Jun 18, 2023
Work Life
Celebrating Father's Day
When Michael Nichols was a little kid growing up in Daytona Beach, Florida, the sport of NASCAR was something he picked up by osmosis. He didn’t just take in the sport because he lives 10 miles from Daytona International Speedway, he was consumed by it. So, like any father would, Mike Nichols leaned into his son’s passion.
The NASCAR Whiz Kid was born. The Twitter handle has grown to over 1,400 followers, is loved by the stars of the sport, and features one iconic profile photo of Michael and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Michael Nichols became this bowtie-wearing, NASCAR-loving, encyclopedia for that sport that belied his age. Ten years later, now a rising high school senior, his love of the sport has only grown.
In June 2022, Mike Nichols took a job at Group 1001 as the Chief of Sponsorship and Activation leading the efforts around all the company’s sponsorship portfolio. Michael was excited because his dad was now running a department that included close ties to NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula 1.
Their bond has only grown. Michael has had the chance to attend IndyCar races in St. Pete and Indianapolis, NASCAR events in Daytona and South Carolina, and even had the chance to go to a Pacers basketball game.
“My dad is someone I’ve looked up to my whole life,” said Michael, who is starting to look at colleges. “I want to study motorsports business and I honestly want to have a job very similar to what my dad has today at Group 1001.”
Michael has already started thinking like his dad, too. Michael was the one who came up with one of the activations that the Gainbridge team executed this year. When the father and son were talking about Throwback Weekend at the famous Darlington Speedway, it was Michael who recommended the Mario Andretti paint-scheme. It turned out to be a hit.
“We’ve always bonded over NASCAR because Michael has loved the sport more than anything since he was little, but this job has allowed me to peel back the curtain and show him more of the business of the sport,” said Mike, who manages a team of six people at Group 1001. “Seeing Michael pursue the business of motorsports gives me great joy and I’m sure one day he’ll replace me, maybe even at Group 1001. And although my daughter, ZZ, isn't a motorsports enthusiast, hopefully, she will follow my lead to pursue a career wherever her passion takes her.”
And he’ll probably still be sporting his checkered-flag bowtie.
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David Crull’s job by day is recruiting new talent. He’s a Senior Recruiter at Group 1001 in the Human Resources department. This summer, he’s adding another new piece to his growing family so this Father’s Day is even more special. His wife, Lindsey, is due in August with their third child. They currently have a three-and-a-half-year-old son, Shepherd, and a 21-month-old daughter, June.
David has worked at Group 1001 for a little over a year. One of his passions is health and wellness. He’s an avid runner that has completed four marathons, including the Carmel Marathon this year and six half marathons.
“I love working for a company that believes in the physical well-being of its employees,” said David. “I have a growing family, so my health and being there for my family is important to me. Having access to the onsite gym and personal trainers is a huge benefit. Plus, seeing the company lean into things like the Corporate Challenge is exciting and motivating.”
David was a key contributor during the Indiana Sports Corp Corporate Challenge last year and plans on participating again this year.
Additionally, with the birth of his third child right around the corner, David is looking forward to taking advantage of Group 1001’s generous Parental Leave benefit.
“It’s important for me to work for a company that allows me to provide for my family, but also be present when they need me the most,” said David. “Adding a third child to our family is going to be a big adjustment. Thankfully, Group 1001 prioritizes a healthy balance between work and life. They provide extended, paid leave for parents who add children to their families. This extra time away will be critical to establishing our new normal as a family of five.”
And maybe one day, he’ll recruit his kids to be running partners.
Happy Father’s Day to everyone.
Oct 21, 2026
Corporate
Community
ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 21, 2026) — Group 1001 Insurance, an integrated, technology-driven financial services and insurance group, today announced $120,000 in funding for Habitat for Humanity of Boone County, secured by two of its companies through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis' Community Multiplier – Member Match program.Group 1001 companies Delaware Life Insurance Company and Clear Spring Life and Annuity Company each committed $15,000 through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indi...
Oct 19, 2026
Corporate
ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 19, 2026) – Group 1001 Insurance, an integrated, technology-driven financial services and insurance group, announced George Haj as Chief Communications Officer. Haj joins the executive leadership team and reports to President and CEO Dan Towriss.As Chief Communications Officer, Haj leads the corporate communications and content functions across the company's family of brands, including executive and CEO communications, employee communications, and media relations.“Geor...
