About Us
Alera Group, formerly Barnes Insurance & Financial Services is a performance based, proactive, benefit firm committed to our client's success. Founded January 1, 2005 as a LLC, BIAFS has offices located at 1582 Airport Boulevard, Pensacola, FL 32504. In August of 2018 we joined Alera Group giving us a vast amount of resources to better serve our clients.
Our principal lines of business are Health, Dental, Life, Disability, Supplemental Policies, and Financial Services. United HealthCare, MetLife, UNUM, Guardian and ING are just a few of the carriers with whom we write business. BIAFS is a Blue Diamond agency with Florida Blue (highest agency status with Florida Blue). One of the most respected insurance agencies in the panhandle, Barnes Insurance & Financial Services has grown rapidly into a top ten agency with Florida Blue with over 15,000 lives insured.
As a Florida Blue contracted general agency, we have the ability in certain circumstances to help employees transition their dependents to individual health policies. We are also available to counsel with employees and dependents that no longer meet eligibility requirements to review their specific options and possibly limit their cost and the employer’s COBRA exposure.
With a combined working experience of over 100 years, BIAFS has 8 accomplished employees with a diverse insurance background that complements our clientele.
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. CST and all federally recognized holidays are observed.
Meet Our Team
David Nicolette
Sales ExecutiveGraduating from the University of Mississippi with degrees in Risk Management, Insurance, and Managerial Finance, David was inspired to pursue a profession in insurance because he believes this industry is a true difference-maker across all sectors. He appreciates having the ability to play a role in so many different clients’ success, not only in the present but also in the future.
David is a hard-working, detail-oriented individual and brings a high level of energy to everything he does. Being a younger producer in the insurance industry, David has the luxury of being able to grow alongside clients for many years to come.
David enjoys spending time with family and friends. He believes relationships are essential, and he takes full advantage of any opportunity he gets to be with those closest to him. David is also interested in health and spending time in the gym, playing tennis and golf.
Cathy Powers
Senior Account ManagerJohnnie Dahlinger
Senior Account ManagerLisa Knichel
Small Group Service Assistant/ AdministratorEXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Supporting Women’s Health Month: Trending Employee Benefits
In this session, we’ll talk about how employers are helping female employees and dependents be their best through every phase of life: From fertility, maternal care and parenting to peri/menopause, caregiving and mental health.
May 16, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Q2 Compliance Update
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
June 4, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Optimize Your Benefits: A Three-Pronged Approach
Want to lower healthcare costs and enrich your benefits program at the same time? If so, this webinar is for you.
June 20, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Insights
Wealth Services
Weekly Market Update
Stocks staged a choppy comeback last week as investors cheered positive earnings, led by mega-cap tech stocks. The rally came to pass despite fresh data showing a slowing economy and increasing inflationary pressures.
April 29, 2024
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This Mental Health Awareness Month, ‘Run Your Own Race’
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Here are tips and resources to help you get started on the route to a happier, healthier you.
April 25, 2024
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Q1 Considerations: Affordability for Applicable Large Employers
Under the ACA, Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) are required to offer “affordable” medical coverage to full-time employees or be subject to a fine. In September 2023, the IRS announced that the 2024 affordability percentage would reduce from the 2023 rate of 9.12% to 8.39% as of January 1, 2024. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has just released the 2024 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) amounts, with an increase of 3.3%.
April 23, 2024
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Three Key Considerations for Large Employers
Early in the year is the time for employers who are approaching or over 50 employees to document and update the “key components” of being a larger employer, to ensure that no compliance obligation is missed. st of an unpublished page.
April 23, 2024
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