Past
Pace Thomas Benefit ServicesMore than 30 years of benefits work carried by Pace Thomas Benefit Services — the experience foundation SSGI would later build on.
A Decker Family Company
Independent expertise. Family-owned accountability.
Strategic Sequoia Group Inc. is a Decker family company. SSGI Benefits is its employee-benefits division — independent brokerage, direct accountability and technology-enabled service for large, national and multi-state employers. We connect benefits strategy, enrollment, administration and year-round support through an owner-led team and SSGI One. Growing businesses receive the same commitment to service.
How we work
Three operating principles
These are the commitments you'll experience working with us — the way the business actually runs day to day.
- 01
Independent guidance
We help employers evaluate available options around workforce needs, plan goals, and budget — without allegiance to any one carrier. Year-round, we're reachable for the questions, changes, and issues that come up between renewals, not just at signing.
- 02
Accountable ownership
SSGI is a Decker family company. The people who own the business are the people you talk to — direct access to the owners, with a clear SSGI point of contact and a practical path to the person coordinating the issue.
- 03
Technology-enabled execution
SSGI One gives employees and employer admins one place for enrollment steps, documents and service requests. The portal connects the work to the SSGI team.
Our story
Family-owned. Built on experience. Designed for what comes next.
SSGI Benefits is the client-facing insurance and employee-benefits agency of the Decker family company.
2020
Decker family ownership
In 2020, SSGI acquired Pace Thomas Benefit Services, carrying forward more than 30 years of benefits experience into a family-owned, technology-enabled firm.
Read the archived announcementNext
Technology-enabled. Human-accountable.
Modern systems improve the work around benefits; experienced people remain responsible for the judgment benefits decisions require.
Heritage
Maryland roots, from the beginning
Andrew Decker can trace his Maryland family roots to the first colonists of St. Mary's City, Maryland's first colonial capital, founded in 1634.
Our leadership
Owner-led leadership
The Decker family owns and runs the business. These are the people you'll work with directly.
Laura Decker
Vice President, Strategic Sequoia Group Inc.
Licensed in Life & Health
Laura leads sales and customer service for SSGI Benefits, guiding client relationships and ensuring responsive support from the first conversation through ongoing service. She built her career at Mutual of Omaha and Corporate Coverage across employers from two to more than 1,000 employees. A childhood medical crisis helped shape the service standard behind her work.
Professional affiliation
Member, National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals NABIP
Andrew Decker
President, Strategic Sequoia Group Inc.
Licensed in Life & Health • Property & Casualty
Andrew leads the overall business, operations, strategic partnerships, and growth across all SSGI businesses, including SSGI Benefits. Andrew's career included work at JPMorgan Chase and Xerox. He draws on experience across entrepreneurship, a roughly 1,000-person operation, State Farm, and emerging technology.
Professional designation
Certified Insurance Representative (CIR) — National Association of Christian Catastrophe Insurance Adjusters
Professional affiliation
Member, National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals NABIP
Brokers & partners
Let's connect
Brokers and partners are welcome to reach out. Start a conversation about how we can work together.
Email adecker@ssgibenefits.com to reach the team directly. If you'd like to refer an employer or partner to us, see our referrals page for how that works.
Start a practical conversation
Request a benefits review to talk through your goals, current plan, and workload — with the people who own the business.
Explore what we offerRead the capabilities brief
For leadership, HR & finance
A clear brief for the next conversation.
Review SSGI’s benefits strategy, SSGI One and transition approach in one concise overview. Print or save it to share with your team.