Profile
“Being true to who we are is key; we are purely a referral-based business. There is zero marketing or advertising”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
Beginning his career as a national broker at Risk Placement Services (RPS) in 2013, Nick Carozza continues to achieve remarkable feats in the executive liability sector.
Relocating to Lexington, KY with the goal of amplifying RPS’s executive liability presence, he has steered his team’s growth to 16 members. Amid this success, the team remains unwaveringly focused on nurturing crucial relationships.
“From the onset of my career, I have been guided by a plan to seize every available opportunity,” says Carozza. “The belief that good things don’t simply fall into one’s lap has been a driving force in my approach to professional growth. Understanding that success is not a passive outcome, I recognized early on that I would need to proactively take chances and carve my own path to success.”
Carozza and his team strive to offer solutions to intricate risks while sustaining a thriving book of business. Operating under RPS Executive Lines, they stand as a premier team of specialists safeguarding individuals and companies from various executive risks and professional liabilities.
“Beyond assembling a talented group, I’ve cultivated a culture where the standards of our work persist even in my absence,” he comments. “This team embodies open communication, embraces process improvement, and welcomes change, all driven by a shared commitment to ensuring client satisfaction. This achievement not only underscores my leadership in team building but also emphasizes the enduring impact of fostering a collaborative and client-focused environment.”
Their mission is rooted in delivering superior service that adapts to the evolving needs of clients, continuously pursuing the highest professional excellence in product and service delivery. Over the past 12 months, they have constantly evolved to find new ways to provide value to clients.
Carozza lives by a consistent mantra of leading a customer service-based team whose end goal is to gain the trust of retail partners. He takes the time to not only provide solutions but to also educate retailers and buyers on where their exposures lie.
“We understand that every risk is different, each policy form is different and being able to articulate how they work together has been an essential part of our business,” he says.
Throughout his career, Carozza has tapped into advice and expertise of valuable mentors and now he is paying it forward to younger professionals in the industry.
“I hope that in the long term, these professionals pay it forward and continue to carve paths for themselves while helping the next generation of insurance professionals succeed,” he says.
He aims to surround himself with people who want to constantly improve.
“My team motivates me every day. Each of them does what they can to stay on top of any new trends while thinking of new ways to provide solutions for our clients in a constantly changing insurance landscape.”
As his team continues to grow, they never stray from the basics that brought them results.
He says, “Being around others who want the best for themselves as well as their clients keeps us performing at a high level.”
2850 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
866 595 8413
RPS.Marcomm@RPSins.com
linkedin.com/in/nick-carozza-1b87ab40
RPSins.com
Nick Carozza
Area Executive Vice President
Risk Placement Services
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Bio
Milestones
“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
2013
2015
2019-2020
2022-2023
2024
National Sales Executive
2013
Broker
2015
2019: Area Vice President
2020: Up-and-Coming Broker of the Year (Reactions North America Awards)
2019–
2020
2022: Area Senior Vice Present
2022–
2023
Area Executive Vice President
2024: Named a Top Specialist Broker by Insurance Business America
2024
Milestones
Milestones
ELITE WOMEN 2024 JUDGE
“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day,” he says.
While at the helm of a rapidly growing business and a family that includes two young children at home, Rakowski has learned to manage what he calls a “never-ending list of commitments” that consists of a new team member each month, a new interstate office and two to three new referral partners monthly.
“Our business is a human business, so investing genuine time in every person can be draining on a personal level. Balancing it all is a challenge,” he says. “Simply put, do what you say you will do, and act at all times with honesty and integrity, being respectful and empathetic. The financial outcomes are a byproduct of the human interactions we have.”
Attracting, retaining and delivering exceptional client outcomes and service starts with a sincere interest in their journey and remaining relevant to them as their lives and needs evolve, notes Rakowski. He points out that he and his team put in most of the work upfront in building meaningful relationships, which is a testament to its 99% client retention rate.
He says, “We are clear in the types of clients we work best with and our value proposition. We also look for a cultural alignment with all of our referral partners, and we are acutely aware of our strengths and how different we are from our industry peers.”
Rakowski recently opened a Queensland business and plans a foot in every other capital city. He strives to establish the brokerage as a national business with on-the-ground representation in every state by the end of 2025.