About Oklahoma Group Benefits
Oklahoma Group Benefits is a family-owned and operated general agency that specializes in helping insurance brokers in many aspects of the insurance industry. Our role is to be an additional tool you can use while working with insurance carriers. Oklahoma Group Benefits will provide additional support regarding quoting, rates, renewals, claims, and service. Oklahoma Group Benefits pride itself on having great relationships with insurance carriers. The Carrier that Oklahoma Group Benefits has the best relationship with is Principal Financial Group, John has worked closely with Principal Financial Group for over 22 years. Oklahoma Group Benefits has had an average retention rate of 93% over the last five years with Principal Financial Group. Principal Financial Group provides non-medical group products such as Dental, Life, Long-Term Disability, Short-Term Disability, Vision, Accident Benefits, and Critical Illness.
Meet the Team
John Ritchie - Owner & President
John W Ritchie started his career in employee benefits in 1994, in the greater Washington DC area, with New England Financial. Five years later he moved to Oklahoma City, to continue his career as a sales representative for Principal Financial Group (Fortune 500, Moody’s A1, Standard & Poors A+, A.M. Best Company A+).
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He advanced to Director of Sales in 2004 & led Principal Financial Group medical sales for three years.
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He was then promoted to Vice President of Sales and moved to Tulsa where he continued his success by earning Principal Financial Group’s Classic Award for sales three out of four years & acting as a member of the Marketing Council for two years.
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In 2011, John joined Strategic Employee Benefits, a subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual (AM Best rating A++, Moody’s Aaa, Standard & Best AA+). Here, he led the agency, learned the broker’s perspective, & achieved great success as an agent.
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Later, in 2014, John was recruited back to the carrier side of the industry by Excelsior Benefits General Agency, as Regional Sales Manager. He assumed a large region, where he sold Principal Financial & United Healthcare products, achieving $ 1 million per year for 5 years.
In 2018, John opened Oklahoma Group Benefits, General Agency, & continued his long-standing relationship with Principal Financial Group.
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After rapidly experiencing great success, John is dedicated to further expansion by utilizing his experience & knowledge to support small to medium-sized Oklahoma companies.
John is an established leader in the insurance industry, with a firm foundation in his home state of Oklahoma. His professional relationships, a wide range of experience in all aspects of the insurance industry, & confident decision-making, make John a strategic business partner for both brokers & employers.
Liesa Ritchie - Client Relations Manager
​Liesa M Ritchie is well known as an international speaker, drawing from 30 years of experience in both business & healthcare.
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Her passion for travel has led her overseas to Australia, Great Britain, Canada, Ukraine, New Zealand, Palestine, Turkey, the Arab Emirates & Mexico.
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She holds degrees in the business management & medical fields, emphasizing leadership, human resources & personal relations.
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Additionally, Liesa owns Know To Change, based in Owasso, Oklahoma.
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Since founding her company in 2008, Liesa has educated professionals, both nationally & internationally, in advanced training, specialized practical application & consultative services. She is familiar with various organizational environments, from private small businesses to large corporations.
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Choosing to now stay close to home, Liesa is committed to utilizing her diverse education & experience to bring superior service to Oklahoma brokers and employers.
Matt Ritchie - Director of New Sales
​Matt Ritchie graduated from the University of Oklahoma on the Presidents honor roll in the spring of 2022.
Prior to attending the University of Oklahoma Matt played competitive golf, and spent his time caddying at the Patriot Golf Course here in Owasso, Oklahoma, where he became one of the top requested caddies due because of his knowledge of golf.
During college, Matt Worked at Domino's Pizza where he became the manager of the delivery drivers due to his reliability, great teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.
After graduating from the University of Oklahoma he has begun his career in the insurance industry with Oklahoma Group Benefits as the Director of New Sales. His role here at Oklahoma Group Benefits is to find and build relationships with new brokers across the state of Oklahoma.
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Matt's interests include spending time with family & friends, golfing at the Patriot Golf Course, and watching sports.