Oct 13, 2026
Corporate
New annuities let members start with $100, add money over time and choose terms from one to 10 years, without paying commissions ZIONSVILLE, Ind. - Gainbridge, one of the largest issuer of annuities without agents or commissions, today announced the launch of Gainbridge: Flex℠ (“Flex”) and Gainbridge: Retirement Flex℠ (“Retirement Flex”), two flexible premium deferred fixed annuities.Flex helps people save for goals outside of retirement, from a down payment or wedding to a major purchase or ext...
Sep 3, 2026
Community
Fourth annual Gainbridge Assists program carries forward Billie Jean King’s legacy and reaches its widest geographic footprint yet – 20 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico – with first-ever grants in adaptive sports, juvenile justice, boxing, rowing, and skateboardingZionsville, Ind. (Sept. 3, 2026) – Gainbridge℠, Parity, and the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF®) today named the 2026 grant recipients of Gainbridge Assists Powered by Parity, awarding $250,000 across 32 organizations ...
Aug 28, 2026
Corporate
In August, we celebrated the conclusion of our Advanced Management Program (AMP) with 10 graduates. This six-month journey was designed to equip future executives with the strategic skills they need to lead at the organizational level.What is the Advanced Management Program (AMP)?Preparing the next generation of senior leaders is central to Group 1001's long-term success. AMP reflects our commitment to providing successful leaders with the opportunity to sharpen their skills to lead at an ev...
Aug 17, 2026
Work Life
At Group 1001, employees are our number one asset. That's why we're proud to celebrate a milestone in our leadership development practices: 36 team members recently graduated from our inaugural Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) – a three-month course designed to equip high-potential talent with the skills and tools to lead the future of our organization.Building a Strong Talent Pipeline at Group 1001As we continue to grow, developing leaders from within is a strategic priority. The ELP cour...
Jul 29, 2026
Work Life
You've closed out the summer – now make the most of what comes after.By Emma See, Senior Talent Acquisition PartnerThe final weeks of an internship come faster than you would expect. You’re wrapping up projects, saying your thank-yous, handing back your access card, and suddenly wondering what happens next. Whether you're hoping for a return offer, heading back to school, or planning to apply for full-time roles, how you close out your internship matters just as much as how you started i...
Jul 27, 2026
Corporate
TrackGuard+ pairs a 21–26% premium bonus with up to 28% penalty-free liquidity, so clients don't have to choose between growth and accessZionsville, Ind. (July 27, 2026) – Delaware Life Insurance Company, a leading provider of innovative and customizable financial solutions, today launched TrackGuard+TM, a bonus fixed index annuity (FIA) that combines a high upfront premium bonus, a strong lineup of index crediting strategies, enhanced in-contract liquidity, and principal protection in a sin...
Jul 14, 2026
Corporate
Zionsville, Ind. (July 14, 2026) – Delaware Life Insurance Company, a leading provider of innovative and customizable financial solutions, has been named as a 2026 Ward’s 50 L&H Top Performer for the seventh consecutive year. "Seven years of recognition by the Ward Group is a testament to the discipline, focus, and care our team brings to this business every day," said Dan Towriss, President and CEO of Group 1001, parent company of Delaware Life. “Our commitment to excellence and u...
Jul 1, 2026
Work Life
This past May, we closed out the 2026 Front-Line Management Program (FMP) with a celebration of 47 graduates who spent four months sharpening the skills that turn good managers into great leaders.The FMP is a cohort-based development program designed for Group 1001 managers and supervisors, each nominated by their own leaders. It's designed to equip our front-line leaders with the foundational skills to lead others effectively, build high-performing teams, and elevate engagement across the o...
Jun 29, 2026
Corporate
Work Life
Chief Information Security Officer Chris Kennedy has been named a winner of the 2026 BostonCISO ORBIE Awards in the Large Enterprise category. The ORBIE Awards honor technology executives who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact.The recognition reflects Kennedy's leadership and vision in transforming the Group 1001 cybersecurity program, building on his 27-year career that began in the United States Marine Corps and has since included senior security leadership ro...
Jun 11, 2026
Work Life
You've made it through week one – now make the rest count.By Emma See, Senior Talent Acquisition PartnerBy now, you’ve learned your way around and met the people you'll be working with this summer. The first-week nerves have faded, and you're starting to feel more comfortable in your role. This is when the real opportunity begins.The interns who turn a summer role into a launchpad aren't necessarily the ones with the most polished resumes – they're the ones who make every wee...
May 19, 2026
Sponsorship
Gainbridge℠ Brand Ambassador Ready for Epic Race Day ExperienceZionsville, Ind. (May 19, 2026) – Gainbridge℠ brand ambassador and Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark will serve as Grand Marshal of the 110th Indianapolis 500® Presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 24 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As Grand Marshal, Clark will give the traditional command for drivers to report to their cars during the official pre-race ceremonies. The command will be shown live on FOX’s Race Day broadcast, ...
