Strong Roots, Bold Momentum: Innovative Captive Strategies and Holmes Murphy Launch Bluestem Insurance Group and Paceline Captive Program

Key Takeaways

• Bluestem Insurance Group, LLC is an Iowa-domiciled series LLC group captive facility established by Innovative Captive Strategies and Holmes Murphy
• Bluestem’s first cell, Paceline, LLC, is designed for last-mile delivery operators focused on safety, loss control, and strategic risk financing

Introducing Bluestem: Homegrown Advantage for Strategic Risk Control

Something new is taking root in the Iowa captive insurance community. Innovative Captive Strategies (ICS) and Holmes Murphy are excited to announce Bluestem Insurance Group, LLC, a group captive built to give businesses a smarter and more strategic way to take control of their risk.

This marks a significant milestone for both ICS and the State of Iowa. As a relatively new captive domicile, Iowa has licensed only six captives to date, with Bluestem being one of them. With Paceline, LLC operating as a group captive within Bluestem, it represents just the second group captive licensed in Iowa and the first group captive established by ICS in the state.

Bluestem: Embracing Iowa Roots, Resilience, and Captive Strength

Why Bluestem? Bluestem is Iowa’s state grass, known for its resilience and deep-rooted foundation. That’s exactly what captive insurance should provide: strength and sustainability that helps businesses weather challenges and grow with confidence. Just as bluestem thrives across the Iowa landscape, Bluestem Insurance Group gives organizations a solid footing to build upon.

More than a new structure, Bluestem provides proactive companies a stronger platform to own their risk financing and transform safety and loss control into a lasting competitive advantage.

L to R: Kristin Geppert – AVP, Business Development/Shareholder, Jeff Wilson, Captive Insurance Director with the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services, Nick Blyth –SVP/Shareholder, Stephani Manning – President/Shareholder, Tom Stewart – President, PLUS/Shareholder

Moving Forward Together With Paceline: Captive Insurance for Last-Mile Delivery Operators

The first cell—a separate financial and legal account within the LLC—launching in Bluestem is Paceline, LLC, a captive created for last-mile delivery operators.

For members, this translates to real advantages as Paceline brings operators together to benchmark performance and share proven approaches to driver safety and loss control.

The name draws on an idea from former Holmes Murphy Chairman & CEO Doug Reichardt’s book “The Best Seller: A Novel About Access, Relationships, and Harnessing the Power of a Paceline to Propel You Forward in Life and in Business.” In cycling, a paceline is a group of riders who share the effort so the whole group travels farther and faster than any one of them could alone. That’s exactly what a captive should do for its members.

It also mirrors the reality of last-mile delivery, where safety and loss control decide which operators come out ahead. The businesses that perform best are the ones that keep investing in their drivers and their accountability. Like cyclists in a paceline, they move forward together, and every member’s commitment to safety makes the whole captive stronger.

Accelerating Growth: The Future of Captive Insurance at Bluestem

The roots are set, and the momentum is building. Paceline is the first cell within Bluestem Insurance Group, and it won’t be the last! As the industry grows, so do opportunities for businesses that are ready to do business boldly.

If you’re interested in reimagining your risk, reaping rewards for safety improvements and lower claims, and turning premiums into profits, reach out to our team today.