About Us
Serving businesses and families since 1975
As one of the longest-standing brokerage companies in British Columbia, SGS was born of one man’s dream, a passion for the insurance business and a conviction in always delivering customer service excellence.
Bob Schmunk founded Schmunk Gatt Smith & Associates back in 1975 in Burnaby, British Columbia. For the first decade, the primary service offering was life insurance. The late 1980s saw the addition of Bob’s son, Darren, to the team which also coincided with an increased focus on offering employee and group benefit plans as well as group pension plans. Throughout the 1990s, these service offerings grew significantly to meet the needs of the province’s expanding non-profit, public and government sector plans.
Since then, SGS has grown exponentially over the past few decades and has become one of the most trusted leading group benefits brokerage firms in BC. With offices now located in Langley, we provide employee benefit plans, life insurance products and financial planning solutions to associations, businesses and individuals.
SGS is not a financial institution, and we don’t represent any single bank, trust company, life insurance, group insurance or investment company. Our advisors have the freedom to survey the marketplace and determine those products that best serve the unique needs of each client. This competitive edge means we are able to access certain benefits that other companies may be restricted from accessing.
Providing the best possible solution for each client is backed by our promise to always provide the best value as well. Clients rely on us to build strong, cost-effective benefit plans that are consistent and financially sustainable year after year. We achieve this by working closely with industry experts, which is further strengthened by our depth of knowledge and years of experience in the insurance and financial sectors.
At SGS, we continuously monitor the benefits and insurance industries so that we are aware of upcoming trends and potential challenges. This proactive approach means we are better positioned to make more nformed recommendations to our customers in order to help guide them through things. Our goal is to always build plans that will help our clients manage their plan costs while still supporting their recruitment and retention efforts.
We’re proud of our history and growth over the past four-plus decades. Our strong, dedicated team’s commitment to excellence ensures our company is positioned to meet the insurance and investment needs of individuals, families and businesses across BC for years to come.
Our statement – More benefits than you planned for™ – is backed by a dedicated, dynamic and savvy team who relentlessly pursues excellence in everything they do. They are one of the biggest reasons that our clients stay with us for the long term.
SGS employees have played pivotal roles in the company’s success over the years, thanks to their commitment, loyalty and passion to serving clients in the benefits and insurance industries. As we’ve grown, our team has grown with us. In fact, fully half of the SGS staff have been here for more than 15 years.
We are the official employee benefit representatives for many of the top associations in British Columbia. When it comes to insurance and group benefits, we’ve definitely been there, done that and loved every minute of it.
Darren Schmunk
Darren began his career at Schmunk Gatt Smith & Associates in 1991 after completion of his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree at Simon Fraser University. Darren later went on to obtain his Certified Financial Planner designation. Group Benefits and Pensions in both the public and private sectors are Darren’s areas of expertise. His dedication and attention to detail are evident in the leadership role he plays at SGS in creation of innovative solutions for organizations. Schmunk Gatt Smith & Associates’ core value and commitment is to provide the best service and value for our clients. Darren is a dedicated advisor who has been meeting the insurance and investment needs of businesses across Canada for over 25 years. Darren resides in Langley with his family and is actively involved in various charities, both locally and internationally.
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Lu DiMeglio
Since joining the company in 1999, Lu has worked on many different association plans, creating innovations in cost savings and the management of benefit programs. Lu is a Canucks seasons’ tickets holder, and actively contributes to causes impacting addictions and youth at risk, both locally and internationally. Together with his three children, Langley is the home they return to, from their many travel adventures around the world.
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Stephen Kim
Stephen joined the company in 2006, bringing extensive knowledge in extended health, dental, life and disability group benefits gained from his years at Pacific Blue Cross. An admirer of Albert Einstein, Stephen’s easy-going style allows him to think outside the box and see multiple dimensions of any problem. He lives in Langley with his wife and two children.
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Jordan Froelich
Jordan joined our team in 2017. He earned his business degree from Trinity Western University in 2002 and worked in Sales Management for 15 years. Jordan’s focus is on providing clients with Group Benefits, Investments and Life Insurance to best meet their corporate and personal needs. A sports fanatic, Jordan is a Seahawks seasons’ ticket holder and supports his other favourite teams, the Canucks, and Bayern Munich. Jordan lives in Langley with his wife and daughter.
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Julie Armour
Julie is SGS’s organized, efficient VP of Operations and has been with the company for 15 years.
She oversees the day-to-day operations of the company, with a particular focus on areas that support growth and success. Julie skillfully transitions among client portfolio analysis, negotiations and reviews. Among her many skills, she draws significantly on her ability to communicate and direct others.
Julie’s commitment to a strong value system, like the one found at SGS, can be seen in her desire to help others and encourage cooperation and team work. She wholeheartedly believes in treating people well and takes great satisfaction in providing exceptional customer service to SGS clients.
Paulina Henderson
Paulina joined the company in August 2017 bringing in her strong customer service experience. She loves efficiently helping clients and you can always hear her smile on the phone. She prides herself in staying organized while delivering exceptional service.
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Kira Agawin
Kira joined the firm in 2015 and has many years of experience in client service within the group benefits industry. She loves personally connecting with clients and efficiently looking into their inquiries. Kira finds great job satisfaction knowing she’s made her client’s life easier. She lives in Langley with her husband and two sons.
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Abi Gossett
Abi began her journey with the firm in July 2018, bringing with her extensive administrative and customer service experience. She enjoys assisting clients with efficiency and care, and finds great satisfaction in ensuring her clients are well taken care of. In her spare time, Abi loves learning about the culinary arts and nutrition.
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Danielle Larabie
Danielle joined the SGS team in October of 2023 as an Account Executive, bringing over a decade of experience in the group benefits and disability industry from her many years at both the carrier, and broker level. She takes pride in her attention to detail and organizational skills, while being versatile throughout the brokerage and happy to problem solve wherever needed. Danielle resides in Pitt meadows with her family of 5.
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Jessica Lundy
Jessica serves as the bridge between clients and their life Insurance, Investments and Benefit Plan needs. Whether it’s explaining policy details, navigating claims processes, or providing timely assistance during emergencies, Jessica’s priority is always her clients’ peace of mind. Her empathetic nature and meticulous attention to detail ensure that each client receives personalized care tailored to their unique circumstances. Jessica embodies the values of compassion, integrity, and service. With each interaction, she reaffirms her commitment to making a positive impact, one client at a time.
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Amanda Froelich
In September 2019, Amanda joined the SGS team as our Office Administrator. In this role, she multitasks on various tasks to support the team and provide client service for two of our largest Group Benefits pools. Amanda utilizes her experience in administration and customer service on a daily basis. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and daughter, as well as tending to her vegetable garden.
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