Class VI Partners (“Class VI”) is pleased to announce the recapitalization of Affordable American Insurance (“AAI” or the “Company”) by Gauge Capital, a middle-market private equity firm based in Southlake, Texas. The Company’s partnership with Gauge will support AAI’s continued growth by expanding its team and resources, accelerating organic growth within its agency network, and pursuing strategic acquisitions to further scale its national platform.
“Taking our company to the next level felt a lot like racing a high-performance car,” said Chris Fernandez, President and CEO of AAI. “Things are coming at you really fast, and even with all the horsepower in the world, you won’t win without the right pit crew. The Class VI team was that winning crew for us. They guided us through every turn, kept us focused, and helped us find the ideal partner to accelerate our growth. I’d recommend them to anyone looking for a true ally in the process.”
Since the Company’s founding, Chris has transformed AAI into a technology-drive platform designed to empower the entrepreneurial ambitions and demands of emerging independent insurance agencies. Chris, Gauge, and the AAI management team share a strong belief in the Company’s next phase of growth and a unified vision to scale and enhance the AAI’s platform and suite of services as the nation’s premier startup incubator for emerging independents.
“Chris and his team have built something remarkable,” noted Zack Gibson, Class VI Managing Director. “What started as a family business has become a true technology-enabled platform that’s redefining how emerging independent agencies launch and scale. His vision for AAI, and the team he’s assembled, made this an exceptional opportunity, and Gauge is the ideal partner to support the next phase of growth. We’re proud to have advised Chris and the AAI team through this milestone.”
The transaction closed on January 23, 2026. Class VI Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor to AAI, Ballard Spahr served as legal counsel to AAI, and Ropes & Gray served as legal counsel to Gauge.
For more information about the transaction, please contact Zack Gibson at (303) 243-5623 or zgibson@classvipartners.com.
About Affordable American Insurance
Affordable American Insurance (“AAI”) is a scaled insurance agency network platform built to support and grow high-quality independent P&C agencies. Founded in 2005, AAI is a tech-enabled insurance agency network that provides emerging independent agencies with access to 50+ A-rated carriers, 20+ lucrative profit-sharing programs, proprietary data and analytics, and one-on-one growth advisory services. AAI helps independent agencies thrive as entrepreneurs through its industry-leading platform, including centralized operations, legal, and technology support, access to a national array of carrier appointments, enhanced commission economics, and profit-sharing programs. The platform serves 100 agencies in about 40 states. AAI also operates an internal insurance agency that writes and services its own book of business through a dedicated support team.
For more information, please contact Ross Haskett, VP of Sales, at rhaskett@insuranceaai.com.
About Class VI Partners
Class VI provides middle-market investment banking services, including mergers and acquisitions advisory, corporate advisory, business valuation, and private capital raising services through its affiliate, Class VI Securities, LLC and Member FINRA. Class VI is also affiliated with and offers wealth management services through Class VI Family Office, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Chris Fernandez, President and CEO of AAI, is a client of Class VI Partners and is not being compensated for sharing their opinion and experience with the firm. Any compensation creates a conflict of interest. Comments by Chris Fernandez may not be representative of any other person’s experience with the firm and are no guarantee of future performance or success.
Additional Disclosures
Investment advisory services offered through Class VI Partners’ affiliate Class VI Family Office, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission. Class VI Partners offers investment banking and private securities transactions through its affiliate, Class VI Securities, LLC. Class VI Securities, LLC is a registered broker/dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Class VI Pathfinder, LLC provides general business consulting to privately held businesses. Collectively these entities are referred to herein as “Class VI”.
Testimonials may not be representative of the experience of other customers. Any promotion, either via testimonial or endorsement, is unpaid (in cash or non-cash form) and does not guarantee future performance or success. We believe that all information provided is from credible and reliable sources. This information does not constitute advice or a recommendation or offer to sell or a solicitation to deal in any security or financial product. It is provided for information purposes only and on the understanding that the recipient has sufficient knowledge and experience to be able to understand and make their own evaluation of the proposals and services described herein, any risks associated therewith and any related legal, tax, accounting or other material considerations.