When a growing company decides where to establish its next office, the choice is rarely about just the building. For VIP Insurance, Inc. and its sister company, Benefit Bank Distributors, selecting Dublin for their first Ohio location meant finding a community that could advance their ambitious growth plans and support the quality of life for their employees.
A Strategic Decision Rooted in Relationships
As their company has grown and faced down the rising costs of doing business in the Austin area, VIP faced a crossroads in their expansion plans: to continue expanding in their Austin, Texas headquarters or explore new markets. Both businesses were expanding quickly. Benefit Bank (established in 2010) and VIP (20+ years) operate as a brokerage general agency and wholesaler of insurance products through major carriers.
As they explored their options, their existing client relationships provided guidance. Three of their largest banking clients are based in Ohio, and two major insurance carriers they represent are also headquartered in the state. And right in the heart of these critical business relationships is Dublin, making expansion here a natural fit.
“We could have opened anywhere in Columbus,” explained Dublin-based Richard Chiu, EVP & Chief Operating Officer at VIP Insurance, who led the Dublin expansion effort. “But the City of Dublin is very pro-business. The state is as well. It really was that easy: we reached out [to the City of Dublin], got a meeting right away, and the team helped guide us through the process efficiently.”
Cost Meets Opportunity
With technology giants like Tesla, SpaceX, Google, and Apple, Austin has undergone a significant transformation in the last decade. Austin’s tech boom may have ushered in innovation, but it also led to skyrocketing costs across office, talent, and operations.
Dublin offered a compelling second HQ: access to Class A space at competitive rates in campus-style settings. VIP’s search for this second HQ location proved remarkably efficient. Starting their search at 9 a.m., they had selected their office by noon. They plan to move into their ideal office location at 5080 Tuttle Crossing Boulevard – 11,000 square feet of nearly move-in-ready space – in late November 2025.
“The buildings are nice, the community is nice, everything is very well maintained,” Chiu noted. “A lot of that Metro Park area feels like a campus setting with wide open green space and trees. It doesn’t feel like a strip mall. It looks like a university setting.”
Dublin’s Infrastructure Advantage
While cost considerations matter, Benefit Bank’s decision to establish a second headquarters in Dublin runs deeper than the bottom line. Dublink, the City-owned 100-gigabit fiber network, signals a community investing in modern enterprise needs, critical as AI-enabled training and enablement scales for businesses like Benefit Bank, which is investing heavily in artificial intelligence tools. The City’s four AAA bond ratings underscore fiscal strength and partnership capacity.
Dublin holds a unique distinction as the first and only city to earn four AAA bond ratings from Moody’s, Fitch, S&P, and KBRA. A AAA bond rating “shows the city financially is very sound,” Chiu explained. “They have the ability to work with companies to attract them. You can go to any city and find cheap office space, but Dublin is different. They’re actually interested in hearing your story and working with you.”
A Ready-to-Hire Talent Pool
Dublin’s most compelling advantage is its exceptional talent pool. For a financial services company, finding employees with the necessary licenses and credentials is a lengthy, expensive process. Industry certifications like FINRA licenses and life and health insurance credentials require extensive study and testing, sometimes taking six months or more while juggling a full-time job and family responsibilities.
Dublin’s concentration of financial services professionals provides a significant advantage. Both its proximity to world-class universities and colleges, as well as to major financial services employers, means many local candidates possess these critical credentials and the industry experience needed to hit the ground running from day one.
“A lot of individuals at these companies are already licensed and ready to go,” Chiu said. “That’s a big talent pool we can tap into to jumpstart our business. When somebody already has the licenses, understands the business, and knows the terminology, they can jump right in. That’s a big deal.”
Building for an AI-Driven Future
VIP’s expansion to Dublin marks a new, exciting phase in their ambitious evolution. The two companies operate by marketing and training financial advisors at banks nationwide on insurance and investment products from the carriers they represent. With ~20,000 advisors today and 30,000 more expected to join under a new contract, traditional outreach won’t scale.
That’s where AI comes in. The Dublin office will house a specialized team to deploy artificial intelligence tools, enabling the efficient reach and education of tens of thousands of advisors. For example, these tools can create training videos in minutes, not weeks.
“We can’t continue to do business the way we’re doing it today,” Chiu explained. “We’re investing heavily in AI. We’ll have a team of AI data scientists here in Dublin.”
VIP Insurance plans to employ approximately 15 people within the first year. This will combine their core financial services team with AI and technology specialists.
A Partnership Approach to Economic Development
Working with Dublin’s Economic Development team is refreshingly straightforward for company leadership. After reaching out to express interest, Benefit Bank quickly secured a meeting with the team, including Economic Development Administrator Abby Falcone. The process moved efficiently from there, with clear guidance and professional support throughout.
“I thought it was extremely efficient,” Chiu noted. “Sometimes you think dealing with government could have a lot of red tape, but working with the Dublin team was not like that at all.”
The City provided a modest tax incentive as part of the package. However, the support extended beyond financial considerations. Dublin’s approach demonstrated genuine interest in understanding the company’s story and helping it succeed.
Quality of Life Drives Talent Attraction
For employees relocating to Dublin or choosing a Dublin-based company, the community offers compelling advantages. Bridge Park’s urban walkability, extensive bike trails, well-maintained parks, and signature events create a vibrant environment for work and life. The Memorial Tournament, Independence Day celebration, and Dublin Irish Festival draw residents and visitors alike.
As Chiu says, “If you have to move somewhere, Dublin is a great place to move and raise a family. It’s that work-live-play environment.”
Investing in the Community
For company owner Doug Traylor, establishing a presence in Dublin is more than just opening a second office. The company’s work ultimately impacts individual consumers planning for retirement, and Traylor takes that responsibility seriously. In Austin, he’s actively involved in the community and works closely with state insurance regulators and elected officials.
“It’s important for [Doug] that, as we get settled in Dublin, we’re plugged into the community as well,” Chiu explained. “We don’t want to just have a shop here. We want to be part of Dublin.”
With an anticipated move-in date at the end of November 2025, VIP Insurance signals how Dublin’s combination of business advantages attracts growing companies. The City’s investment in infrastructure, availability of talent, and quality of life continue to draw financial services firms seeking the right environment to scale their operations.
For financial services companies looking to expand, Dublin offers more than modern office space. It’s a city that supports a complete business-friendly, people-friendly ecosystem where companies and their employees have the support they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Discover how Dublin can accelerate your company’s growth at ThriveInDublinOhio.com.
Comments are closed.