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
As chief information officer at Brown & Riding, Sara Masaeli leads the development and management of the company’s custom-built agency management system – a state-of-the-art platform designed to meet Brown & Riding’s unique workflows. This system seamlessly integrates production transactional needs, document storage, compliance, and accounting functions. Masaeli played a key role in the rollout and transition of this platform, overseeing its implementation for more than 500 users across the organization. She has been instrumental in developing comprehensive training programs, creating responsive support procedures, and implementing system enhancements, all of which contribute to optimizing customer service for clients.
Masaeli’s leadership has driven significant growth within her team, which has doubled in size under her guidance. She also manages a diverse group of external professionals, including consultants, engineers, and vendors, ensuring that all technical resources align with the company’s strategic goals.
Masaeli joined Brown & Riding in 2014 as a practice group coordinator and has since received multiple promotions. She advanced to senior business systems analyst in 2018, then to assistant vice president shortly thereafter. In 2020, she was promoted to vice president, and in 2022, she became a shareholder and principal of the firm.
633 West Fifth Street, Suite 2000, Los Angeles, CA 90071
516 570 7414
smasaeli@brcins.com
linkedin.com/in/sara-masaeli
https://www.brownandriding.com
Sara Masaeli
Chief Information Officer
Brown & Riding
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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
2014
2019
2020
2022
2023
Joined Brown & Riding
2014
Honored as a winner of Insurance Business America’s Young Guns
2019
Promoted to Vice President
2020
Became a Brown & Riding shareholder and Principal
2022
Launched cutting-edge, custom-built agency management system tailored to Brown & Riding’s specific workflows
Appointed as Brown & Riding’s Chief Information Officer
2023
Milestones
Milestones
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“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.