About Us
ABOUT US
Who We Are
National Independent Agency Solutions, LLC (“NIAS”) was formed to provide and deliver independent advisory services, advocacy, guidance, resources and solutions to Title Insurance Agencies, Title Insurers and Title Industry Vendors.
The NIAS team brings more than 100 years of combined experience in leadership roles with Title Industry Insurers and as owners of Title Agencies. We will bring our knowledge and relationship with industry participants around the country to deliver services needed by our customers.
behind national independent agency solutions
Meet the Team
Cheryl H. Klein
MANAGING MEMBER / FOUNDER / OWNER
Cheryl H. Klein brings an extensive financial services background to her role as Managing Member and Founder of National Independent Agency Solutions, LLC. Klein’s background in retail banking and commercial lending prepared her with broad experiences in the title industry sector. Klein has owned and managed her own vendor coordination business, her own title insurance agency and has served title agents and customers while representing three national insurers.
Cheryl is a native of Omaha, Nebraska. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Klein is also a graduate of the Virginia School of Bank Management held at the University of Virginia.
Ms. Klein owned her own residential and commercial title agency underwritten by multiple title insurers for ten years as well as her own signing company for five. Her firm maintained and managed three title agency joint ventures. JV partners included a confederation of credit unions, as well as a major law firm group located in Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
It was during the period that Covid first hit the US that Ms. Klein felt the need to create a company that would allow her and her husband to do what they love and that is focused on agency businesses as well as vendor services that support these relationships. Our goal is to bring the best possible relationships together in such a way that it provides cost savings as well focus on revenue generating ideas for agents.
Klein Currently resides in the Richmond, Virginia area with her husband Tom Klein and daughter Angelina, a high school student.
behind national independent agency solutions
Meet the Team
Cheryl H. Klein
MANAGING MEMBER / FOUNDER / OWNER
Cheryl H. Klein brings an extensive financial services background to her role as Managing Member and Founder of National Independent Agency Solutions, LLC. Klein’s background in retail banking and commercial lending prepared her with broad experiences in the title industry sector. Klein has owned and managed her own vendor coordination business, her own title insurance agency and has served title agents and customers while representing three national insurers.
Cheryl is a native of Omaha, Nebraska. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Klein is also a graduate of the Virginia School of Bank Management held at the University of Virginia.
Ms. Klein owned her own residential and commercial title agency underwritten by multiple title insurers for ten years as well as her own signing company for five. Her firm maintained and managed three title agency joint ventures. JV partners included a confederation of credit unions, as well as a major law firm group located in Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
It was during the period that Covid first hit the US that Ms. Klein felt the need to create a company that would allow her and her husband to do what they love and that is focused on agency businesses as well as vendor services that support these relationships. Our goal is to bring the best possible relationships together in such a way that it provides cost savings as well focus on revenue generating ideas for agents.
Klein Currently resides in the Richmond, Virginia area with her husband Tom Klein and daughter Angelina, a high school student.
behind national independent agency solutions
NIAS Consulting Team
behind national independent agency solutions
Meet the Team
Cheryl H. Klein
MANAGING MEMBER / FOUNDER / OWNER
Cheryl H. Klein brings an extensive financial services background to her role as Managing Member and Founder of National Independent Agency Solutions, LLC. Klein’s background in retail banking and commercial lending prepared her with broad experiences in the title industry sector. Klein has owned and managed her own vendor coordination business, her own title insurance agency and has served title agents and customers while representing three national insurers.
Cheryl is a native of Omaha, Nebraska. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Klein is also a graduate of the Virginia School of Bank Management held at the University of Virginia.
Ms. Klein owned her own residential and commercial title agency underwritten by multiple title insurers for ten years as well as her own signing company for five. Her firm maintained and managed three title agency joint ventures. JV partners included a confederation of credit unions, as well as a major law firm group located in Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
It was during the period that Covid first hit the US that Ms. Klein felt the need to create a company that would allow her and her husband to do what they love and that is focused on agency businesses as well as vendor services that support these relationships. Our goal is to bring the best possible relationships together in such a way that it provides cost savings as well focus on revenue generating ideas for agents.
