Meet the Team

Mark Balaban

FOUNDER and president

Mark Balaban, the founder, and president of The Balaban Group, LLC received his BA from the University Of California, Berkeley in 1985. He began his career with Northwestern Mutual, where he was the first, second, and third-year leader for the entire company in the Western Region. After six years, he left the company and started his brokerage firm focusing on estate planning (high net-worth individuals), specialty entertainment coverage/high limit disability, and non-appearance markets. His firm represents some of the most highly visible people in the entertainment, business, and private sectors. Mark has received numerous awards from the insurance industry for his excellence and is in the top 1% of all insurance brokerages in the country. Mark has two grown children, is a motorcycle enthusiast, avid skier, traveler, and dabbles in guitar.

Zach Wolkstein

Broker and Benefits Specialist

Zach received his BA from The University of Arizona in 2017. Originally from New Jersey, Zach moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the technological industry. After several years working at Uber and with international startup companies, he joined The Balaban Group, LLC in 2021 as an Associate Broker. Zach guides high-net-worth individuals, athletes, and entertainers through complex life insurance solutions, high-limit disability insurance, health insurance solutions, and hybrid long-term care strategies. Zach is a proud member of Provisors and the Young Professionals Network of ACG. In addition, in 2024, Zach was recognized as a Top-Trusted Advisor in the insurance industry in Southern California. Zach is a former athlete, the youngest of three brothers, and Mark's son-in-law. He enjoys traveling, staying active, and music. He is an avid film photographer on the side.

Paul Galichia

Associate Broker

Paul received his BA from Stanford University in 1996. He was a four-year Tennis athlete and was part of the 1996 NCAA Champion Tennis Team. Paul has over a decade of experience developing startups and small companies. He began his career in the entertainment space, where he founded Tumbleweed Entertainment in 2006, producing animatic works and feature documentary films. In 2015, he ventured into the technological space and founded Basil Street Pizza, a groundbreaking robotic pizza kiosk company. Since then, Paul has helped evolve several companies as a strategic board member and advisor, such as Coreview, Capacitor Studios, and most recently in 2019, Best Food Trucks. Paul joined The Balaban Group, LLC in 2022 as an Associate Broker. He is married with two children and enjoys traveling, skiing and surfing.

Kim Boyer

Director of Underwriting/Lead Risk Assessment Underwriter

Kim started her career in 1985 as an underwriter for American Fidelity Assurance, where she then moved to Interstate Assurance Company as Senior Underwriter/Team leader. After years as senior underwriter, she was then moved to Security Life of Denver where she became Director of Underwriting (managing large case underwriting). Kim joined The Balaban group in 2014, where she is responsible for all medical underwriting (risk assessment), Forensic Underwriting, and managing the entire underwriting team.

Harrison Kidd

Product Design and Advanced Planning

Harisson has a B.A. from Tufts University. Harrison is a proud “Jumbo” having played on the football team all 4 years. He holds his Series 6 and 63. Harrison began his career with Prudential, starting on the inbound sales desk and quickly being promoted to an Internal Wholesaler. There he supported the top external wholesalers for the Edward Jones Advisor channel. Harrison earned Pinnacle Honors as the Prudential’s leading internal wholesaler for the entire country. Harrison joined The Balaban Group, LLC in 2018 where he specializes in product design and advanced planning.

Sean McNiff

Senior Sales Adviser/Brokerage Manager

Sean has been in the insurance industry for over a decade. Sean is responsible for designing and implementing high limit disability, life, and non-appearance policies directly with our seat in London (Lloyd's of London) for our entertainment, sports, and high net-worth families/individuals.

Monica Rios

Office Manager and Benefits Manager

Monica has been in the insurance business since 2005. Monica is responsible for the day-to-day operations of The Balaban Group, LLC, overseeing the entire team with policy service, claims, client relationship, underwriting, and placement of coverage. Monica is also fluent in Spanish.

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