, enhancing its national reach while “preserving the relationship-driven approach that clients have trusted for decades.”
The move follows Axis’s 2024 acquisition of O’Neill Group, a Vancouver-based employee benefits, life and wealth advisory firm, which was folded into Axis as a dedicated practice group. That earlier deal expanded Axis’s capabilities in executive and group benefits and set the stage for a broader push into wealth and retirement planning for business owners and professionals.
Competition heats up in Canadian benefits and wealth
Axis’ latest acquisitions come amid intense competition for benefits and wealth clients across Canada, with large consolidators and bank‑owned players jostling for mid‑market corporate mandates and high‑net‑worth households. Independents such as Axis are leaning on specialised practice groups, technology‑enabled servicing and advice‑led cross‑sell between commercial, personal and wealth lines to defend and grow share.
The company positions itself as a full‑service brokerage spanning commercial insurance, personal insurance, life, employee benefits and wealth advisory, supported by 16 specialised practice groups. It said this structure allows teams to collaborate across sectors and product lines, anticipating industry shifts and tailoring solutions for complex client needs.