Klein Currently resides in the Richmond, Virginia area with her husband Tom Klein and daughter Angelina, a high school student.
Stephen W. Francis
COMMERCIAL DIVISION MANAGER
Stephen W. Francis brings an extraordinary level of commercial title experience to his role with National Independent Agency Solutions, LLC. With major roles with
both title agencies and direct operations of major title insurers, Mr. Francis will
bring great value to NIAS customers.
Steve received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. His early employment with a regional accounting firm preceded his entry into the title industry when he served as CFO for a Virginia based title agency.
Francis’s key roles during his title industry career include: Director and Owner of a national commercial title insurance agency attracting and servicing commercial real estate transactions across the USA; and active engagement for many years as a National Commercial Division Manager for two national title insurers growing markets in a five state territory.
Steve’s roles in the real estate industry also include his service as CFO and partner in a regional surveying and engineering firm as well as owner of a multifamily real estate investment group.
Steve is a founding director of the Greater Richmond Association of Commercial
Real Estate, founding member and Past President and Director of the Midlothian-
Chesterfield Kiwanis Club, and for 34 years has served as director and teacher at a preschool Sunday School. He has been a member of numerous trade groups.
Thomas R. Klein
INDEPENDENT STRATEGIST & ADVISOR
Tom Klein will serve as Independent Strategist & Advisor to NIAS (National Independent Agency Solutions LLC.)
Klein’s experience in real estate law practice, title agency ownership and in management roles for title insurers is being brought to the table for NIAS.
Prior to joining NIAS, Klein was employed for 35 years at executive management levels for four national title insurance firms. The largest portion of his career was in a variety of management roles for LandAmerica Financial Group (formerly known as Lawyers Title). At LandAmerica, Mr. Klein managed local commercial operations, local residential operations as well as agency sales and support units.
Upon transfer to LandAmerica’s national headquarters in 1996, Klein originated its national agency division and for almost a decade was the company’s lead advisor as to affiliated business development and management. Klein also was a key member of a team that formed LandIsrael, a national company based in Tel Aviv.
Since the acquisition of LandAmerica subsidiaries by Fidelity Tom Klein has had leadership roles at three other national title insurers.
Prior to working for title insurers, Mr. Klein practiced real estate law for a downtown Richmond law firm and also formed, managed and sold his title agency known as Virginia Escrow & Title, to Lawyers Title in 1987.
Klein was admitted to the Virginia State Bar after graduating in 1978 from the University of Richmond School of Law. Klein obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Klein is a Past President of the Virginia Land Title Association and Past Chair of Special Olympics Virginia. He is an avid fan of University of Richmond and University of Virginia athletics.
Tom is a native Richmonder and lives in the Midlothian suburbs with his wife Cheryl and their daughter Angelina, a high school student. Klein has two adult sons living in Southern California and another living in Norfolk, Virginia.
Prior to joining Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation (“Lawyers Title”) in 1987, (later part of LandAmerica Financial Group), Klein was owner and founder of Virginia Escrow & Title Company, a full-service corporate agency from 1980 until 1987 in Central Virginia. Virginia Escrow & Title was sold to Lawyers Title in 1987. Mr. Klein worked for Lawyers Title/LandAmerica Financial Group for 23 years.
During the 2010 to 2022 period, Tom Klein managed agency support operations for three (3) other title insurers, involving relationships with agents throughout the United States. Klein’s experience as an owner and manager of his own title agency contributed greatly to his success supporting independent title agencies throughout his career.
During his career, Klein has been particularly active in affiliated business advising and formation of business units involving multi state agencies. In addition, he was instrumental in formation of LandIsrael, a joint venture of LandAmerica Financial Group and an Israeli insurance firm based in Tel Aviv.
Prior to his career as a title agency owner and officer of title insurers, Mr. Klein practiced real estate law in Richmond. Klein was admitted to the Virginia State Bar after graduating from the University of Richmond School of Law. Klein obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia.
A native of Richmond, Klein resides in Midlothian with his wife Cheryl. They have 3 adult sons and a daughter entering high school in the Fall of 2022.