Our History

Edwards-Brandt & Associates (EBA) was established in 1957 by Jack Edwards and Ned Brandt. The two formed a combination of Transportation and General Lines insurance advisory. As the agency grew, EBA added Employee Benefits and Personal Lines insurance services to diversify and grow the firm's client base. 

In 1972, the agency started specializing in a new niche and started a Bowling Center Insurance Program. This program expands across the Midwest and is still very active today.

In 1992, Douglas Insurance Agency merged with EBA, followed by the Iowa Company in 1992, and Ebeling Insurance in 2004. Recognizing the need to stay innovative in a fast-changing industry, and wanting to ensure a succession plan for this long-standing organization, EBA formed a partnership with First MainStreet Insurance* in 2017.

With the support of FMSI, EBA gained additional carrier and market resources to further their best-in-class service. The firm’s day-to-day operations continue to be managed by local owners, Steve Fettkether, Tom Douglas, and Mark Ebeling, who maintain the firm’s local presence and activity in the community while providing the attention clients expect from a local agent.

Over 65 years later, the local Edwards-Brandt team has grown to 15 colleagues and is one of the largest insurance advisors in Northern Iowa.

*First MainStreet Insurance L.C. (FMSI), headquartered in Cedar Rapids, IA, is an organization that was established in 2017 when like minded individuals recognized the value for sustaining the small town insurance agency and its local legacy. The FMSI model focuses on smaller agencies, a lot of them family-run organizations, to perpetuate their business while giving them access to robust resources and carrier markets to better service their clients.

Our Mission 

To assist companies with protecting and maximizing assets, resources, and opportunities.

Our Values

We are EXCEPTIONAL.

We are COLLABORATORS.

We are RESOURCEFUL.