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 an area executive vice president at Risk Placement Services, Adam Connor’s key differentiator lies in his ability to cultivate deep interpersonal connections with clients.
The 2026 IBA Top Specialist Wholesale Broker prioritizes initial meetings, where he works to understand client goals in his cyber specialty.
“We sit down with our clients and begin with a conversation. We find how we are best compatible through a short question set and how we can be most beneficial to each other,” he says. “Sometimes, it’s going to prospect meetings and other times it’s being hands off. Either way, we discuss goals together, so we are aligned with our objectives.”
Connor is deeply invested in the success of others, being heavily involved in RPS’s internship program for two decades. The industry veteran graduated from the program himself with valuable skills that laid the foundations for his later success.
“The single biggest achievement of my career is seeing the young people on the team grow and be successful,” he says. “I enjoy mentoring them, helping them understand what we do, and it’s great to see how many have become successful at RPS and in the industry.”
A key component of his mentorship work is encouraging interns to not shy away from their personalities in a professional setting, something that has allowed him to develop integral client relationships throughout his years as a specialist wholesale broker.
“My strongest quality professionally is maintaining personal identity and leading young folks to do the same. This is not a cookie-cutter industry and it’s best to let your personality shine.”
Connor’s longevity and consistency have also allowed him to earn clients through referrals, remaining flexible to meet his new clients' needs.
“At this point, many of my clients have been friends for years, so typically attracting new clients is via word-of-mouth and referrals,” he explains. “We provide our clients ways to work with us that meets their needs. If they want to quote online, we have that. If they want to email us, they can. If they want to text or call, happy to chat.”
2850 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
866 595 8413
RPS.Marcomm@RPSins.com
linkedin.com/in/adam-connor-10a4a211
RPSins.com
Adam Connor
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
2006
2007
2017
2018-Present
2024
Joined RPS as an intern
2006
Hired by RPS full-time
2007
Named to IBA Young Guns list
2017
Named and IBA Top Specialist Broker
2018
Joined the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Northeast Division Board of Directors
2024–2025
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.