May 14, 2026
Sponsorship
Community
For the third consecutive year, GainbridgeSM, a simple, safe way to save, is joining forces with Parity and the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF®) to invest in girls and women through sports and education – awarding $250,000 in grants to organizations across the country.Through Gainbridge Assists Powered by Parity, Gainbridge, Parity, and WSF will award 30 grants of $5,000 – a number with deep meaning in women’s sports history. In 1974, Billie Jean King founded the Women’s Sports Foundation us...
May 12, 2026
Work Life
You’ve landed the internship - now what? By Emma See, Senior Talent Acquisition PartnerAfter rounds of applications, interviews, and anticipation, you've officially landed an internship. But as the start date approaches, questions set in: What should I wear? What if I don’t connect with anyone? How do I make a great first impression?Here is some advice on navigating your first week like a pro and setting the tone for a standout internship experience.Before Day One: Preparation is Your Superp...
Apr 8, 2026
Corporate
Group 1001 announced the successful completion of its first SOC 2 Type II examination with zero exceptions – a rare achievement for a first-time examination that positions the company among the insurance industry's leaders in data security and operational excellence.The certification encompasses Onyx, Group 1001's cloud-native annuity administration system that supports new business for two Group 1001 companies – Delaware Life Insurance Company (“Delaware Life”) and Gainbridge Life Insur...
Mar 9, 2026
Sponsorship
Rising soccer stars join ambassador roster alongside Billie Jean King, Caitlin Clark, Annika Sörenstam, and Briana ScurryGainbridgeSM, a simple, safe way to save, today announced nine brand ambassadors, representing each team in the Gainbridge Super League, a Division One women’s soccer league. This announcement, following International Women's Day, reflects Gainbridge's continued commitment to women's sports, with more than 40% of its sponsorship dollars supporting women's athle...
Feb 4, 2026
Corporate
In this Nasdaq LIVE interview, Colin Lake, President and CEO of Delaware Life Marketing, unveils its L.I.V.E. framework, a new way to reframe how retirees and advisors think about retirement risk through four key dimensions: Longevity, Inflation, Volatility, and Emotion.The conversation begins with Longevity risk: people are living significantly longer than their ancestors did. That’s good news – but it also means retirement can last 20, 30, or even more years, creating a very real risk of outli...
Jan 26, 2026
Corporate
Delaware Life Insurance Company reached a major milestone in its inaugural year in the pension risk transfer (PRT) business, successfully supporting plan sponsors in completing over $1 billion in transactions. This impressive achievement underscores the company’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions and expanding its presence in the institutional market.PRT enables companies to transfer their pension obligations to a life insurance carrier, offering greater security for plan participant...
Jan 20, 2026
Corporate
Launch coincides with Bitcoin's 17th anniversary and the second anniversary of IBITZionsville, Ind. (January 20, 2026) – Delaware Life Insurance Company, a Group 1001 company, today announced the addition of the BlackRock U.S. Equity Bitcoin Balanced Risk 12% Index to its fixed index annuity (FIA) portfolio, making Delaware Life the first insurance carrier to offer an index that contains cryptocurrency. This strategic addition enables investors to diversify their portfolios and gain exposure...
Nov 14, 2025
Sponsorship
Community
During its 2025 State of Sports event, Indiana Sports Corp unveiled three annual awards that recognize organizations and individuals who elevate community impact through sports. The organization recognized Group 1001 as the Corporate Partner of the Year, highlighting Group 1001's support and hands-on partnership that expands access to sports for young Hoosiers. Group 1001's partnership with Indiana Sports Corp includes being the presenting sponsor of the organization’s Community Impact P...
Nov 12, 2025
Corporate
Group 1001 Insurance today announced it has been named the Americas regional winner for the 2025 Gartner Eye on Innovation Award for Insurance for its innovative Transfer Automation Packet solution. This recognition underscores Group 1001’s commitment to developing modern technology that drives innovation and delivers transformative solutions in the financial services industry. The Gartner Eye on Innovation Award for Insurance recognizes innovative use of digital technology-enabled capabilities,...
Nov 6, 2025
Sponsorship
Penske Entertainment Corp. and Gainbridge®, an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings, LLC (“Group 1001”) that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future, today announced a multi-year sponsorship agreement, reinforcing a longstanding relationship between the two brands. Under the agreement, Gainbridge will continue to serve as the presenting sponsor of the Indianapolis 500®, the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event. Gainbridge invests in impactful s...