Westland Benefits has acquired Synchronized Employee Benefits Corporation, effective April 16.
The move comes as Westland Benefits continues to build out its national employee benefits platform.
Synchronized Employee Benefits focuses on employee benefits advisory services for small and mid-sized employers and is known for its client-centric approach, local relationships and tailored benefit strategies across a range of industries.
Westland said it remains committed to expanding its presence across Canada through a mix of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, while maintaining its focus on client service and community connection.
Westland Benefits is the dedicated employee benefits division of Westland Insurance Group, launched as a national brand in 2025 to consolidate several acquired benefits firms under a single banner.
The division offers extended health and dental, group life and disability, retirement and savings plans, executive health and key person coverage, positioning itself as a "boutique advisory" backed by one of Canada's largest independent brokerages.
The brand launch brought together the operations of Dupuis Langen and Montridge Advisory Group, two specialist benefits firms that had already joined Westland, and set the stage for expansion beyond British Columbia. Synchronized now joins that group as another BC-based advisory business, adding coverage in the Fraser Valley and complementing Westland's existing benefits footprint in the Lower Mainland.
At the group level, Westland Insurance has pursued an aggressive M&A strategy since taking outside investment in 2021. The broker has completed dozens of acquisitions in recent years and now places more than $4 billion in premium across personal, commercial, farm, specialty and employee benefits lines, with more than 190 locations nationwide.
The Synchronized acquisition is another marker of consolidation in Canada’s group benefits distribution market, where national and regional platforms are steadily absorbing independent advisory firms. Westland’s move follows the formal launch of its benefits brand in 2025, which was framed as a way to expand services to employers across the country and to unify its acquired benefits capabilities.
Demand conditions remain strong. Canadian life and health insurers have reported record levels of benefits paid in recent years, with group health and retirement products accounting for a significant share.
At the same time, employers are under pressure to enhance health, mental wellness and retirement offerings to compete for talent, creating space for advisory-led intermediaries that can design, benchmark and negotiate more sophisticated plans.
Westland’s strategy of combining local, relationship-driven firms like Synchronized with a national benefits platform reflects a broader trend among brokers and consultants. The aim is to give mid-market employers access to broader market leverage and data while preserving local service and knowledge.
“We’re pleased to welcome Synchronized Employee Benefits to the Westland Benefits platform,” said Matt Mann, president of Westland Benefits. “Synchronized Employee Benefits has built a strong reputation for trusted client relationships and deep advisory experience within the BC communities they serve. This partnership supports our national expansion strategy and enhances our ability to deliver value-driven, personalized solutions to employers across Canada.”
