What is a Business Risk Diagnostic?

A Business Risk Diagnostic is a structured review of a company's total risk exposure — including workers' comp experience mod, coverage gaps, contractual liabilities, and total cost of risk — completed before any insurance quote is presented. At Risk Advisors of Iowa, Dallas Downey uses a Business Risk Diagnostic to give business owners a clear picture of their risk architecture and top loss drivers before discussing coverage options.

CLCS stands for Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist, a professional designation that recognizes expertise in commercial insurance products and coverage strategy.

When was Risk Advisors of Iowa founded?

Risk Advisors of Iowa was founded by Dallas Downey, originally under the DSMIG (DSM Insurance Guy) brand. The firm rebranded to Risk Advisors of Iowa to better reflect its specialization in strategic risk management and diagnostic-led commercial insurance for high-premium business clients.

Is Dallas Downey licensed in Texas?

Yes. Dallas Downey is licensed in both Iowa and Texas. In Texas, he operates through McDade Insurance, serving commercial clients in the Greater Houston area under the Risk Advisors of Iowa risk management model.

About Dallas Downey, CLCS | Founder, Risk Advisors of Iowa

Q: Who is Dallas Downey?

Dallas Downey, CLCS is the founder and managing principal of Risk Advisors of Iowa, a Des Moines-based strategic risk management firm. He specializes in commercial risk architecture, Business Risk Diagnostics, the RAI Baseline Assessment, and workers' compensation strategy for businesses paying $100,000 or more in annual premiums. He is licensed in Iowa and Texas and serves the Des Moines Metro and Greater Houston areas.

Q: What is the RAI Baseline Assessment?

The RAI Baseline Assessment is Risk Advisors of Iowa's proprietary risk architecture review. It benchmarks a business's current insurance program, identifies total cost of risk inefficiencies, analyzes the experience modification rate, and establishes a strategic baseline before any coverage recommendations are made. The assessment is designed for businesses in the Des Moines metro and Greater Houston paying $100,000 or more in annual premiums.

The Risk Advisors of Iowa Story

Founded in 2022, Risk Advisors of Iowa powered by DSMIG was initially a branding decision made by our Managing Principal, Dallas Downey. Since then, we've grown from simply a brand into a full service insurance brokerage with a main focus in forming insurance and risk management partnerships with our business owner clientele.

We've created the RAI Baseline Assessment, a proprietary system where before having any coverage conversations, we benchmark your current insurance program, find inefficiencies in your Total Cost of Risk, analyze your experience modification rate, and establish a strategic baseline to work from. By using this system, RAI clients have reduced experience mods by an average of 17 points within 18 months of engagement, meaning a 17% decrease in workers compensation premium, and lower Total Cost.

We also provide guidance on home, auto, and life insurance, with deep passions for protecting classic car collections, boats, and motorcycles.

Our Values

At RAI, our core values are built on the foundation of exceptional service, trusted partnerships, and long-lasting relationships.

Concierge-Level Service:

- We believe in going above and beyond to provide personalized, white-glove service tailored to each client's unique needs.

Client-Centric Partnerships:

- We don't view our clients as mere customers; they are valued partners in our journey.

Trusted Guidance:

- Our extensive knowledge and expertise enable us to provide comprehensive guidance, empowering you to make informed decisions that mitigate risks and safeguard your interests.

Our unwavering commitment to these core values drives us to deliver exceptional service and forge lasting bonds with our clients. We are dedicated to being your trusted partners, guiding you through the complexities of insurance while providing the peace of mind you deserve.

Dallas Downey, CLCS

Founder, Managing Principal

Meet Dallas Downey, CLCS, your go-to risk management commercial insurance expert, licensed in both Iowa and Texas. A Des Moines Metro native and proud graduate of Simpson College, Dallas excels in leveraging automation and personal development to nurture growth in both his business and personal life. As the Founder and Managing Principal of DSMIG, Dallas is a seasoned leader. He’s also held pivotal roles on local Boards, including Director, Advisor, and Chairman. Not just confined to boardrooms or digital landscapes, in his downtime, you'll find Dallas either tinkering on his latest project in the garage, embarking on a journey with friends and family, or spending quality time with Kinzer, his beloved black lab rescue. Ever the community advocate, Dallas’ volunteer portfolio is as extensive as his professional one—he’s devoted to preserving the history of West Des Moines, bringing together like-minded young professionals with The Loop DSM, and fundraising for families in need through Angels For Sam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Who is Dallas Downey?

A: Dallas Downey, CLCS, is the founder and managing principal of Risk Advisors of Iowa, a strategic risk management firm based in Des Moines. He specializes in commercial risk architecture, Business Risk Diagnostics, workers’ compensation strategy, and total cost of risk reduction for businesses paying $100,000 or more in annual premiums in Iowa and Texas.

Q2: What is the RAI Baseline Assessment?

A: The RAI Baseline Assessment is RAI’s proprietary system built for businesses paying six figures or more in annual premiums. It benchmarks your current risk architecture and total cost of risk, then lays out a prioritized action plan to improve coverage, tighten operations, and reduce future losses.

Q3: What does CLCS mean after Dallas’s name?

A: CLCS stands for Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist, a professional designation that recognizes advanced expertise in commercial insurance products and coverage strategy. It signals that Dallas has gone beyond basic licensing to study how different commercial coverages really work together in practice.

Q4: Where does Risk Advisors of Iowa operate?

A: Risk Advisors of Iowa was founded in 2022 and is headquartered in the Des Moines metro and has served commercial clients across Iowa since 2017, with a specific focus on Des Moines‑area businesses. Through a partnership with McDade Insurance, Dallas also applies the same risk management model for select clients in the Greater Houston, Texas market.

Q5: How did DSMIG become Risk Advisors of Iowa?

A: Dallas originally built his brand as “DSM Insurance Guy (DSMIG),” then rebranded to Risk Advisors of Iowa once the firm’s work had clearly evolved into strategic risk management and process‑led advisory. The rebrand kept the same people and process, but gave the firm a name that matches what clients actually experience: a risk management advisory firm, not just another quote shop.

About Risk Advisors of Iowa and Dallas